RE-71R vs Rival S with light weight FWD track car

Gotta by some tires very soon in 15" flavor for my 2000lb, 200whp, FWD track car. My wheels options are only 15" x 7.5" right now, therefore I have the 225/45/15 BFG Rival S or the 205/50/15 RE-71R.

I'm looking for maximum grip from a street tire that can handle a little water on the track. I'm not concerned about longevity at this moment nor running in a downpour. These will also not see the street, but some autocross.

225/45/16 is 10% more tire on the ground for about 10% more money over the 205/50/15. Are the BFG's worth it? I didn't like the old Rivals.

Which do you suggest? -Paul

RE71R should give you a little more grip, and it will fit your wheels better.

RE71R if you think you will get any rain at all.

That said the Rival S is just as grippy in the dry and handles heat slightly better from what I've heard, but this is from people that are driving at the absolute limit of the tire.

I'm driving on the latest Rival S now at our local autox and they are great when it is dry and horrid when it is wet. I can't push the tire to the heat limit there as I'm driving a Miata and so far its been cold out.

At national events I'm driving on the RE71R. Grip seems about the same overall, but I'm not that great a driver.

The 225s really want to be on 9" wheel.

Ah so my Kosei's are 15x8" not 7.5" if that makes a difference. The issue now is that the RE71R are not in stock anywhere.

That's why I went with the Rival S for the local car, because I couldn't get the RE71R in the size I needed.

At 15x8 you can probably get away with 225s.

Yeah 15x8 is a good size for 225s, it's a very minor squeeze fit. 205s on there will be a moderate stretch. Strictly in terms of size the two setups should perform similarly.

I still think the RE71Rs would be the better choice if you can find them.

225's seem fine on an 8" wide wheel. I typically look at something like this if I'm unsure of how a tire would be. All I have to contribute as I know nothing about either tire!

No 225 re71r? That sucks

Exactly, best of both worlds. Seems like someone would make a 225+ 15" tire.

Then again there wouldnt be a class for it...

So I ordered the Rival S. If anyone gets the new mag they do comparison between the 2015 15" and the 2016 15" and found some time with a new sidewall construction. Ill try to relay any experiences I have with them at hyperfest in 2 weekends. (if i can slam the car together in time)

Im excited now to see how these preform at not only the track but autocross as well.

They should be fine. If I hadn't coned away my best run I'd have been 13th in PAX and 15th in RAW at our local on them out of 65 drivers. Every Corvette driver uses the Rival S at autox because the RE71R doesn't have sizes for the Vettes.

In reply to catapultkid:

That same article mentioned that the 2016 build date tires are due in August or something. See what's on the sidewalls of yours when posting your results...

The RE71's are noisy on the street. Other than that they stick like glue.

So my tires are stamped 0616 (6th week in 2016)

Ill have to look back at the article and see when production started of the new carcus.