Tires-What are you using, what have you used?
#184
Shopping for new tires. Don't want to get so wide that I overtire the little car. I've read the tire thread, but still have Q's on my selection:
For those that roadrace: Will I be faster on a 225x50 or a 245x45 r7 hoosiers?
2500#, only 250 rwhp, 9"rim, fenders rolled/not pulled, typical racing height and alignment, home track is PIR.
For those that roadrace: Will I be faster on a 225x50 or a 245x45 r7 hoosiers?
2500#, only 250 rwhp, 9"rim, fenders rolled/not pulled, typical racing height and alignment, home track is PIR.
#185
So far my top contender is the BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2. It's the required rain tire for NASA Spec Z and a full set in 195/55/15 is $327 shipped from discount tire. I know it probably won't come close to a set of Hoosier wets, but I'm talking track days, not real racing and... $327 vs. ~$1000.
#186
I've just about reached the same point and I'm also thinking about a cheap dedicated wet setup. Anyone have any suggestions? I've read the LeChump forums a little to try and see what they use, but those guys are running enduros so they want a tire that is just acceptable in the rain and still very fast in the dry. I want NT01s for dry and damp conditions, plus a set of real rain tires so that I'm not sitting in the paddock pissed off when the whole day gets rained out and there's standing water and rivers running across the track.
So far my top contender is the BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2. It's the required rain tire for NASA Spec Z and a full set in 195/55/15 is $327 shipped from discount tire. I know it probably won't come close to a set of Hoosier wets, but I'm talking track days, not real racing and... $327 vs. ~$1000.
So far my top contender is the BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2. It's the required rain tire for NASA Spec Z and a full set in 195/55/15 is $327 shipped from discount tire. I know it probably won't come close to a set of Hoosier wets, but I'm talking track days, not real racing and... $327 vs. ~$1000.
#187
For HPDE I think it's hard to beat the RA-1. Sure, it's old school but they work and they last. Some people claim that they are decent in the wet as well.
After reading the other pissing match thread I did some research on Tire Rack. Something I think some people have missed is that section width of a tire IS NOT equal to the tread width of the tire. Just looking at the specs on Tire rack, many 205/50/15 tires have a smaller tread width than section width.
205/50/15 Toyo RA1-8.4 inch section width/8 inch tread width
205/50/15 Potenza RE-71R-8.4 inch section width/7 inch tread width
205/5015 Dunlop Z2-8.4 inch section width/7.5 inch tread width
Point is that saying that a 205 50 15 on an 8 inch wheel is always best is only part of the story.
After reading the other pissing match thread I did some research on Tire Rack. Something I think some people have missed is that section width of a tire IS NOT equal to the tread width of the tire. Just looking at the specs on Tire rack, many 205/50/15 tires have a smaller tread width than section width.
205/50/15 Toyo RA1-8.4 inch section width/8 inch tread width
205/50/15 Potenza RE-71R-8.4 inch section width/7 inch tread width
205/5015 Dunlop Z2-8.4 inch section width/7.5 inch tread width
Point is that saying that a 205 50 15 on an 8 inch wheel is always best is only part of the story.
#189
Personally I prefer the feel of the RA-1 over the original Star Spec. I also prefer the feel of the Yoke AD 08 over the Star Spec. Maybe that's the difference in slip angles making one easier to drive than the other.
Last edited by wannafbody; 05-08-2015 at 10:25 AM.
#190
I've just about reached the same point and I'm also thinking about a cheap dedicated wet setup. Anyone have any suggestions? I've read the LeChump forums a little to try and see what they use, but those guys are running enduros so they want a tire that is just acceptable in the rain and still very fast in the dry. I want NT01s for dry and damp conditions, plus a set of real rain tires so that I'm not sitting in the paddock pissed off when the whole day gets rained out and there's standing water and rivers running across the track.
So far my top contender is the BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2. It's the required rain tire for NASA Spec Z and a full set in 195/55/15 is $327 shipped from discount tire. I know it probably won't come close to a set of Hoosier wets, but I'm talking track days, not real racing and... $327 vs. ~$1000.
