As the title says. Need high performance tires for FD. Don't care about wet traction or DOT approval. The tire needs a strong sidewall as the car will focus on road racing and hard cornering. I was looking at the bfg tires, but those are drag radials meaning the sidewall isn't strong enough. Then I was looking at toyo ra1. any suggestions?

thanks.

Chris

 

It sounds like you want DOT R-compound tires. Legal for the street, but wear out quickly and some aren't very durable when faced with road debris. So the really don't make good street tires. They are good for doing open track events.

Is that what you want? Or do you really need a sticky street tire?

-Max

 

In addition, even though if you say don't care about wet traction, be aware that competition oriented "dry" tires come with little thread which wears out quickly (5/32-6/32" vs. 9/32-10/32" on street tires) or basically no thread at all (maybe a couple of circumferential grooves. Little thread and rainy days make a very dangerous cocktail.

If you still want to settle for a dual purpose tire, I know of people happy with the Kumho Victoracers. However, you should use them responsibly on the street and replace them often as the thread wears out. You could still use them on the track (unless it rains). But, at that point, why not using two separate sets - one for the the street and one for the track?

- Sandro

 

When I still had my 91 GTR over here in Japan (I really did own a BNR32), I purchased a set of the BFGoodrich g-force TA/KDW2's. Really good performing tires. I'll probably pick up a set for my FD this spring

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ce+T%2FA+KDW+2

 

i'm about to buy some azenis 615's:
http://www.vulcantire.com/azenis_rt615_t.htm
245/45R17 99W 613 $112
275/40R17 98W 610 $143
Subtotal: $510.00
Shipping Type: UPS Ground - $38.00
Total: $548.00



http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...ance&tc=FALHH7
245/45R-17 99W XL B $126.00
275/40R-17 98W BLK $158.00
FREE UPS Ground Shipping (Other Shipping Options) $0.00
Total "Out the Door" Price $568.00


http://www.edgeracing.com/tires/2754017/
245/45R17 $117
275/40R1728 $146
Items Total: $526.00
Shipping & Handling $55.76
Total $581.76

 

Your front tire size is wrong, you would want a 245/40, not a 245/45.

 

If you want an extreme street tire, go to www.tirerack.com and look at their "extreme performance" tires. Also look at the Falken Azenis RT-615. If you want a R-compound tire that is also streetable, the Toyo RA-1 or Yoko A048 are really your only options. If you want a non-streetable R-compound (as in you trailer the car or swap wheels at track), there are several choices, the most common being the Hoosier R-series, Kumho V710 or Victorracer, Michelin Sport Cup, etc.

 

Right now you can get Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s for a very good price. I just bought a set in stock tire size (225/50R16) for $105/ea. That's $50/ea less than usual.

It's an outstanding tire in terms of grip, durability, and price in the "Extreme Performance" category. They will perform very well on the track for a street tire. I don't suggest buying an R-compound tire until you have a lot of experience doing performance driving. They are harder to drive safely near the limits of traction, are less forgiving, and wear out quickly.

Dave

 

thanks but since i use 275/40 which is 25.7 inches tall, shouldn't i get the 245/45 which is also 25.7 inches tall?
this is just going to be a street tire. i have dedicated r compound race tires that i'll stick with unless its raining. meaning i won't beat the crap out of these "street" tires. whataya think?

 

Just about any good street tire will be fine on the track, and especially if you're new to the track driving scene you should stay on street tires, because they give better feel and more warning of loss of grip (generally) than race tires will, besides, any out of control situations will happen at lower speeds for less destructive potential.

 

Best advice!

 

I used the michelin cup sports on my sti on the street and they were fine. I've never tried the kumho v710 or victorracers though.

I don't think I can use any street tires. It needs to be super stick. Oh and I forgot to mention that they need to come in 335-345 sizes. Depending, i'm not sure which size I will be going with yet. I just need to stop the rear end from breaking away even on straight runs.

 

CRock,

If you are looking for something on the street, then look for an A Compound tire. They are designed to be stickier than a street tire, but come up to temp quicker than a track tire (as well as last longer than a track tire). I can't imagine an R Compound lasting all that long with only street use (not to mention being a little unsafe until its at temperature).

 

I'll have to see, it depends. I just don't want to end up wasting money on tires that wont grip for me.

 

I think the real waste would be spending hundreds of dollars on race tires that don't grip properly in street driving conditions.

While a race tire is sticky, it's only really grippy when it's at temperature. The vast majority of the time, a race tire will not be up to temperature. Just because a street tire can't achieve the peak grip of an R-compound, doesn't mean the R-compound will give you the grip you need when you need it on the street.

Dave

 

Um....do you have widebody rear fenders? If not, you aren't even close to fitting tires that wide.

 

Only if you want to see how quickly you can wear through the fender liner and shred your wiring harnesses.

 

I'm confused. Are these tires strictly for track use or for street use?

R compound tires will not have more grip on the street because you'll never be able to heat them.

 

Changed as noted.

 

I'm not using fender flares, im tubbing the rear and moving the additional width inward. These tires will be used for street and track. R compounds should reach temperatures on the street based on my experience with the sti. Even when colder than optimal temperatures, they still gripp way better than hi-perf street tires.

 

They must have been sucky R compounds or you must not realize how much more grip they have when at optimal temps.

 

There are days when I have to make 2 or 3 runs at auto-x on a cold day before I can get R-compounds up to temp. There's no way I'm going to get them warm on the street.

And unless you relocate the rear trailing arms, there's also no way you're going to fit anything bigger than a 295 without fender flares or a widebody kit.

I'm using 17x9.5 with a +43 w/ 275's and I have only 3/4" clearance on the inside leftover.

 

like i said, it's getting tubbed out so everything needed will be relocated. I had michellin sport cups, they warmed up pretty well on my canyon runs.

 

He should be able to fit 315/30/18s on the rear with the fenders rolled flat.

 

i used v700 245/45/17 up front all season last year and no rub at all.
my very good friend/race buddy always ran 245/45 up front (or 255/40 but preferred the 245/45’s) and 275/40 in the rear as well with NO issues. we are both at 26 inches ride height.

even with crazy lean under heavy braking on bumpy lot, no rub with 245-45-17's up front.