R spec tyres - which one and which size?

[dr20t]

As topic states, seeking advice on r spec tyres

These are dedicated track tyres on different rims so not looking to daily drive them

So far I'm looking at the following:

Yokohama A050

Yokohama A048

Yokohama AD08

Federal FZ201

Hankook RS3

Hankook Z221


*Edit* added a couple more to the list above

Tossing up between the above on either a 17" rim (225 wide tyre) or 18" rim (235-245 wide)

Budget conscious pick would be federal 595 RSR or Kumho Ku36 but these are probably one step down from the above unless someone tells me otherwise.

Lets talk options....

Mick

[jacks-GTB]

have you thought about toyo r888's ? I have them on my other set of wheels....very very sticky

[3rspecb]

Have only experienced Bridgestone RE55s on my lib and thought they were great, very sticky. Have done a few track days on them and they held up fine.

Mine are 225/40/18.

[dr20t]

Have only experienced Bridgestone RE55s on my lib and thought they were great, very sticky. Have done a few track days on them and they held up fine.

Mine are 225/40/18.

Thanks Gino - I was considering these actually but thought the r specs might be a little grippier

have you thought about toyo r888's ? I have them on my other set of wheels....very very sticky

Indeed I did Jackson - I would put them in the same category as the ku36's maybe a little better

Any other suggestions?

What does everyone think regarding 17" vs 18" tyre - obviously the 17" will provide slightly lower sprung rate, and this combined with the smaller rolling diameter will have a slight advantage in acceleration over the 18's.

The 18's however might have better sidewall stiffness and therefore better cornering?

[coyote]

Fit the smallest wheels that will fit over your brakes.

Do the tyres need to be road legal? If not, stuff mucking around and get some slicks.

[senator]

Last time i checked re55 sr2 slight harder compound were about $500 a corner.

The ku 36's aren't R specs..... just a street legal semi slick with soft compound.

Rs3 get my vote price wise.... haven't used them but they out performed Yokohama at lasts years Superlap on a number of cars.

[senator]

Fit the smallest wheels that will fit over your brakes.

Do the tyres need to be road legal? If not, stuff mucking around and get some slicks.

+1

Make use of that sump baffle.

[3rspecb]

The RE55s are an R-spec tyre Mick.


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[dr20t]

Sorry Gino I thought they were like the re11. At 450 each I think they're a little outside my price range...

Coyote - thanks for the advice - any particular reason other than the ones I mentioned? And yes dedicated track tyres only

Tony senator - I know the ku36's aren't r specs but I was throwing them up as a budget alternative

Mick

[rooby]

Why not 235-245 on 17s? Do you already have narrow 17" rims lying around?

[vaccine]

Going a 235/45/17 in Toyo 888 is a good option on a tighter budget. Great tyre and feel, but they loose their grip quicker than RE55's which are very consistent through their life! 888's are a proper R-spec, nothing like street semis. Coyote is on the money, 17x8 or 8.5 with 235/245 is bang for buck, every kg off the rims/tyres is very noticeable in unsprung weight and rotational mass be it track or street! If you go 18's its easier to find 1 session old tyres of the utes, minis and other race series!! It will also depend what club track day it is, as to whether you can use slicks or not without some form of cage, be it welded or Bolton half cage.

[coyote]

Coyote - thanks for the advice - any particular reason other than the ones I mentioned?

As Vaccine said, weight.

Not only will 17s be lighter (all other things being equal), but you'll also change the moment of inertia so that even if the overall package were the same weight, it would still stop and accelerate better.

It's all tiny stuff, but you don't measure lap times to the nearest hour.

I put 18s on the Yaris for the bling, but depending on what I do with brakes may switch to 16s for the track.

[dr20t]

Thanks for the input fellas

Here's my thing. I have a few rims on me at the moment:

18" prodrive rally rims (off an actual group c wrc car - they're the ones on my car atm and needed chamfering of lug holes to fit on my car). These are 18x8 so will take a 245 40 18 r spec. These weigh 8.7kg

18" enkei rs05 - 18 x 8 so again will take 245 tyre. These weigh 9.5kg

17" FR17 Simmons - 17x7 - don't know the weight and don't know if they clear my brembos yet (car at workshop wheels at home). They're certainy lighter than the 18's

Or I can get my hands on a set of these:
17" 02-05 wrx Sti rims - 17x8 - don't know weight but I guestimate 8-8.5kg

I was leaning toward the Sti rims for the track and the 18's intermittently for street unless someone convinced me the 18's were better for track.

So I take it I should sell my Simmons and get the 17" 02-05 Sti rims??

Mick

[coyote]

Back to front mate. Work out what tyres you're going to run, then get wheels to suit.

[dr20t]

Back to front mate. Work out what tyres you're going to run, then get wheels to suit.

Yeah that's my point - based on reccomendations I should run with a 235 or 245 17

Therefore I need an 8 inch wide 17 rim



Mick