Track worthy tire opinions

[freakyjason]

I've been slowly building my '90 hatch for track use. Some mods I've done with this in mind include (but are not limited to): s15 HLSD, stance gr+ pro's, z32 brakes and steal braided lines, front and rear strut tower braces, front tension arm brace, rear subframe braces etc. However, I've gone to the last few events running street tires on my fn01rc's and (obviously) their performance is lack luster. I'm looking for a set of sticky tires (not necessarily street legal), sizes 225/40/17 (front) and 255/40/17 (rear) that I can run on my fn01rc's. I was wondering what some of your experiences have been with different tires and what your suggestions would be for a good, sticky track tire. Price is of little concern and they would only be used on the track so tread wear is of little concern as well. Thanks in advance for your input!

[freakyjason]

Bump. Trying to get some tires before school eats all my money haha.

*EDIT*For example, some tires I'm looking into are the Toyo R888 and the Yokohama Advan A048. My main reservation with these tires is that they don't seem to be offered in a 225/40/17 which is what I'd really prefer to run in the front. I'm currently running 225/45/17's in the front.
Modified by freakyjason at 12:51 PM 1/27/2010

[nismoautoxr]

Toyo RA1,Hoosier R6,Kumho V710.

You should however try and run the same size on front and rear .This will have many benefits ,the largest being the ability to rotate.

cheerz

[freakyjason]

Thanks for the suggestions! The only thing is, that I can't fit a wider tire up front and I don't want to put a narrower tire in the rear just so I can run same size tires on all corners (here's where someone comes in and says "wider tires don't necessarily equate to more grip"). Wider tires do have some advantages.

[n00b240]

Maybe try to go for some sticky street tires before rocking the R comps. Look for tires around the 140-160 treadwear range. They will be a bit cheaper, and help you into the newfound grip you suddenly have.

Once you level up your driver skill, I would go for the R comps. In addition to looking for a lower treadwear rating, look for the tires that have stiff sidewalls. A 160 TW tire with a stiff sidewall will roll better than the 140 treadwear with the softer sidewall

Good luck

also, cant go wrong with a lil j-rho sts 240sx google action. He built a great s13 that won all the way to the top of the scca solo2 sts class. I think for 2 years he used the car

[flohtingPoint]

Maybe try to go for some sticky street tires before rocking the R comps. Look for tires around the 140-160 treadwear range. They will be a bit cheaper, and help you into the newfound grip you suddenly have.

I agree. My Hankook RS3's are pretty decent and relatively affordable and will last a hell of a lot longer than an A6.

[freakyjason]

Yeah, those are really good suggestions. I am currently running a kinda weird tire setup. I have some old ES 100's on the front and TR1's on the back. I HATE the TR1's so clearly, I'm looking for something a little more sticky. The TR1's have pretty good stability, but I am really not pleased with the amount of grip they offer.

[flohtingPoint]

Yeah, those are really good suggestions. I am currently running a kinda weird tire setup. I have some old ES 100's on the front and TR1's on the back. I HATE the TR1's so clearly, I'm looking for something a little more sticky. The TR1's have pretty good stability, but I am really not pleased with the amount of grip they offer.

Alot of getting enjoyment from your tires is learning what cold pressure to run them at and how to manage heat after runs. Always keep a tire gauge on hand and check regularly to get a feel for how your tires heat up.

[freakyjason]

Alot of getting enjoyment from your tires is learning what cold pressure to run them at and how to manage heat after runs. Always keep a tire gauge on hand and check regularly to get a feel for how your tires heat up.

This is a really good point. I've never really paid much attention to hot and cold pressures after runs. I know it's important however. Maybe I'll do a few more track days with my current setup and try to get the pressure dialed in. Thanks for the help guys!

[n00b240]

Pick up a cheap temperature monitor. Record the temps in a notebook. Record the pressures with those. And the time you complete your run. Also If you have subsequent runs, try to get readings before going on the next run

Come home and excel that info. After you have a few runs in, you can make your assumptions, and move onto the next step.

[freakyjason]

Pick up a cheap temperature monitor. Record the temps in a notebook. Record the pressures with those. And the time you complete your run. Also If you have subsequent runs, try to get readings before going on the next run

Come home and excel that info. After you have a few runs in, you can make your assumptions, and move onto the next step.

Thanks so much for the suggestion! I have never bothered to check post-run tire pressures but I usually run my TR1's at 35 psi cold, which I'm starting to get the feeling is too hard for the track, especially after they warm up and the pressure increases.

[n00b240]

Hands down. Im sure you have noticed it yourself, you just never wrote it down or stopped to think about it. Im sure, as the tires heat up on the track you notice the grip is getting better. And all of a sudden you have monster grip. But then in runs after that, the tires just arent responding Like they did earlier in the day. Most would attribute it to other factors.

When I first went through this phase, I thought it was because my tires sucked or, I needed to get some stickier tires, or I needed to get new tires. Monitoring the temps/pressures will help you get the most out of your tires and alot more runs as well.

Ever wonder why guys are selling tires with 80-90 percent tread left? I usually dont say anything...nice tires are had for cheap prices