Track day tyres

[Gr44]

Hi all

I'm looking at possibly buying some track day wheels and tyres for two reasons....

More grip and fun and 19" tyres are relatively expensive!

I have an e92 330i m sport which currently has 225/35/19 on the front and 255/30/19 on the rear.

I could put 225/45/17 all round which would keep the speedo in check but I was concerned if I should keep the rears wider as per the current specs?

Would really appreciate some advise from you!

Many thanks

Sean

[TDIfurby]

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m117b0s665p0/Track_Day_T...

take your pick

Kumho V70A are seriously good, but I noticed they don't have hard compound in stock (best for longevity VS grip in my opinion)

I'd try the Nankangs possibly (ignore the usual Nankang Rep) and the 595RSR are also a good track tyre. I have yet to try the four I have, waiting to go on rims.

[Gr44]

Thanks furby!

In terms of the actual tyre sizes does anyone have a view? I haven't bought wheels yet so I'm unsure if I should get 225/45/17 all round or stagger it so 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear?

Thanks

[Dan Friel]

I'm about to buy some summer tyres, mixture of road use (lots), hillclimbs and the odd track day. Doesn't seem to be much between the candidates discussed here. Yokos are a bit more expensive, but never seen a bad review and come with full tread depth. Unless I can find the federals cheap somewhere (need 195 / 50 / 15)..

[edh]

Lots of people run RWD cars with a square setup on tracks - seems to help curb the understeer inherent in most RWD road car setups. You could maybe also look at going wider all round. 225/45/17 is a cheap tyre size though.

Might be worth seeing if you can pick up some s/h tyres in that size to experiment with

[Trackdaytyres]

[quote=Gr44]Thanks furby!

In terms of the actual tyre sizes does anyone have a view? I haven't bought wheels yet so I'm unsure if I should get 225/45/17 all round or stagger it so 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear?

Thanks


I would look at the set up that you have quoted, but would check clearance for you brake disc first,
www.serviceandsport.com are doing a good deal on federals rsr's and on 201's

[joe_90]

What about the Federals FZ-201's I have them on my bmw track car, and they work a treat, got a set of 4 used once (for qualifying) from ebay for 350 delivered.

Bargin:

Edited by joe_90 on Tuesday 11th March 13:23

[Gaz Walton]

I have been using the Federal RSR's for a couple of years and to be honest they are very good and great value, also they last a long time.

The next set I have lined up are the new DMACK trackday tyres as I have been recommend these by a friend to be better than the RSR and toyo 888 , these also come with a steel sidewall and are supposed to be more track focused but they cost a bit for than the Federals.

Gaz

[JayK12]

Gaz Walton said:

I have been using the Federal RSR's for a couple of years and to be honest they are very good and great value, also they last a long time.

The next set I have lined up are the new DMACK trackday tyres as I have been recommend these by a friend to be better than the RSR and toyo 888 , these also come with a steel sidewall and are supposed to be more track focused but they cost a bit for than the Federals.

Gaz

What car did he use the DMACK tyres on? I need a new set was looking at FZ-201s but the DMACKs look interesting also.

[Gr44]

Thanks for the responses

In terms of the actual tyre sizes - any more views on square setup (225/45/17 all round) or staggered as above?

I currently have these on the car:

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/...

Front alloy wheels: 19x8" ET37

Rear alloy wheels: 19x9" ET39

If I get 17"'s should they be the same offset? Not really sure how that works?

Looking at a staggered set on their the offsets seem differant, eg:

Front alloy wheels: 17x8" ET34

Rear alloy wheels: 17x8.5" ET37

Thanks

Sean

[andycaca]

I would imagine the offset is lesser on the front wheels in order to allow more brake caliper clearance. thats how it works in my experience, with beefy 4+pots up front and 2+ pots at the rear.

[Trev450]

joe_90 said:

What about the Federals FZ-201's I have them on my bmw track car, and they work a treat, got a set of 4 used once (for qualifying) from ebay for 350 delivered.

Edited by joe_90 on Tuesday 11th March 13:23

Have you used 888's and if so how do they compare to the Federals?

[gruffalo]

Trev450 said:

joe_90 said:

What about the Federals FZ-201's I have them on my bmw track car, and they work a treat, got a set of 4 used once (for qualifying) from ebay for 350 delivered.

