Hard wearing tyres, Help and advice needed

[Texx]

By a 'V' type tread pattern, I mean tread patterns like Goodyear Eagle F1's, Toyo T1-R's, Dunlop SP Sport 9000 etc...

Something like a Michelin Pilot Sport (even these I've seen wear to the limit within 10000 road miles) would give you the best of both worlds for road and track use, but as said, a seperate set of wheels and tyres for track use would be the better option.

Don't use Toyo R888's for road use, they are a dry use road legal slick tyre and not that great in the wet. If you do opt for the track wheels option, you won't do much better than medium compound R888's, but again they only really benefit if the track is dry.

 

[GTwayne]

Toyo 888's are semi slick and your car geometry should be different for when your on track.

 

[Elaine]

O k I will look to get myself some track wheels... So what should I be looking at using on the road with light track use Michelin Pilot Sport???

 

[Texx]

For combined track and road use, I would look at:

• Toyo Proxes 4
• Continental SportContact 2
• Michelin Pilot Sport
• Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2

There are going to be a few more, but will depend on the size availability for the wheels you have.

My choice for combined use would be Continental SportContact 2's, but thats just my personal opinion.

 

[Elaine]

Does it come down to the size as well??? Again this is not something I no anything about I just get the same size everytime...

 

[Texx]

If there isn't a certain make of tyre available in the size you need, you wont be able to fit that type of tyre.

 

[Elaine]

Do I not just order them in???? Texx please dont think I am dim... well I am, but really all I normaly do is tell my mate I need new shoes and he sorts it

 

[Texx]

Sorry Elaine, what I meant was that if for example you have 195/45/15 tyres and Michelin don't make Pilot Sports in 195/45/15 then you can't buy Michelin Pilot Sports in 195/45/15 form, so you can cross them off the list.

I'm just confusing things now :homer:

 

[Elaine]

CAn I only use the size that are on there now??? Say there 195/45/15 could I change them to 195/50/15??

I only know that the number on the end is my wheels size what are the other 2 numbers for???

 

[Texx]

195/45/15's will give you the closest match to the standard tyre size and so keep you speedo more accurate (even though the stock speedo is about as accurate as licking your finger and sticking out the window and guessing how fast you are going).

195/50/15's will probably give you a better ride and a little more feed back before they lose traction.


Heres what the tyre numbers mean:

http://www.driverstechnology.com/Tyre-size-coding.htm

 

[Elaine]

195/45/15's will give you the closest match to the standard tyre size and so keep you speedo more accurate (even though the stock speedo is about as accurate as licking your finger and sticking out the window and guessing how fast you are going).

195/50/15's will probably give you a better ride and a little more feed back before they lose traction.


Heres what the tyre numbers mean:

http://www.driverstechnology.com/Tyre-size-coding.htm

Texx this has been extremely helpful thanks you so much Rep points for you!!!!

what size do you use??

 

[Texx]

I'm using 195/45/15 T1-R's on the road and 195/50/15 R888's for track use (I don't think Toyo make 888's in 195/45/15).

T1-R's and R888's are like chalk and cheese!

 

[Elaine]

Texx your a star I will get shopping

 

[Kelly]

do NOT get r888's they are road legal slicks very soft only really for track use imo texx only mentioned them cos they have a nice wide surface area on the road.. if i was you i would go for toyo T1R's or something simular. pirelli's are good also. they should last long enough once the tracking is sorted.

nothing wrong with using r888's they are on the k24 GT. They dont ever come off it! Best tyres had ever! They are just expensive and arent rated for as much mileage as 'normal' tyres. They are just very scary if you hit standing water, or drive in very heavy rain.

All the camber is adjusted for track use so dont expect high mileage out of the tyres. But plenty ppl use semi slicks for their daily cars.

 

[Trevor]

Clockwise

If your going clockwise around a track then it's your left side tyres that do most of the work.Hence they will wear oput quicker.You'd be best getting your wheel alignment done when your next set of tyres get put on.It won't be done unless you ask for it to be done.The wheels will always get balanced averytime a new tyre is put on or at least they should be.

Texx I don’t drive hard wheels pining ect really not my thing.

I do drive had on track and my last air filed day was only a few weeks ago. I find it odd that’s the left is the worst out f them as I am drive clockwise round the track so surely the right wheel would take the brunt???

I will take some pics for you if that helps but will have to wait till I get home.

Ricky again I only know what I am told… I don’t know F all about tyres or tracking was easy in the 200 as Ian sorted it out..

Thanks for everyones help this is a new area for me

 

[Elaine]

hmm.... i know its a silly idea, but when u had the coilovers installed, where the camber plates put on correctly? also where they put on the correct side, as they have L & R respectively on them... otherwise they could throw ur geomitary waaaay off..

kon

Kon where would i find if there on the right side bearing in mind they have been painted over...

Just been to a garage and it would seem my camber is way of and so is the balance…

I will order new tyres and get it all set up but if the camber is off then I can’t do anything to change it can I????

 

[Elaine]

Anyone???

 

[Matt_Seicentos]

lol I thought that was quiet good

Yes as far as I know car is spot on when driving never pulls on either side something I might need to look at???

I had Toyo T1R on mine, and they lasted around 6-8 months doing 400 miles a week, get alignement etc... checked out.

 

[Elaine]

MY worry is about the camber I dont have top mounts on my coilovers does that mean I cant change it???

 

[Texx]

Elaine, did they tell you if you had too much negative or positive camber?

If you have near identical negative camber on both sides and your tyres are not wearing away on the inner edge don't worry too much. Your main concern is front toe.

If you have positive camber then this will need to be looked at.