Track Tyre Recommendations for my 944

[A911DOM]

Hi,

Apologies if this is going over old ground, but being a tad on the stupid side I need someone to tell me what my options are regarding sizes of tyres I can stick on my 15 inch teledial alloys for my 944 track project.

The (rather poor) tyres on the car at the moment are 195 / 60 / r15's all round - but I would like to shod it with something along the lines of the Toyo 888's or similar track orientated rubber.

So, my question is - what size tyre can I fit on these rims to give maximum width / grip without buying a new set of alloys on my tight budget.

(I also have some GAZ suspension on its way, so maybe a lower profile tyre to allow for lowering of the car might be appropriate???)

Help and advice greatly appreciated so I can fill my shopping basket with track related goodies again.

Cheers

[frodo_monkey]

If you do go for a lower profile then 195/50R15 are used on quite a lot of things like 205s etc - it was one of the cheapest profiles I could find when I used to race one on R888s. Toyos will be fine, as would A048s or anything like that...

[A911DOM]

frodo_monkey said:

If you do go for a lower profile then 195/50R15 are used on quite a lot of things like 205s etc - it was one of the cheapest profiles I could find when I used to race one on R888s. Toyos will be fine, as would A048s or anything like that...

And presumably a more popular size = easier to find and cheaper to buy!?

Am I better to use spacers to give a 'wider track' - or is there much benefit to be had from a slightly wider tyre on the same sized rim!?

Thanks for the response!
Dom

[edh]

you're not going to find much difference between 195's and 205's - go for the cheaper option

are the wheels 6" wide? - if so then that's probably about right for width.

better suspension is definitely required for these tyres - Gaz seems like a good option.

[A911DOM]

Okay, thanks - I wont worry too much about tyre profiles then...

and Yes I believe i'm on 6" rims at the mo (but need to check to be sure).

Okay - so now who's the best people to get these tyres from, order online and get fitted myself, or save the hassle - pay a bit of a premium and buy and fit them in one go?

I suspect I'm going to have my usual dilemma of buying here in Belgium or saving on the initial outlay in the UK, then having to get them fitted.

[mat205125]

IIRC 888's can only be purchased from Toyo themselves.

WRT spacers, if you are going just for the simple holed disc type, then you must ensure that you don't go to thick so that the wheel no longer mounts on the hub centre. In all seriousness, unless you have upgraded the calipers and need spacers to clear the brakes, don't bother. Whilst you will gain from additional track in terms of stability, you increase the loads on all suspension components, effectively alter the wheel offset from factory (not ideal), and alter the direction that the forces transmit through the dampers and springs away from what porsche developed .... Trackdays are about fun, so keep your can handling sweet and predicably rather than chase tenths of a second over a lap.

[A.Wang]

I'll be running Toyo R888s on my 944 - they are 16" wheels though, so I'll be getting 245/45/16 all round.

Try Camskill - they are by far the cheapest for R888s (and other track tyres).

[A911DOM]

A.Wang said:

I'll be running Toyo R888s on my 944 - they are 16" wheels though, so I'll be getting 245/45/16 all round.

Try Camskill - they are by far the cheapest for R888s (and other track tyres).

Hi Andy.

Thanks for the tip - I'll look up Camskill and see what they can do.
Have you had much / any use out of your 944 yet?
Im still getting mine ready to be run. Gaz shocks turned up yesterday, and booked in to mechanic next week to fit and get the buckets and harnesses in.

How did you approach your project? ie from a standard road car or ready done track car!? I'd be interested in any links hints and tips for parts / contacts etc for bits as and when I need them!

Dom

[chevin]

I run 888s on my 924, and they're great. 195/50-14s. If I used the 15" wheels that I have, I'd go for 205/45 or something similar. Camskill are also cheapest, IMHO.

[A.Wang]

A911DOM said:

A.Wang said:

I'll be running Toyo R888s on my 944 - they are 16" wheels though, so I'll be getting 245/45/16 all round.

Try Camskill - they are by far the cheapest for R888s (and other track tyres).

Hi Andy.

Thanks for the tip - I'll look up Camskill and see what they can do.
Have you had much / any use out of your 944 yet?
Im still getting mine ready to be run. Gaz shocks turned up yesterday, and booked in to mechanic next week to fit and get the buckets and harnesses in.

How did you approach your project? ie from a standard road car or ready done track car!? I'd be interested in any links hints and tips for parts / contacts etc for bits as and when I need them!

