RE-71RS vs Cup2 Connect

[rFlex]

Hey folks,

My OEM PSS are about to get done. I’d like to change them to a set of streetable track tires. Tracking is the main reason I bought the Supra, but I also use it fairly often for errands on the street, and I don’t want to have to deal with two different set of tires. I’ve landed on either the Bridgestone RE-71RS, or the Michelin Cup 2 Connect.

Has anyone fitted these tires before on the Supra? TireRack says they don’t fit, is that true? Do I need a wheel spacer?

thanks in advance!

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[Traxion]

I run the RE-71RS (on 18 inch wheels though but shouldn't be an issue on 19) and they are an amazing track tire. Running them at stock sizes on stock wheels is fine. Both 255/35R19 and 275/35R19 are available which match OEM specs. You could go to 285 on the rear if you wanted, no spacer needed as I ran 295 falkens in 19 inch on the rear which are a little wider and didn't need a spacer. If you ran 275 in front you may need a spacer and it'd also be a little pinched on the wheel.

 

[Evolution]

You going to drive it in the rain at all? Also, how many miles do you want them to last?

 

[rFlex]

I run the RE-71RS (on 18 inch wheels though but shouldn't be an issue on 19) and they are an amazing track tire. Running them at stock sizes on stock wheels is fine. Both 255/35R19 and 275/35R19 are available which match OEM specs. You could go to 285 on the rear if you wanted, no spacer needed as I ran 295 falkens in 19 inch on the rear which are a little wider and didn't need a spacer. If you ran 275 in front you may need a spacer and it'd also be a little pinched on the wheel.

Very glad to hear it! Are you happy with them in the street? Are you seeing any difference regarding wheel spin on launch compared to the stock tires?

You going to drive it in the rain at all? Also, how many miles do you want them to last?

I’m not going to take the Supra out in bad weather, it’s mostly a weekend car. I’d like the tires to last at least 3 track days. During track days, I’m doing hot laps constantly, so I care about consistent performance.

 

[Driver608]

I'm using RE-71RSs on my Supra (and my Boxster), you should get at least 3 track days out of them. I ran mine for 2 track days and 6 autocrosses and they haven't heat cycled out yet. They don't seem to fade much during hot afternoon sessions in the desert but YMMV.
They're also fine on the street but it doesn't rain much in SoCal in the summer.

 

[Evolution]

Very glad to hear it! Are you happy with them in the street? Are you seeing any difference regarding wheel spin on launch compared to the stock tires?


I’m not going to take the Supra out in bad weather, it’s mostly a weekend car. I’d like the tires to last at least 3 track days. During track days, I’m doing hot laps constantly, so I care about consistent performance.

In that case, I am happy with my RT660s. 8 days of auto-x, 2 big track days and probably 2500 street miles on them, they are at about half tread.

 

[razorlab]

I'm using RE-71RSs on my Supra (and my Boxster), you should get at least 3 track days out of them. I ran mine for 2 track days and 6 autocrosses and they haven't heat cycled out yet. They don't seem to fade much during hot afternoon sessions in the desert but YMMV.
They're also fine on the street but it doesn't rain much in SoCal in the summer.

If you aren't turning RE71RS's into mush on hot track days, you aren't driving fast enough.

 

[Traxion]

Very glad to hear it! Are you happy with them in the street? Are you seeing any difference regarding wheel spin on launch compared to the stock tires?


I’m not going to take the Supra out in bad weather, it’s mostly a weekend car. I’d like the tires to last at least 3 track days. During track days, I’m doing hot laps constantly, so I care about consistent performance.

It's night and day different than stock tires. I don't street them, I swap at every event. At autocross depending on ambient temp and after 1-2 runs I can WOT in 2nd on launch and hook. I'm typically top 5-10 out of 80-90 entrants.

I did run stock PSS on track for 3 weekends just to use them up and recently ran a full weekend at Road Atlanta with V730's on front and RE71-RS on rears and they were amazing. I'd say they should easily last another 2-3 weekends. Aiming for 4-5 more weekends (8-10 more track days) but it'll be track dependent, for example CMP toasts the front left.

 

[decodeddiesel]

I'll tell you this much, your stock brake pads and fluid aren't going to be very happy with 200tw tires on track. The additional friction from the tires will overwhelm your stock pads within a matter of few laps. Even completely stock on stock tires the factory pads aren't very happy on track.

I am running Kuhmo V730s in 275-35R18 squared on Titan-7 wheels (with upgraded brakes and minor mods) and I am VERY happy with the results.

