Dirt/Tarmac Tires

[defdes]

It's been a while, but after 24 years on the road, my car is undergoing its first rebuild since. As it was still set up slammed for California canyon driving, I am altering the stance for 50/50 dirt roads tarmac. I am looking for a 185/65r14 tire. Rally tires are difficult and expensive to get if you can even find them so I am looking for options in either an AT or All Season or even a Winter tire. Car will not be driven much more than 1000 miles a year, so wear isn't a huge concern. Ive looked at Goodyear Assurance all season, Toyo Observe G3, Forceum ATZ-R, Maxsport Alaska 5, Hancook Dynapro R211 (hard to get). Any other suggestions?

[defdes]

Continued from my other thread, after reading on the rallycross forums, I ended up ordering some Bridgestone Blizzaks in 185/65-14, they are only about .3” taller than the Dunlop Direzza’s I have on there now and .4” narrower. They were $350 so not a huge outlay if the end start getting eaten up.

[BEO 510]

What did you read on that rallycross forum that made you order the Blizzaks? Over the decades i have used many different summer and winter tires, and i like the studless tires in the winter. The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 in 175/65-14 is the best i ever had on my 510's. (i am tempded to say you need a four wheel drive to keep up with them on a 510). But as summer tires i feel they are a restriction to spirited driving, specially on tarmac, and wet tarmac is even worse. But for just normal driving from A to B they are ok, but nothing more, and if you don't drive that much they are kind of smart to use year around. Get to wear them out before they get old and hard, and easy that you don't have to change them spring and fall.

[defdes]

I read that they were good on combination stages. I'd say 75% of the driving I do here is on dirt roads and from what I have read, they do well on them. I don't drive in the winter as they use a lot of salt here. I didn't realize they were that bad on tarmac however. That's a bit concerning. If you wanted an 75/25 tire, what would you suggest? I was originally looking for a rally tire, but they are difficult to get here in the US in a 14" in a hard compound.

[BEO 510]

Can't suggest anything really, but i would also say a rally tire was my first choise. That said i think you will be fine, just be aware that a winter tire have a longer stop length in the summer on tarmac than a dedicated summer tire. On gravel/dirt i remember studless winter tires was used 30-years ago in grassroot motorsport over regular street summer tires. But used rally tires and later more dedicated retreaded tires come in use because they are better, and they are mostly in soft and medium compund. I am not in the "game" so i would have to investigate if i should buy a rally tire for the street. I am sure your investigation is better than mine. They started salting the roads in my district about 2002, so after that it was only a few weeks mid winter it is possible to drive on good old fashion winter condition. Winters change, less and less days for driving a 510 in the winter. Need an extra car because of the salt. Not driven a 510 in the winter since 2018.

[defdes]

Yeah, there are always compromises, one of the greatest was size. My car has pretty high gearing, a 3.9 LSD and I was trying to avoid too tall a tire at the expense of a little bump safety on these choppy rollback roads here.

[gooned]

Many years ago I had 4 Blizzak tires on a little Mazda Mx3, I did a few “rally” outings at the end of winter and they were incredible fun, but yes they are so soft and sipped that on dry pavement was “too easy” to slide the car. Really just more active fun at a lower speed but yeah you couldn’t really push things in the dry.

[defdes]

They arrived from Tirerack less than 24 hrs after ordering, I am having them mounted tomorrow. They are SOFT with a very tall blocks, I can see how they'll be squirmy on pavement, but Im teaching my 13 and 15 year olds how to drive in one of our big fields that I have mowed out in an Oval-Figure 8, seems like they'll be good on that and out dirt roads.

[BEO 510]

Do you have a picture of them, and what are they named? Here i can get ICE, LM001 & LM005 in 185/65-14.

[defdes]

I'll take a pic tomorrow, they are Bridgestone Blizzaks 185/65-14. They are excellent on my grass track and dirt roads, I havent really tried aggressively on tarmac yet, but I am happy with the choice so far.

[BEO 510]

Yes i know, but are they only Blizzaks? Like a said here they come as Bridgestone Blizzak ICE, LM001 & LM005 in the 185/65-14 dimension.
The WS80 got replaced by the WS90 but it looks like they are discontinuded.

[defdes]

They are the WS90s. I can’t post pics, site is saying “too large” no matter what I do.

[BEO 510]

Ok, i know how they looks. Lets see if these two pictures will work

[BEO 510]

Hmm, another try for the WS90

[defdes]

Mine look more like the WS80 you posted (same pattern configuration) but with better siping on the outside blocks.