So far my top contender is the BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2. It's the required rain tire for NASA Spec Z and a full set in 195/55/15 is $327 shipped from discount tire. I know it probably won't come close to a set of Hoosier wets, but I'm talking track days, not real racing and... $327 vs. ~$1000.
#192
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205 50 15 Hoosier H20 are $173 a piece last time I checked.
Heck, I just did a heck of a fun rain race at Autobahn South NASA event last month with GT Radials treadwear 460 that cost me a less than $200 shipped for the set of 4 from Discount tire (195 55 15). Not as good as RA1 full treads but a hell of a lot cheaper too! (plus they are the drive to/from track tires for our G20)
Heck, I just did a heck of a fun rain race at Autobahn South NASA event last month with GT Radials treadwear 460 that cost me a less than $200 shipped for the set of 4 from Discount tire (195 55 15). Not as good as RA1 full treads but a hell of a lot cheaper too! (plus they are the drive to/from track tires for our G20)
#193
I used to do this with motocross tyres when I raced the national series and so on here...
Spare set of wheels with a new set of standard tyres on ONLY for use in wet weather. Same theory in motocross as wet weather tyres applies, sharp edges with as deep a tread/knobby as possible.
In my case my first ever race (about 2 years ago) was in a near monsoon day on a set of brand new 205 50 15 Dunlop 03g's....they were amazing until I ham fistedly did a full power 4th-5th gear change right on top of a river across the track.....the quick step out and save was sphincter clincher for sure but I qualified 3rd out of 15 experienced competitors.
I have since switched to 225 Nitto NTt01's and believe they will work the same....short of big puddles/rivers.
The great thing is as the "dry" tyres wear, the used (or unused) wets get cycled to the dry setup and you don't end up with a 4 year old set of hardened wets you have barely used....which used to be the case when I raced road bikes.
Unless you constantly race in rain then I would consider a proper rain set....
Spare set of wheels with a new set of standard tyres on ONLY for use in wet weather. Same theory in motocross as wet weather tyres applies, sharp edges with as deep a tread/knobby as possible.
In my case my first ever race (about 2 years ago) was in a near monsoon day on a set of brand new 205 50 15 Dunlop 03g's....they were amazing until I ham fistedly did a full power 4th-5th gear change right on top of a river across the track.....the quick step out and save was sphincter clincher for sure but I qualified 3rd out of 15 experienced competitors.
I have since switched to 225 Nitto NTt01's and believe they will work the same....short of big puddles/rivers.
The great thing is as the "dry" tyres wear, the used (or unused) wets get cycled to the dry setup and you don't end up with a 4 year old set of hardened wets you have barely used....which used to be the case when I raced road bikes.
Unless you constantly race in rain then I would consider a proper rain set....
#196
You're saying that the newest street tires (RE71-R, BFG S) are better in the wet than a similarly sized RA-1? i.e. a 205 on an 8" wheel? I do like my RA-1 for the wet, but they aren't cheap so it'd be great to hear if there's data supporting that the new breed of street tires trumps a 100TWR ole' reliable goat in the wet.
#197
The local autox classes here are pretty basic and hinges on tire tread wear, 140tw and up is "Street class", the "unlimited" class is spec tire of either the R888 or RA1. As the level of chassis work/prep in my car is far beyond what a "street" car is considered to be I have been bumped into the unlimited class.
Right now I'm on 2 year old 225/45R15 R1R's. Considering my 1.6 lacks in the power department and that the car is ~2100lbs, would the RA1/R888 in 225's have diminishing returns over 205's?
Right now I'm on 2 year old 225/45R15 R1R's. Considering my 1.6 lacks in the power department and that the car is ~2100lbs, would the RA1/R888 in 225's have diminishing returns over 205's?
#200
205 on an 8" will give you a better turn in and feel, 225 on an 8 might give you a little more grip but will probably suffer in transitions and turn in. I'd go with the 205. If you're sticking with the 8" wheels and don't mind the faster wear rates RE71Rs in a 205 will be quicker than the RA1s/R888s on an 8" wheel, and possibly quicker than the 225 RA1/R888 on a 9.
In autocross more grip is always better, maintain that momentum. Track is a little bit different since there's a lot more straightaway and faster speeds.
In autocross more grip is always better, maintain that momentum. Track is a little bit different since there's a lot more straightaway and faster speeds.