Tire Advice

[panakamana]

I will be doing some circuit track racing, fast and short laps, fast and short races...
Im looking for some tires, 205/50/15 (non slicks) what brand and model would you recommend?

[3lfk1ng]

Nitto NT01

[panakamana]

Thanks thats a good tire I can see!

Do you know another option that costa less than 100 each?

[3lfk1ng]

No, sorry. Performance tires are expensive. If you plan to race regularly, you'll need to get over the cost of tires sooner or later.

Other options:
The Dunlop Direzza Z1 star specs and Hankook RS3's are other "slightly worse" track tires, that are afforable and DOT approved. They might be more affordable but they certainly won't give you the amazing response or grip of the Nitto NT01's.

Also, the Z1's have a tendency to start delaminating once the treadwear gets lower than 5/32". I personally don't trust them but I see a few people who use them at the track.

[oldskoolaudi]

if you search "15" used race tires" on ebay you will find a bunch of used r-compounds in that size. You can usually get a set of 4 with shipping for less than $150 and get quite a few track days out of them. That's what I plan to do but I just need to pick up some 15" wheels first.

[andrewmartinee]

Goodyear makes absolutely a few acceptable tires about that size. The Silent Armour gets abundant reviews, which I like back it has replaced my accepted Wrangler AT/S. Back you will be on the streets alone and are anxious with MPG, you ability wish to attending at the added Goodyear alternation of tires that counterbalance beneath per tire. I don't see any acumen for boundless footstep in your application.

[flyinglizard]

What is the tire rule? DOT #? price??

[panakamana]

What is the tire rule? DOT #? price??

No rules at all, can put anything on, I have 16 inch wheels which I think the maximum width they can handle is 205, I rather spend less than 100 per tire cause the season is long and as a team I have to think of the budget...

[chois]

So you are looking for a tire that you can use for daily street driving too, or a tire that will also work in the rain, or some other second purpose? Why no slicks? Do DOT approved tires like Hoosier A6 or R6 qualify?

Use the smallest diameter wheel you can get away with to reduce weight and cost of tires/wheels. If 13s fit go that way, if you need to move up to 14 or 15 due to brake size do that.

[flyinglizard]

Kumho XS, Dunlop DZ 101 ,Dunlop Star spec.
I use the DZ 101 for the Chumper and street use. Nice built qualit,y good consistent track use .
The new BFG may be good also. Cheapish.

[oldskoolaudi]

sorry didn't see that you weren't interested in slicks. Nitto NT-01

[lonepatrone]

Nitto nt-01. I gained four seconds on the nt-01 from high performance summer tires at Summit Point in WV.

[2003 golfer]

So you are looking for a tire that you can use for daily street driving too, or a tire that will also work in the rain, or some other second purpose? Why no slicks? Do DOT approved tires like Hoosier A6 or R6 qualify?

Use the smallest diameter wheel you can get away with to reduce weight and cost of tires/wheels. If 13s fit go that way, if you need to move up to 14 or 15 due to brake size do that.

Can you expand on your reasoning? I don't race yet, but I do open lapping and it feels like one of my greatest limiting factors was tire roll. Without going to racing specific wheels, are there options out there with stiffer sidewalls? (so far I have only tried Goodyear Eagle LS, and Bridgestone Potenza's in 195/65/R15 [stock tire size])

Yes, I am a noob compared to people who actually race, and may not even belong in this forum, but I'd like to learn.

[chois]

Can you expand on your reasoning? I don't race yet, but I do open lapping and it feels like one of my greatest limiting factors was tire roll. Without going to racing specific wheels, are there options out there with stiffer sidewalls? (so far I have only tried Goodyear Eagle LS, and Bridgestone Potenza's in 195/65/R15 [stock tire size])

Yes, I am a noob compared to people who actually race, and may not even belong in this forum, but I'd like to learn.

Sure. Smaller wheels and shorter tires are lighter, cheaper, effectively shorten the gear ratio (which is usually, but not always beneficial) and give the brakes a better lever arm to work with (makes them act bigger without getting bigger in terms of available brake torque). It also gets the fwd car lower without putting the suspension at a ride height that makes the car handle worse.

For a street car and track days I would not worry about any of this. I would base it all on price of tires/wheels an consistency of tires. For dual duty street/track I would worry even less, and just get a tire that will not fail at high temps.

[mgyip]

For anyone who is just getting started at Track Events, don't waste money buying "the right tyre". The best tyre for a newbie is the tyre that's on the car, provided it's not bald or showing cord. This is because a street tyre requires the driver to be very smooth with their inputs - anything that isn't smooth will result in massive tyre squeal and smoke.

An R-compound tyre can and will mask much of a bad driver's inputs. For a beginner, this is a bad thing because it significantly extends the learning curve.

For the OP - I'm surprised that no one has suggested the Toyo RA-1. As an R-compound tyre, it is one of the best tyres produced - it's not exceptionally fast but it is incredibly consistent. It feels just as greasy at lap 1 as it does at lap 100.

I agree with Chois - stick with the smallest diameter wheel you can find - not only is the weight lower, the cost tends to be lower as well. Finding race rubber at $100/corner will be a real challenge - even finding street rubber at $100/corner will be a challenge.

What kind of events are you running? Road courses? How many drivers? How many cars on your team?

[turbonium89]

Look up federal tires, they have a dot tire that is fairly cheap. $98/wheel 235/45/17. i forget the name, and i havent heard of any reviews. i know theres a drift team sponsored by federal tho and they must use the tire.. . idk

i'm surprised no one has mention toyo r888

i'm running hankook ventus v12 evo tires right now and they are amazing. great traction fast, and they last forever. not to bash these tires, i just wish the side wall was stiffer, after taking some photos of my buddy driving my car hard into a corner, it appears as tho the side wall disappears under the wheel even at 35psi on the wheel getting the most weight through the corner

i want to try the federals or hankook rs3's next. i had a set of toyo r888 used and they where unbeatable. i was scared to find their limit.

[2003 golfer]

Sure. Smaller wheels and shorter tires are lighter, cheaper, effectively shorten the gear ratio (which is usually, but not always beneficial) and give the brakes a better lever arm to work with (makes them act bigger without getting bigger in terms of available brake torque). It also gets the fwd car lower without putting the suspension at a ride height that makes the car handle worse.

For a street car and track days I would not worry about any of this. I would base it all on price of tires/wheels an consistency of tires. For dual duty street/track I would worry even less, and just get a tire that will not fail at high temps.

Thanks, that all makes a lot of sense, but is clearly stuff to think of for when I get a set of track specific tires (otherwise it would throw my speedo off)

If I stick to my current wheel size, do you have any suggestions for tires with stiffer sidewalls than what I'm currently running?

[mgyip]

Is this a street car or a race car? Even so, who cares about the speedo reading? I'm more concerned about my rpms than my ground speed when I'm at the track.

Even so, you can easily calculate ground speed...

[flyinglizard]

Add pressure to the tires that you have until you get off of the sidewall. It may take 45-48# of front tire pressure.
It's not what you drive, it's how you drive. Get the car/tires to work. If you dont have my book that will help you along these lines.
MM