Quote:
Originally Posted by Got Insulin?
Looking into the future a bit, I'm definitely interested in getting some track-day time under my belt and I think starting with wheels and tires is a good spot aside from seat time.
The wheels are the 949 6uL's in an 8" width, so I guess I'm looking for something in the 205-225 territory. I'm hesitant to go with an r-comp, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks!
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If you've never had any time on a track I would suggest you not get any R-Comps or DOT Rs. Those kinds of race rubbers do not give you any feedback at the limit—they stick until all of the sudden ... they don't. No warning and you're backwards or in the dirt.
Ultra high-performance (UHP) summer tires will squeal or whine a bit telling you to back it down a notch. The best in the game right now are the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec, Toyo R1R, Bridgestone RE11, and Hankook RS3. You will benefit from being able to run them rain or shine and from the feedback they provide.
I'm currently running the RS3s and am really liking them (12K miles, four days on track and another few days left in them). On our track cars (two Integras and an E30) we run the Z1s and have seen superb life from them (18 hours of continuous abuse in one race and we then ran the same sets later at Summit with three drivers [another 7 hours of flogging]). Both the RS3 and Z1 hold up well under continuous heat (they do not get greasy like the god-awful RT615s did [more on the Azenis in a moment]) and they perform respectably in the wet—though they take a while longer to get hot in cool, wet conditions (found that out after two laps a couple weekends ago).
I'm sure you could search and find a rant by me about how I think the Falken Azenis RT615 are the worst possible UHP tire...while they were _decent_ when they were first out (truthfully they were the only game in town which made them the best by default) every tire manufacturer on the scene now has a much better option. The new, RT615K is light years better than the RT615, but still not in the same realm as the RS3, RE11, or Z1. Plus the RT615K are more spendy than the other options.
All of that said, if you can get a killer deal on some cast-off Toyo R888 or RA1s you should get them, but I would not suggest you use them for your first few times on the track...R888 are a little more forgiving, but still a DOT certified race tire with all the good and bad that goes with them.
225s on the 15x8s are excellent. I ran 225s on 7s and it was a bit to much stress on the sidewalls--it lowered the spring rate too much.