Cliffs notes:
Best max dry grip (tie):
Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 / Falken Azenis RT-615 
Runner up:
BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD (KD = Killer Dry)
could also mention pilot sport, but more $$$ similar dry performance for best wet/dry grip and good treadwear the
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 deserves mention too, but wet grip and treadwear are outside the scope of my research today.
It started when I read the December 2005 Car and Driver
The online version has none of the test data and the method they use to they rank the tires takes way more into consideration than simply dry grip. So, the online version of the article is pretty useless. So, you really should check out the print version, but my conclusions from reading the article were the Yokohama Advans are incredible dry tires. But they are also 350 A TIRE from tirerack in my size (285/30/18). The next best dry performing tire was the BF Goodrich KD and much more affordable too.
But, I have "heard" alot of really good things about the new Falken Azenis RT-615 replaces the "old" Azenis (RT-215). So, last night I decided to see what I could dig up on this tire. My thinking is the reason it was not included in the Car and Driver test is because Tire Rack doesn't sell them. I found a really good article in the August 2005 issue of Grassroots Motorsports (great magazine for anyone who doesn't know).
Direct link to the article (PDF) HERE
My conclusion from reading that article is that the Falken's RT-615 is every bit as good as the amazing Yokohama Advans if not better! The only downside is that after they get really heated up the grip begins to suffer. That was apparently a huge problem for the old Azenis, and while it is much improved with the new model it has not been completely solved. The whole article is definitely a good read! Finally, digging around a bit more I found "itr-in-sd" on honda-tech (via google) who had complied the grassroots article with THIS one at Eurotuner along with all the test data he could scrounge up at the Tire Rack website and came up with this list scaled to a 60 second autocross course.
dT(dry) TIRE
0.00 Falken Azenis RT-615
0.39 Yoko ADVAN Neova AD07
0.43 Falken Azenis RT-215
0.46 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
0.65 Michelin Pilot Sport
0.73 Hankook R-S2 Z212
0.81 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD
0.91 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
0.98 Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position w/UNI-T AQ II
0.99 Hankook VS K104
1.02 Dunlap SP Sport Maxx
1.17 KUMHO ECSTA MX
1.48 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
1.25 Michelin Pilot SX MXX3
1.33 Pirelli P Zero Rosso
1.34 Toyo T1-S
1.60 Pirelli PZERO Asimmetrico
1.61 Yokohama AVS sport
1.94 Continental ContiSportContact 2
Keep in mind that list does NOT include the car and driver test data since he did not have it as his disposal. My conclusions: Money no object - get the Yokohama Advan Neova AD07. The same or better grip (hard to imagine) at a MUCH lower price: Falken Azenis RT-615 only warning is if used on a road course I would expect them to start getting greasy somewhere in the 10-15 minute range on track. Perhaps if you pit once in the middle of the session to spray them down?
**17" wheel buffs** I have found them in 275/40/17 as low as $171 SHIPPED This tire will grip better than anything else on the street and is dirt cheap. I am VERY impressed. Finally, the runner up is the BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KD a very good performer with a supposed decent tread life and not supposed to overheat as badly as the Azenis.
**18" wheel buffs** I have found them in 285/30/18 as low as $191 SHIPPED Anyone who has any actual experience with the three tires listed here please do share (Kauh, Luke, ect) as I do not. I hope taking some time to share my research results has helped some people out there. Thanks for reading!
m a g l i t o
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Max dry grip street tires: my research, my conclusions LONG - 
16:20:26 02/27/06