 

[mark5ive_]

RE-71RS are fantastic. I went through my first set in 3 track days and 7500 miles. My current set hasn’t been run very hard due to time constraints, but I did take them on a long (7000+ mile) road trip. It’s on 1 track day and so far 20k miles, and I could probably go the rest of summer with them driving easy. We’ll see if I can get them through a track day in August.

 

[rFlex]

I'll tell you this much, your stock brake pads and fluid aren't going to be very happy with 200tw tires on track. The additional friction from the tires will overwhelm your stock pads within a matter of few laps. Even completely stock on stock tires the factory pads aren't very happy on track.

I am running Kuhmo V730s in 275-35R18 squared on Titan-7 wheels (with upgraded brakes and minor mods) and I am VERY happy with the results.

I already changed the brake fluid to Castrol SRF, and I’m going to change the brake pads to Hawk DCT-60 and 30.

 

[rFlex]

I ordered the RE-71RS, thanks everybody for chiming in! Really excited to try them out.

 

[jchadwell]

I'm running the RE-71RS for autocross this year and have been very happy with them. Had fastest "cars with doors" raw and pax times today. These tires stick very well and then ride like a PSS on the way home. I absolutely love the 200 TW street tire classes. Beats the hell out of the old days of hauling autocross tires to/from events and then changing tires in 90 degree heat!

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Southern West Virginia Region SCCA - #5 - SWVR Event #5 2023 - Sun 07-16-2023​
Pax Time Results​
Timed Entries: 38​

