Track Rubber

[m30dus]

Hi, am trying to decide on a wheel/tyre combination for my E46 M3 track car. I like the look of the CSL wheel and them being lightweight has got to be a big bonus. Being that the car is only for track use I'm thinking the 19" CSL wheel will kill me on tyres (£££) and maybe an 18" setup would be the best bet?

Browsing a few other posts it looks like the Cup tyres win hands down over the Toyo 888's - opinions welcome? Also can anyone point me in the direction of some nice lightweight 18" rims?

Thanks in advance.

[mat205125]

Brands and sizes will be massively more available in 18"

Trackday specific tyres like 888s will provide more grip for faster cornering, however track days aren't about ulitmate lap times at the end of the day. You can have just as much, or more, fun at lower speeds than a 888 (or similar) will offer.

A predictable and dependable tyre will give the most fun, and maybe cost less and last longer than a more specialised tyre. Don't leap for a semi-slick straight away just because you can .... especially if you are running just one set of wheels and driving the car to and from the circuits. This kind of tyre is no fun what so ever on the motorway on the way home when the summer heavens open.

[phatgixer]

Cups rock.

[carl_w]

The problem with using road tyres on a track is that unless you're very careful about limiting the length of your sessions, the block shift on the tyres will cause them to overheat. Once that occurs, they'll start to unravel like Swiss rolls.