BF Goodrich R1 No Longer Available

**Red95mpower** · 03-10-2021, 05:34 PM

I went to Tirerack website and tried to order BFG R1s in 245/40zr17 like I have done for the past 10 years. When I tried to select 4 tires, they only had 3 in stock. I started a chat session to see what is going on. The rep who replied to the chat stated that BFG is discontinuing that tire in that size. I was a little shocked but figured let me reach out directly to BF Goodrich. The rep I spoke to there, confirmed that indeed that tire is discontinued. They also went on to say the entire R1 line is going away. I was floored.

Now knowing this information, what alternative tires are you going to use for track duty? Lets keep the discussion to tires that are similar to the R1. I know Hoosiers are the quick answer but they are not the R1. Yes they perform but they do not last anywhere near as long as the R1s do. So lets leave them off the list for now.

**olemiss540** · 03-11-2021, 08:08 AM

What's the cars purpose? Sprints/enduros/HPDE?

**Red95mpower** · 03-11-2021, 10:52 AM

For the purpose of this thread assume the car is used for HPDE, Sprint racings and time trials.

**bimmerboy318** · 03-17-2021, 03:23 PM

I think your closest alternative would have to be a Hoosier R7.

However, for a little less grip but an exceptional performance/value is Toyo RR. For near Toyo RR performance, some say equal, Nankang AR-1.

**NeilM** · 03-17-2021, 04:56 PM

I remember when BFG discontinued the R1 before, probably 20+ years ago. Then it was brought back. Somehow I don't think that's going to happen this time around.

Neil

**golgo13** · 03-17-2021, 07:22 PM

It's a ten year old compound that's probably being outclassed by these newer "street" compounds offered in 200tw variety.

It will likely be released again in a new version or entirely replaced by something new in the near future.

$0.02

**NeilM** · 05-15-2021, 10:24 PM

Meanwhile, if anyone is looking for some of the excellent but now discontinued Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R tires, TireRack has bought the last of the supply. They’re no substitute for Hoosiers, but for HPDE or lapping days they perform remarkably well.

There are other sizes too, but I just bought two sets of the 245/40R17 at $134.50 per tire. But when they’re gone, they’re gone.

**Feffman** · 05-16-2021, 03:27 PM

Reach out to Johnny Miller at TrackDayTire.com (https://trackdaytire.com/) for the Hoosier or Toyo "R" compound tires.

Feff

**golgo13** · 05-17-2021, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by NeilM

Meanwhile, if anyone is looking for some of the excellent but now discontinued Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R tires, TireRack has bought the last of the supply. They’re no substitute for Hoosiers, but for HPDE or lapping days they perform remarkably well.

There are other sizes too, but I just bought two sets of the 245/40R17 at $134.50 per tire. But when they’re gone, they’re gone.

They have decent grip, but they have such short lifespans most HPDE people don't really use them.

Maybe at that price point it might be worth it. That's Federal pricing for sure hahaha.

**JS154** · 05-17-2021, 04:12 PM

OK so golgo13 has no idea when it comes to the BFG.

The R1 is comparable to the R7, and the R1S is comparable to the A7.

Any one of those four are a full step + over and above and of the 200TW tires.

The BFG is more pressure stable than the Hoosier, and the BFG is more temperature tolerant than the Hoosier. they all provide comparable (to within a a couple huindredths of each other ) lateral and braking grip.

The BFG was faster than the A6/R6 due to it's low hysteresis design (very low rolling resistance) but the R7/A7 is much more comparable.

If you cant find the 245/40 17, try to find the 235/40/17. Its the same tire mold, the only difference is a 10mm space in the mold. having tested them back to back and used them interchangeably, there is no measurable performance difference between the two sizes. on an 8 inch rim the difference is 7mm tread on the ground.

The BFG will typically gain 8 psi from cold, the Hoosier typically more from what I have found.

For rain tires :

The Hoosier H2.0 is the best in all but second coming of Noah conditions. in Biblical flood type of rain, the BFG KDW/R-v2 is superior. But you wont find them. They only made like 50 sets, and the same for the v1 which was not up to task. But man in "holy crap i can't see my hood" level of rain they would clear water and had grip like nothing else.