​

Pax Pos.​	Pos.​	Class​	#​	Driver​	Car Model​	Total​	Factor​	Pax Time​	Diff.​	From 1st​
1​	1​	km​	26​	Alexander Nelson​	2014 Tony Kart CR125​	32.472​	*0.933​	30.296​	0.000​	0.000​
2​	2​	km​	126​	George Nelson​	2014 Tonykart CR125​	32.889​	*0.933​	30.685​	0.389​	0.389​
3​	1​	sst​	91​	Jerry Chadwell​	2021 Toyota Supra​	36.769​	*0.837​	30.775​	0.090​	0.479​
4​	1​	sth​	55​	Dan Whiteman​	2017 Volkswagen Golf R​	38.174​	*0.812​	30.997​	0.222​	0.701​
5​	1​	ds​	106​	Ashley Nelson​	2017 Volkswagen Golf R​	39.152​	*0.808​	31.634​	0.637​	1.338​
6​	1​	es​	17​	Conor McEnany​	2005 Mazda Mx-5 Miata​	40.349​	*0.792​	31.956​	0.322​	1.660​
7​	2​	sth​	65​	Mark Sanner​	2016 Volkswagen GTI​	39.400​	*0.812​	31.992​	0.036​	1.696​
8​	3​	sth​	12​	Mike Kessler​	2019 Volkswagen GTI​	39.645​	*0.812​	32.191​	0.199​	1.895​
9​	4​	sth​	23​	Greggory Rome​	2014 Ford Focus ST​	39.929​	*0.812​	32.422​	0.231​	2.126​
10​	1​	cam-s​	344​	David Thompson​	2000 Chevrolet Corvette​	38.431​	*0.845​	32.474​	0.052​	2.178​
11​	1​	cs​	6​	Ralph Cummings​	2016 Mazda Miata​	40.195​	*0.811​	32.598​	0.124​	2.302​
12​	1​	stu​	011​	Santo Degennaro​	2020 Ford Mustang gt​	39.277​	*0.830​	32.599​	0.001​	2.303​
13​	2​	sst​	190​	Aaron Nguyen​	2020 Toyota Supra​	39.116​	*0.837​	32.740​	0.141​	2.444​
14​	1​	cam-t​	15​	Gary King​	1995 Ford Mustang Cobra​	40.098​	*0.819​	32.840​	0.100​	2.544​
15​	2​	cam-s​	206​	Richard Ross​	2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z06​	38.936​	*0.845​	32.900​	0.060​	2.604​
16​	1​	as​	351​	DAVID BRUNNY​	2017 Chevrolet Stingray Z51​	40.027​	*0.823​	32.942​	0.042​	2.646​
17​	2​	cam-t​	26​	Wesley Smith​	2003 Ford Mustang GT​	40.348​	*0.819​	33.045​	0.103​	2.749​
18​	3​	cam-t​	7​	Brad Spurlock​	1999 Pontiac Firebird​	40.564​	*0.819​	33.221​	0.176​	2.925​
19​	1​	asp​	64​	Sean Halloran​	2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06​	39.284​	*0.849​	33.352​	0.131​	3.056​
20​	1​	esp​	15​	Mike Edgar​	2012 Ford Mustang GT​	39.706​	*0.840​	33.353​	0.001​	3.057​
21​	1​	cp​	97​	Timothy Nida​	2003 Ford Mustang​	38.937​	*0.858​	33.407​	0.054​	3.111​
22​	2​	ds​	1​	Tristan Cooper​	2016 Subaru WRX​	41.451​	*0.808​	33.492​	0.085​	3.196​
23​	4​	cam-t​	17​	Mychal Spurlock​	1999 Pontiac Firebird​	41.095​	*0.819​	33.656​	0.164​	3.360​
24​	1​	ssp​	10​	Joey Atkinson​	2006 Chevrolet Corvette​	39.684​	*0.855​	33.929​	0.273​	3.633​
25​	1​	ss​	2​	Duncan Segrest​	2017 Chevrolet Corvette GS​	40.917​	*0.833​	34.083​	0.154​	3.787​
26​	3​	ds​	11​	Dillen Chichester​	2020 Subaru Wrx​	42.678​	*0.808​	34.483​	0.400​	4.187​
27​	1​	cam-c​	52​	Dominiq Hampton​	2019 Ford Mustang ecoboost​	41.720​	*0.827​	34.502​	0.019​	4.206​
28​	1​	fs​	6​	Dylan Huynh​	2018 Lexus RC 350​	42.468​	*0.813​	34.526​	0.024​	4.230​
29​	2​	cam-c​	321​	Channing Boston​	2018 Ford Mustang​	41.852​	*0.827​	34.611​	0.085​	4.315​
30​	1​	hs​	212​	Jennifer Bair​	2022 Honda Civic​	44.748​	*0.786​	35.171​	0.560​	4.875​
31​	4​	ds​	4​	Nathan Mauzy​	2018 Audi A3 2.0T quattro​	44.402​	*0.808​	35.876​	0.705​	5.580​
32​	5​	cam-t​	3​	Charles Hornbeck​	2004 Ford Mustang​	44.296​	*0.819​	36.278​	0.402​	5.982​
33​	6​	cam-t​	13​	Charles Hornbeck III​	2004 Ford Mustang​	44.718​	*0.819​	36.624​	0.346​	6.328​
34​	3​	cam-s​	63​	James Phillips​	1984 Chevrolet Corvette​	44.014​	*0.845​	37.191​	0.567​	6.895​
35​	3​	cam-c​	626​	Michael Hagerty​	2019 Chevrolet SS 1LE​	45.993​	*0.827​	38.036​	0.845​	7.740​
36​	7​	cam-t​	1​	Marvin Mills​	1995 Ford mustang GT​	46.790​	*0.819​	38.321​	0.285​	8.025​
37​	1​	fp​	15​	Ayden Atkinson​	2014 BMW 320i x-drive​	44.334​	*0.877​	38.880​	0.559​	8.584​
38​	2​	hs​	0923​	Tyler Timmons​	1995 Ford Taurus​	55.394​	*0.786​	43.539​	4.659​	13.243​
39​	4​	cam-s​	1​	Austin Brunny​	2015 Chevrolet Corvette​	dns​	*0.845​	​	​	​
40​	2​	fp​	98​	Leonard Hochendoner​	2005 BMW 330ci​	dns​	*0.877​	​	​	​

 

[SilverBully]

I ordered the RE-71RS, thanks everybody for chiming in! Really excited to try them out.

Sorry about reviving such an old thread, I am thinking about going the same route on stock wheels and I’m seeking advice.

Would you mind sharing your experience with the tire and wheel combo? Also did you go for oem size? I hear RE71RS runs a bit wider?

 

[tomfree]

Short answer, Yes the RE71RS is still one of the best 200TW tires for track use. If you read the threads on here about what they do/don't do well, you will be well prepared.

They are adequate in the rain at near full tread. They are horrific in the rain as they wear.

As Razorlab jokingly mentions, they are really best suited as a time trial tire on track. The first couple of laps are their best, and they get greasy quickly. Those first couple of laps, though...yeah, they are pretty good.

I run a square setup - 18x10.5 and 275/35/18 at all corners. I'm using an ET 40 (might be 35) wheel with a 15mm spacer all around. I also got rid of the stock lug bolts and run a long-ish lug stud and traditional lug nuts.

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