In this test I will finally compare the new Hoosier TrackAttack Pro to the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R and the Bridgestone Potenza RE71RS on a track AND autocross course.
1 categories (4 tests)
| Test Category | Best Performer | Worst Performer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (4 tests) | |||
| Dry Handling | ▲ Hoosier TrackAttack Pro: 86 s | ▼ Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R: 86.9 s | 0.9 s (1.0%) |
| Dry Handling Long Run | ▲ Hoosier TrackAttack Pro: 86.83 s | ▼ Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS: 87.56 s | 0.7 s (0.8%) |
| ▲ Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R: 41.17 s | ▼ Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS: 40.8 s | 0.4 s (0.9%) | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | ▲ Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R: 10 Points | ▼ Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS: 9.5 Points | 0.5 Points (5.3%) |
As always with Tire Reviews, transparency is core to the channel, so before the driving I need to explain the tire sizes used.
The test vehicle is a G80 M3, which from the factory runs 275/35 R19 front and 285/30 R20 rear.
I personally believe that if you're serious enough to put your car on this level of tire, you're probably going to want to buy track wheels and drop down to a 19" square fitment which will give you WAY more tire options to choose from, so this is what I've done for the Hoosier and Bridgestone, they're both 275/35 R19 square.
The Cup 2 R is the benchmark everyone has been asking for so I wanted to include this tire too, however, as there are only OE sizes of the cup 2 R I had to break the first rule of tire testing which is, do not test OE tires as it gives them an unfair advantage. This is pretty much unavoidable with any Cup 2 R, as apart from I think one size, they're all OE tires.
The second rule of tire testing is to test the same tire sizes, however, to do that with the Cup 2 R I would have to put the front tire on the rear axle too which I'm not going to do as I know BMW and Michelin spent a lot of time tuning the front and rear tires to do different jobs. So for this test, I am running the full OE sizes for the Cup 2 R, the 19 inch front and the 20 inch rear.
This should, in theory, give the Cup 2 R a subjective advantage, BUT the Cup 2 R is the only tire here that has to adhere to the EU tire label, which heavily detracts from track performance. More on that later.
The geek stats for these three tires are super interesting. Not only does the Bridgestone have the highest starting tread depth, it is BY FAR the widest tire of the three tires. So wide in fact, I found myself repeatedly checking if I was measuring the right tire. Unmounted it's 21mm or nearly an inch wider than both the Hoosier and Michelin at the same 275/35 R19 size.
All this tread depth and width does make it significantly heavier too, nearly 3kgs or 7lbs over the other two, which are surprisingly close on metrics. The Michelin has more tread depth than the hoosier, though it's treadwear is 140 compared to 200.
Below are the times from the big course, and autocross. My full subjective thoughts can be found in the YouTube video, linked above.
Dry
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Long Run
Dry Handling - Autocross
Subj. Dry Handling
Results
1st: Hoosier TrackAttack Pro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Hoosier TrackAttack Pro was the fastest tire on the big track, by nearly a second, and I think it would have been faster if a cat hadn't jumped out and spoiled its first lap. The Hoosier was also subjectively REALLY lovely, its steering was quick and direct like the Michelin, and while the rear axle didn't move quite as in sync, for a non-oe tire I was genuinely surprised at how close it was. Make no mistake, the track attack pro is an epic tire on track.
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2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Cup 2 R is the OE tire, and as expected, it felt like the purest driving experience. It had loads of grip, the M3s front and rear worked beautifully together, the steering was fast, but it was also super easy to drive. It was my favourite subjectively, and it does give you the best all round driveability of the three tires, this is an OE tire performing as it should.
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3rd: Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Bridgestone warmed up fast, and was easy to drive, but it required bigger steering inputs which made the car feel a little sluggish compared to the OE tire. Also, on a heavy M3 on a hot day, the heat got to it quickly, but it does have more tread depth than the other two tires, which is a big disadvantage for dry pace and thermal management. I expect if it was at the same tread depth its thermal management and lap times would improve, potentially up to the point of the other two. Something to keep in mind.
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