Whats better for track rims?
 

Obviously tires makes the difference ;) yet what would be better for track OZ's 17s or 18s by 8 or the stock FD rims?? I was thinking of using on set for track and one for street.

Are you limited to an 8 inch width ?

I am using 17x9.5 and some guys use, with great results, up to 10.5 inches wide at all 4 corners.

If you had to stick to the options you give, I'd say take the 17x8 and slap on 245/40WR17 Kumho v700 ( http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=Ecsta+V700 ).

gl

THANK YOU!
So taller AND wider is better for track huh? Sounds good!

Fatman0203,

Are you looking for a rim for double duty (track & street)?

I'll be getting a set of rims for the street and then sticking some r-compound on the stock rims. Quite a few guys around here do that. For a larger and cheaper track rim, a local friend has been using a set of Supra rims.

I think he got the set for about $300-400. Had the wheels machined to fit on the FD for about $100 and slapped some race rubber on them:

http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD...k1/image04.jpg

He painted them black for the next event:
http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/ho...0/DSC00005.JPG

They are 17's but I'm not sure the width. Pretty cheap for just a track rim that's larger than stock.

Stay away from 18s for race wheels. Tire sizes are limited and pricey.

PaulC

Not really Im looking at another set of OZs 17's by 8ish or 9ish. From what Ive read Id just track tires ONLY on it. Then keep the stockers for street , with rain tires. Since I do live in Miami, rain is a major problem when it comes to the FD ;). Thanks for the info Mahjik apprecaite it!

IMO, I would do the opposite (which is what I will be doing). You'll be burning up track tires probably a lot faster than your street tires. Replacing 16" race tires is cheaper than 17". ;) Besides, you want some nice street cruising rims. :) Putting race compound on the stock rims will give you more than enough traction for the track (until you get a lot of seat time and move to the big brake kits and all the other track performance mods).

If you choose to take a car to the track on a some what regular basis, i don;t think burning tires up can be a concern. Unless you have some bad camber or alignment wear, tires are a cost of keeping you at and on the track. 17 versus 16 will give you thinner side walls and less roll. you would be hard pressed to find any 265,275,285/35 tires for 16 inch wheels.
my2cents

About the biggest you'll fit on stock rims on the FD is 245's.

your right, I forgot we were talking about stock wheels.

I have seen a crazy guy stretch a 205 on his 16x8 . WOW!!!

Ya I want to lay down the rubber, try to get wide a$$ tires, thats why. My track time isnt alot either maybe once every 3 months w/e the paycheck can afford ;).

If you track time isn't all that much, you are really better off using the stock rims.

The Kumho tires are great, but I was thinking of Hooshiers or some slicks to use for the track? Some that will last me like 3 track events at the LEAST!

I've heard the Hoosiers have better grip, but the Kumho's last longer. I don't have any personal experience myself, so it's hearsay.

I'm plan to be using Kumho's this year.

Whatd you use this past year and how were they?

The Hoosiers are a better grip tire, ofcourse they are a full slick, but the Kumhos will last a bit longer and can be more perdictable for a starting off racer. What I mean is the Kumhos have a tread pattern and are a DOTish tire. You have been driving on street legal DOT tires and you are used to them. This affords you some confidence. You know when they are going to break loose and when they can be pushed more. A full slick will take time to get used to and you will not know its give point. Start out on a Kumho/Toyo/Nitto/Falken. RCompound tire. Move to full slicks because you have to (much cooler reason!).

again just 2cents

massi

Great post massi!

I used just normal street tires. IMO, I would do as massi suggested. First, get used to street tires on the track. Then upgrade to a higher performance non-racing slick tire like the Kumhos, then eventually slicks.

The streets tires let you know when you are getting close to the edge with that loud screeching noise. The racing slicks don't, they just give without the same kind of warning.

Well Ive driven high performance tires, and the udnersteer is just really bad like on , on ramps and off ramps. My rode with my friend this past weekend at Sebring in his WRX and he had Michellen Pilot Sport 2s and they were slipping bad, he was nearly drifting the car! He had really bad oversteer? (when the back comes out) yet as soon as he got on the gas he would get it back inline.

Trust me, driving on the street is NOTHING compared to driving on the track. The tires I used were some crappy old Goodyears which I never would have thought could do the things I was doing (even in the rain).

Do a few events with your street tires first, you'll be amazed at what they can really do.

Seat time is more important than mods to the car.

True true, well at least my suspension ( the thump) has to get fixed at LEAST, then change all fluids and then get pads and Im off to the races ;), the legal ones that is.

SO very true!

One thing to watch out for when choosing a tire. The better the quality rubber used, such as the previously mentioned Michelin Pilot Sports, the better wear you will get. Cheaper tires or poorly constructed bargin tires will not have a good temperature rating or soft enough compound. When they are pushed to their respective limits for a long period of time (without cool down time) they will break up and the tread blocks will actually fall apart. THis is horrible and will ruin your otherwise happy day. A very simple but not the best way to avoid this is to pick a low tread where tire which usually translates to a high performance tire. Look for summer tires and lack of water channels ;) .

let the good times begin

massi

DAMN MASSI.

DAMN MASSI, CONTINUED

IT MUST HAVE TAKEN YOU 10 HOURS TO POST ALL THIS. WITH YOUR SLOW ASS TYPING. HAHA

Fatman:

Were you riding in the silver WRX at Sebring?

I was in the Montego Blue FD #211 (Saturday only), and then I hung with my buddy in his white over red 911. You couldn't miss him, probably the loudest car there.

David