**SamGrant951** · 05-18-2021, 08:05 AM

What about the Hankook Z214? https://hankookmotorsports.com

**BlackHawkRacing** · 05-18-2021, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by SamGrant951

What about the Hankook Z214? https://hankookmotorsports.com

I got to try these as 3hs scrubs this weekend and I like them a lot. They clearly are not as violent or fast as Hoosiers, but I found them easy to drive fast and communicative with their grip levels. I ran them at NJMP T-Bolt, it was partly sunny, mid-70's, low humidity; started them at 25psi and they got up to 31 when I got back to the pits after a full cooldown lap. They did feel like they wanted more starting pressure. Hankook says you want them to get to 40 hot but Hoosier also says the same thing and very few people run them that high. One thing to point out is that they are small compared to Hoosiers. The 245 Hankook was smaller on a 9" wheel than the 225 R7. Issue is the next size they offer is 275 which is larger than the 245 Hoosier.

**golgo13** · 05-18-2021, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by JS154

OK so golgo13 has no idea when it comes to the BFG.

I don't run those tires, this is completely true but I think from a tire compound and development standpoint tires are phased out all the time.

EDIT: I should also state that I made an assumption regarding that tire being phased out. If it's a particular size, it's possible that sales of that size isn't high enough to justify manufacture. After some googling Discount Tire still seems to carry the BFG R1, so it doesn't appear to be phased out completely or anything.

**NeilM** · 05-21-2021, 02:54 PM

A friend at Tire Rack says it's discontinued, period. Anything you find is leftover stock in the distribution channel.

Neil

**golgo13** · 05-24-2021, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by NeilM

A friend at Tire Rack says it's discontinued, period. Anything you find is leftover stock in the distribution channel.

Ah, that makes sense. Curious to see what will replace it.

**bzm3ltw** · 06-22-2021, 04:11 PM

Has anyone had experience with the Goodyear Eagle RS DOT race tires. They are available in five sizes, including 245/40-17. If yes, how do they compare to the Hoosier R7 or the discontinued BFG R1?

**jimmypet** · 06-23-2021, 10:22 AM

Its so weird that they have made such little in-roads when they re-introduced their DOT tire.
I used to use their old DOT tire the GSCS and I loved that tire. Loved it. It was fast as the Hoosier contemporary back in the day.

I was really looking forward to the new offering but it has not made even a little dent in the Hoosier marketshare.
The only thing I heard was it wasnt as fast as the Hoosier in paddock BS sessions, but I couldn't find any other data to back that up.
Amateur road racing is such a pimple on Goodyears landscape they really shouldn't have bothered making a tire if they were not going to put the effort into the product that their name & reputation carries.

**fbirch** · 02-17-2022, 10:07 PM

Bumping a somewhat old-ish thread. Any new insights on a good tire to replace the BFG R1 for 30-40 sprint races? What tire delivers good grip, good wear and plenty of heat cycles?

**ScotcH** · 02-18-2022, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by fbirch

Bumping a somewhat old-ish thread. Any new insights on a good tire to replace the BFG R1 for 30-40 sprint races? What tire delivers good grip, good wear and plenty of heat cycles?

Lol ... good luck

**BlackHawkRacing** · 02-18-2022, 05:35 AM

Do you mean 30-40 races per tire?

**ScotcH** · 02-18-2022, 10:59 AM

Yeah, that's why I loled ... I mean, yeah, you can get that from maybe one of those "street" tires, but any proper race tire will be hot garbage after 10 heat cycles, if they're not corded. Many fewer than that.

**fbirch** · 02-18-2022, 10:11 PM

Sorry, meant to type 30-40 minute sprint races

**BlackHawkRacing** · 02-21-2022, 09:19 AM

The only non-Hoosier options I am aware of is the Hankook Z214, Maxxis Victra RC-1, and the Toyo proxes RR. Toyos are trash by all accounts and the only complaint I ever hear out of the SpecE46 crowd. I've used the Hankooks and you can find my (limited) review above. No idea about the Maxxis.

**ScotcH** · 02-21-2022, 09:02 PM

the Maxxis RC-1 is decent in terms of wear, and people like it (I don't ... too much slip angle for me). I don't have much to compare to, but they are definitely slower and harder to drive than Pirelli DH, but that's in another category I guess.

**olemiss540** · 02-22-2022, 09:32 AM

Maxxis RC-1's wear like absolute IRON, have lap times comparable or a touch faster than NT-01's, and HATE slip angle. They like to be driven CLEAN unlike NT-01's that are just as fast sliding around every corner. They are not nearly as good under braking but faster mid corner.

Sorry for the limited feedback but NT01's and RC-1's are the only tire I have driven on over the last 10 years. RC-1s come in 275/35/17 otherwise I would stick with NT01's for my non-competitive HPDE usage.