Street tires for HPDE
#26
10-10-2008, 07:10 AM
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#27
10-10-2008, 07:49 AM
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Naively, I have been thinking that if someone actually took the time to print a measurement on a tire, they would actually get the darn value correct.
.hmmm, now to go back through posts carefully again as I've just undergone a tire evolution
---- 
Last edited by dr_phatcity; 10-10-2008 at 08:24 AM.
#28
10-10-2008, 08:10 AM
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#29
10-10-2008, 08:16 AM
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here is answer 1 (tire size)
So on the evolved re-read; this seems to be the answer to the size question:
The sweet spot for tire size on a 16 inch rim would be 225/45r1
The sweet spot on 15s would be 225/50/r1
and, for 17s - 215/40/r17
AND --- actually checking manufacturer specifications is way better than trusting the darn labels!!!!
J
The sweet spot for tire size on a 16 inch rim would be 225/45r1
The sweet spot on 15s would be 225/50/r1
and, for 17s - 215/40/r17
AND --- actually checking manufacturer specifications is way better than trusting the darn labels!!!!
J
Can you make 245/45R16's fit? Sure, with the right wheel offset (or spacers) and LOTS of plastic trimming.
But, IMHO, the OD is much too large... You really want to be in the 23.9" OD size range (e.g. 225/45R16, 225/50R15) to get maximum squirt out of the corners... IMHO, the 225/50R16's are too tall, as are the 245/45R16.
For the 17" JCW Challenger rims, RS-2's in 215/40R17 would be a good choice...
But, IMHO, the OD is much too large... You really want to be in the 23.9" OD size range (e.g. 225/45R16, 225/50R15) to get maximum squirt out of the corners... IMHO, the 225/50R16's are too tall, as are the 245/45R16.
For the 17" JCW Challenger rims, RS-2's in 215/40R17 would be a good choice...
#30
10-10-2008, 08:22 AM
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Okay, so the evolution is a little slow here guys
Just look for a tire that has an OD of 23.9 inches and as wide as you can possibly go ......
Am I getting closer here?
#31
10-10-2008, 08:31 AM
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Answer two: Which Manufacturer?
Sorry to the marketing guys here, but it sounds like the issue of tire compound and brand name is going to take a back seat to tire sizing. My current tire gojisan (tex) is going to go with Kumho Ecstas for the benefit of tire size, maybe not so much for tire compound.
Though all things being equal, the Dunlops would appear to have the best tire compound (as of this posting-per tire rack and per member feedback from this post) but, MANY people have had success with the hankooks (one report of tire chunking though).
Thanks alot crew ---- the revolution will be televised.
Though all things being equal, the Dunlops would appear to have the best tire compound (as of this posting-per tire rack and per member feedback from this post) but, MANY people have had success with the hankooks (one report of tire chunking though).
Thanks alot crew ---- the revolution will be televised.
Dr Platcity,
Lots of great advise here. The choice of your tires does depend on your track experience in HPDE. If you do not have too much time on the track, I would stick to street tires. You will learn much more about driving fast on a track with street tires. Hankooks, Dunlops, Bridgestones etc are all good tires with 1/10ths differences. TXwerks has really good advise on tire diameter and section width as size and fit are very important. I would stay with 215.
Lots of great advise here. The choice of your tires does depend on your track experience in HPDE. If you do not have too much time on the track, I would stick to street tires. You will learn much more about driving fast on a track with street tires. Hankooks, Dunlops, Bridgestones etc are all good tires with 1/10ths differences. TXwerks has really good advise on tire diameter and section width as size and fit are very important. I would stay with 215.
#32
10-10-2008, 11:01 AM
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You can't go wrong, really, with the Hankooks, Dunlops, Kumho's or any other extreme performance summer tire... IMHO, they are very close in performance and some people like some tires better than others. It's a game of one-upmanship right now in the street tire class autocross arena and we're all getting to benefit from it! 
I'd go as far to say that the new street tires actually outperform some of the older r-compounds...
Suffice to say, any of the aforementioned tires is better than runflats... by just a little bit.