Edited by joe_90 on Tuesday 11th March 13:23

Have you used 888's and if so how do they compare to the Federals?

Not as good as the Feds is my feeling.

[Gaz Walton]

JayK12 said:

What car did he use the DMACK tyres on? I need a new set was looking at FZ-201s but the DMACKs look interesting also.

My mate used them on his clio rs 200

But I have heard good things about them from a different people at the track with varying types of cars so thought it was worth a go.

[joe_90]

Trev450 said:

joe_90 said:

What about the Federals FZ-201's I have them on my bmw track car, and they work a treat, got a set of 4 used once (for qualifying) from ebay for 350 delivered.

Edited by joe_90 on Tuesday 11th March 13:23

Have you used 888's and if so how do they compare to the Federals?

Only a part worn set of 888's, to me, they are no different really in all fairness. The R888's warm up faster., but the 201 cost far far far less.
I will personally not be spending the extra to get r888's again, the 201 are fine for my ability and I am not attempting to etch out a few '00's milliseconds per lap.

I am no expert in any shape or form. However the guys here seem to rate them:
http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

like this guy:

nielsen said:

I must have done about 100 laps taking passengers around Castle Combe for Forge Motorsport on saturday, and the FZ201's were brilliant, consistant lap after lap, no overheating like the 888's and much better wear rate. I normaly ruin the front left tyre going around Castle combe when using 888's but I have lot's left on the 201's.
for me it's a no brainer, the FZ201's are cheaper, have better wear rate and don't overheat like the 888's. From cold the 888's have more grip, but when the 201's get some heat in to them I would say they give more grip than the 888's and they are more consistant.

Edited by joe_90 on Sunday 16th March 19:11

[Gouki]

Federal 595 rsr gets a vote from me, you'll be shocked how long they last.

[gruffalo]

A friend tried out the Kumho v70's that I use on my TVR on his E36 M3 , he achieved around 0.2G greater cornering speed than he could get on R888 but he did damage the fronts quite quickly, rears were fine.

On the TVR they last 7K miles and around 6 track days but my mates fronts may make just 2 track days.

Very interesting how different tyres respond on different cars and to different driving styles.

[rex]

Evening Gruffalo.
The 888's I usually run get a max of 1.1 lateral g. The V70's gave a peak of 1.2g midway through the day and then tailed off in the afternoon session to a max of 1.1g
Car is a track prepared 3.0 M3 with coil overs and 2.5 deg camber on the fronts.
The tyres were brand new on the day and fitted at the track. Did about 220 miles that day. Centre section of the fronts suffered more than the outside edge as happens with the 888's and maybe 1 more day left in the fronts.
The car does have a tendency to under steer but this can be driven around. Also had a novice driving the car who could make it under steer like a shopping trolley but this was only for 20 laps or so.
I do drive it hard and know I stress the tyres but for me I have not found them to be ideal. Will try the yoko's next on the front and keep the V70's on the rear.

[Trev450]

joe_90 said:

Trev450 said:

joe_90 said:

What about the Federals FZ-201's I have them on my bmw track car, and they work a treat, got a set of 4 used once (for qualifying) from ebay for 350 delivered.

Edited by joe_90 on Tuesday 11th March 13:23

Have you used 888's and if so how do they compare to the Federals?

Only a part worn set of 888's, to me, they are no different really in all fairness. The R888's warm up faster., but the 201 cost far far far less.
I will personally not be spending the extra to get r888's again, the 201 are fine for my ability and I am not attempting to etch out a few '00's milliseconds per lap.

Edited by joe_90 on Sunday 16th March 19:11

That actually answers my question as I compete in sprints and want the tyres to heat up as quickly as possible. Guess I'll be sticking with the 888's.

[Nickjd]

The 201's need to be treated like a slick and warmed up first, they have great grip and also consistency and will survive far longer than a 888. The 888 will come on quicker and go off far quicker, but be better in the wet, although, obviously no on these tyres are good in the wet.
The Dmack does not have the same ultimate grip as the 201 but has brilliant predictability allowing you to play with the car at will. It is a very heavily constructed tyre though and fing difficult to fit.
The RS-R is a step down from all of these tyres however will last about 30% longer than a 888. There are however various qualities of RS-R. The Kumho I think lacks feel, however some people love them, Certainly not a tyre for the wet though.