How much grip is too much - Is more grip always better

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

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deviant
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Re: How much grip is too much - Is more grip always better

Postby deviant » Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:08 pm

Davex3 wrote:
deviant wrote:On my old track MX5 it had to have 16in rims to fit over the brakes but I found that there are few optimal tyre sizes in a 16in that would work with my car. They were either to tall profile or right in the profile but to wide. Looking at R888's the 45 profile tyres are all to wide, 595 RSR only has two sizes of which one would work, KU36 only has one size which would be a smidge to wide. RE55 and A048 semi slicks have the same problems.

I ended up running R1R tyres. Of the 3 sizes they do in a 16 one of them was the size I wanted. Good tyres, quicker than a road tyre but still a way off a semi slick. Not suited to sustained lapping though.

13-15in rims are popular motorsport wheel sizes so there is a good range of tyres in those sizes and at better prices to. Dunlop slicks for the 15in rims on my race car are around $400 each.


I don't really understand "too wide". All those tyres will fit no problems on a 16x8" rim and all on an MX5, you could even fit them on a 16x7 or 9. It is true a 15" rim is optimal for an NA or NB, but the point of my post was pointing out there are plenty of decent tyres available for a 16" rim.


The tyres rubbed under compression and lock. Anything bigger than a 45 profile or 205 width on a 16 X 8 would rub. My guards were rolled and flared as much as we could without the panel gaps opening up and I still had them rubbing. We could fix it by compromising the set up or by not being aggressive through some corners but that is not an ideal solution.

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Re: How much grip is too much - Is more grip always better

Postby Sailor » Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:41 pm

zombie wrote:As you probably gathered from my post in your other thread, I'm firmly in the camp of more grip = more better :mrgreen:

I run the stickiest tyres I can legally get away with, and it has definitely improved the fun level for me. There's no substitute for the G-forces enjoyed in high corner speeds. :D


I'm with you Matt.
I'm Ohhh sooo tempted to buy a set of 17X9 RPF1 and fit a set of 245/40 Kumho V710 for trackdays :twisted:
A set of Hotchkiss bars and a 4.1 and I'd have a train.

Hell I'm gonna end up in an 3J or SV class anyway :lol:
Rob


05 NCLE, Cosworth SC,PF01,Ohlins,Selby,GWR exh
"We're only given a tiny spark of madness.We mustn't lose it"(Robin Williams)

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Re: How much grip is too much - Is more grip always better

Postby NitroDann » Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:00 pm

But they dont sell a lot of them, compared to a 195/50r15, and so prices are way up (80% or so according to that bloke who i quoted).

Dann
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speed wrote:If I was to do it again, I wouldn't even consider the supercharger.


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