Top street tires, in no particular order (some which are available in MINI-friendly sizes, others are not):
Hankook RS-2
Dunlop Star Spec
Kumho XS
Toyo R1-R
Bridgestone RE-01R
Yokohama AD-07
I'd go as far to say that the new street tires actually outperform some of the older r-compounds...
Suffice to say, any of the aforementioned tires is better than runflats... by just a little bit.
Top street tires, in no particular order (some which are available in MINI-friendly sizes, others are not):
Hankook RS-2
Dunlop Star Spec
Kumho XS
Toyo R1-R
Bridgestone RE-01R
Yokohama AD-07
#33
10-12-2008, 11:17 AM
I run the Hankook RS-2's on the track and autocross with them... On the track, they start and end sessions the exact same way - great. We've seen 1.2 G's sustained on several different tracks (P.S. that corner that Nate's talking about at Road Atlanta is brutal and can and will inflate #'s - hah!). I run 225/45R16's on OZ Ultraleggera's (16x7, +37 ET).
We also run the RS-2's on our e30 BMW for autocross and track - they last us 9 autocross events (double-stinting, 8 runs per event = 144 runs!), street driving and 1-2 DE's. On this car, we run 225/50R15's on Team Dynamics Pro Race 2's. BTW, the 225/50R15 is actually a good 3/4" wider than the 225/45R15 (and that extra grip is GREAT to have)!!! They do finally get a bit hard at the end of a season...
I hear nothing but good things about the Star Spec's, too, though...
We also run the RS-2's on our e30 BMW for autocross and track - they last us 9 autocross events (double-stinting, 8 runs per event = 144 runs!), street driving and 1-2 DE's. On this car, we run 225/50R15's on Team Dynamics Pro Race 2's. BTW, the 225/50R15 is actually a good 3/4" wider than the 225/45R15 (and that extra grip is GREAT to have)!!! They do finally get a bit hard at the end of a season...
I hear nothing but good things about the Star Spec's, too, though...
#34
02-28-2009, 06:54 AM
6th Gear
This is a great thread. Lots of good information here.
I can back up that listed tire width does not always reflect reality. I have BFGoodrich 205/50R16 Traction T/A V summer tires and some Falken Azenis 215/45R16 RT-615 auto-x and HDPE tires. Both are mounted on the stock 6.5"x16" rims. If I stack all four of each tire the BFG stack is actually .75" taller. The worn tread area is equal.
I can back up that listed tire width does not always reflect reality. I have BFGoodrich 205/50R16 Traction T/A V summer tires and some Falken Azenis 215/45R16 RT-615 auto-x and HDPE tires. Both are mounted on the stock 6.5"x16" rims. If I stack all four of each tire the BFG stack is actually .75" taller. The worn tread area is equal.
Last edited by Bilbo-Baggins; 02-28-2009 at 07:01 AM.
#35
03-12-2009, 04:58 PM
#36
03-12-2009, 08:01 PM
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I have seen many people run on runflats. Depending on the wear, you might want to buy the replacement tires before the track weekend. You would NOT want to wear out your tires and have nothing to run on....
From the above discussion, I think that:
17s - 215/40/r17
Would be best on your 17inch rims.
-JM
From the above discussion, I think that:
17s - 215/40/r17
Would be best on your 17inch rims.
-JM
#38
03-16-2009, 08:00 PM
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I found a great resource for those of us with high hopes and low budgets I have had great success for the money running take offs from teams with $pon$or$ https://www.fossport.com Inventory changes as the season progresses so check in often. Bruce has forgotten more about tires than most will ever know, be sure to listen to his advice.
I am running the 225/45/15 Koni Challenge tires on my Kosies now and will probably get a set of 17s for the Enkies this summer. I do run a 5mm spacer to keep these from rubbing hard in the corners. As mentioned above they do run wider.
Tim
I have had great success for the money running take offs from teams with $pon$or$ https://www.fossport.com Inventory changes as the season progresses so check in often. Bruce has forgotten more about tires than most will ever know, be sure to listen to his advice. I am running the 225/45/15 Koni Challenge tires on my Kosies now and will probably get a set of 17s for the Enkies this summer. I do run a 5mm spacer to keep these from rubbing hard in the corners. As mentioned above they do run wider.
Tim
Last edited by TLMCS05; 03-16-2009 at 08:07 PM.
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