Dom

I have taken the car out on 5 track days in 2009 so far, with 2 booked at the end of August (and I can imagine 3-4 before it gets too wet and horrible). It's currently in the shop for a round of further upgrades...

My car was converted from a completely standard 944 S2 with an interior that was almost too good to strip out, picked up at a bargain price on eBay in late 2008. I then approached Kevin Eacock @ EMC Motorsport to discuss modifications on the car...and in late April this year, I took delivery of one of the best cars I have driven in my young life.

Drop me a mail if you want a list of things I've done on it - I'm fairly sure there are at least 2 threads on PH about them, which tend to get a bit boring!

[Big 968 Dave]

Im NOT a fan of the Toyo R888,s, as they are in my opinion, too soft a compound for use on a 944 .They maybee ok on a 924 as they are lighter, but the extra weight of the 944/968 cars seem to make the Toyo,s "go off" too quickly...
Yes the R888,s are reasonably priced, but if your after THE ultimate track / road tyre then you wont go far wrong with the Dunlop D01j,[now discontinued], or as its now know,,,DZ03G... BUT they dont come cheap....
The Michelin pilot sport CUP tyres are good, but still not as good as the Dunlops...
Ive tried numerous tyres on numerous 944-968 varients + this is the tyre im using....Dunlop all the way for me..

[HAB]

A.Wang said:

they are 16" wheels though, so I'll be getting 245/45/16 all round.

245 is too wide for the front of an S2. 944's handle better with a slighly narrrower tyre on the front. You'll eat wheel bearings, lose steering feel,and you'll probably have clearance issues with 245. 225's are a better option.

Edited by HAB on Tuesday 28th July 18:38

[Big 968 Dave]

HAB said:

A.Wang said:

they are 16" wheels though, so I'll be getting 245/45/16 all round.

245 is too wide for the front of an S2. 944's handle better with a slighly narrrower tyre on the front. You'll eat wheel bearings, lose steering feel,and you'll probably have clearance issues with 245. 225's are a better option.

Edited by HAB on Tuesday 28th July 18:38

Do you have first hand experience about this.????
The reason i ask,, the PCGB racers ALL use the 245 /16 tyre on the front, in fact all round...On 8" /16" wheels....This is a track forum not a road forum after all....

[A.Wang]

Big 968 Dave said:

HAB said:

A.Wang said:

they are 16" wheels though, so I'll be getting 245/45/16 all round.

245 is too wide for the front of an S2. 944's handle better with a slighly narrrower tyre on the front. You'll eat wheel bearings, lose steering feel,and you'll probably have clearance issues with 245. 225's are a better option.

Edited by HAB on Tuesday 28th July 18:38

Do you have first hand experience about this.????
The reason i ask,, the PCGB racers ALL use the 245 /16 tyre on the front, in fact all round...On 8" /16" wheels....This is a track forum not a road forum after all....

^ what Dave said...

The 245/45/16 size was recommended to me as that's what race-prep'd 944s run on. Also the aim is to kill understeer and the front end will no doubt be set up to work with them. WRT wheel bearings, I suspect that'll be treated as a consumable part and checked/changed regularly.

I'd love to get narrower R888s as I balk at the price, even from Camskill, but if I'm told by Kevin to put 245 rubber on a car that he's set up for me, I'm inclined not to argue.

[Nurburgsingh]

What they both said...

I ran my S2 on track with 8's all round on 245/24/16's. Transformed the behaviour of the car on track. It went from being prone to understeer to biting and turning on the button. No issues with clearence and if anything the steering felt a hell of a lot better.

As for the type of tyre... if the budget will allow it then the PilotSportCup is the way to go, otherwise 888's and i have even seen cars run well on the Kuhmo V70 (?)

[HAB]

Big 968 Dave said:

HAB said:

A.Wang said:

they are 16" wheels though, so I'll be getting 245/45/16 all round.

245 is too wide for the front of an S2. 944's handle better with a slighly narrrower tyre on the front. You'll eat wheel bearings, lose steering feel,and you'll probably have clearance issues with 245. 225's are a better option.

Edited by HAB on Tuesday 28th July 18:38

Do you have first hand experience about this.????
The reason i ask,, the PCGB racers ALL use the 245 /16 tyre on the front, in fact all round...On 8" /16" wheels....This is a track forum not a road forum after all....

Oops! My mistake, I meant for a road car, not a dedicated track toy.