OK. instead of starting tire thread # 432134712093740914275017342095172. I will talk about the Bridgestone BT002RS!
OMFG!! What an amazing tire! I've used Pilot Powers, stockers, Power Races, Power Race PRC's, Slicks, and the Dunlop Qualifier. The 002RS is a trackday/street hybrid but still very much a street tire b/c of high silica content for quicker warmup. I was a little nervous of using them at first, not b/c they are a street tire, but b/c they could potentially get super greasy/slippery when very hot. Advantage of the race DOT's are that they don't get greasy under race pace and hot conditions.
I'm a huge believer in the 002RS!! I normally run tire pressures at 31 front/ 30 rear for quicker warmup, contact patch, and sticky grip. But b/c ambient temp was at 100 degrees F, I decided to run 33 front/32 rear psi to keep the tire cooler. It worked!! I'm sure I was running 1min 29sec to 1min33sec laptimes and they were super grippy, ultra responsive, predictable, and superfast with warmup. The warm up was so good that at the start of one of the afternoon sessions, I was already dragging knee thru T2??!! Holy crap! I would've felt much more comfortable pushing harder and riding close to 100% of my ability on race DOT's considering the conditions, but with 002RS' I was still able to ride at 80 to 85% of my ability in 100+degree weather. We also had 20 mph winds and that was no issue with these tires. Wind was more of an issue from T7 (cross winds) to the transition to T8 (head wind). But mid corner T8 wasn't bad at all. Tremendously confidence inspiring at tip in and mid corner. The predictablity was when I came out of T9 on the pipe, I felt the rear step out/grip/step out/grip. It was then I knew the I was nearing the limits of acceleration for corner exit. The only con (although I don't think it was a CON): was that the tire was sooo good, that I was waiting for it to get greasy and slippery. It never did. I didn't quite care to push it to the absolute limits to find it get greasy. But in all honesty: THIS TIRE IS SOOOO GOOD THAT YOU CAN RACE THIS TIRE IN NOVICE LEVEL CLUB RACING COMPETITION AT WSIR AND POSSIBLY PODIUM OR WIN!!!! I truly believe that!! At the same time, it's good enough to handle the streets in normal daily commutes and not get too destroyed. The coolest thing about the 002RS' are that you don't need tire warmers to get them up to temp and prevent heat cycling (tire going from hot during track/riding use to cold multiple times). They are meant to heat cycle. Thanx to Charlesbusa, BA Busa, and Lamb for really turning me on to these set of rubbers.
In conclusion, for a street/trackday tire (non DOT's) for the aggressive canyon/street and trackday rider, I rate as follows:
1.) Bridgestone BT-002RS' HANDS DOWN NO FREAKIN COMPETITION!! The BEST!!
2.) Dunlop Qualifier: I've stepped out the rear at Willow's T3/almost highsided b/c too greasy and lost the front end via front end tuck and crashed at California Speedway's AMA track T9. Good tire for 2 trackdays.
3.) Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's
4.) Michelin Pilot Powers (too squishy/squirmy mid corner for my taste. The carcass felt like it was ready to roll off of the rims)