15" tyre advise to handle a power increase on an SE

[billybunter]

At the moment I have 15" Kuhmo Ecsta LX Tyres on the SE. They have done the job well but shortly I will be going for a 300 plus RWHP ugrade so I think I might as well upgrade the tyres to handle the job a bit better/safer.
I wouldn't mind a few opinions on 15" tyres suitable enough to handle the job. Budget - well I don't want to go silly on high priced tyres - so nothing above $1200 for the full set of 4.
Have no interest in tracking the car...too old for that plus I have no interest in it. Just a good set of tyres to handle the power and higher speed would be fine by me.

[hks_kansei]

Frankly, what you have will do fine for road use and road speeds.


if you're due for new ones i'd be looking at S specs, which are at that weird line between a semi slick and a regular tyre.

Semis are an option, but unless you get a super soft compound you'll need to warm them up (and thye'll wear pretty quick)


I'd just pick a good S Spec and try to fit as much tyre as I can on the rim.

[greenMachine]

How plus is the 'plus'? Gearbox breaking plus?

If you are heading into that territory, and I know Dan manages torque in his installations, I would still use low(er) traction rubber rather than higher traction (stickier) tyres as a further safety valve to protect the gearbox.

If you are into full throttle starts and long 100% throttle acceleration runs, sticky rubber may be the go to get the max performance from the upgrade. In that case you will need full confidence that the drive train can transmit that power for that usage, and you should talk to Dan about what (if any) drivetrain mods may be required.

[billybunter]

Back again. Put my reply in the wrong thread.

Thanks for the replies. I might be getting a bit carried away on the HP quote -it might be less. I rang Bob Jane about "S" spec tyres and the guy said the new Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R would be good enough for a Mazda and would be fine in 205x50x15.
That's works out at $185 a tyre fitted not balanced. The next size up is 225 but I am not sure if it will fit on the rims or not. Price on the tyre seems cheap if its any good ?

[billybunter]

Stuffed if I know...one of those days. Price is fitted and balanced per wheel but extra for the wheel alignment

[project.r.racing]

They are good tyres. But they ain't new.

[bruce]

Like Greenmachine said;
Would you prefer to lose traction or break a gearbox/diff? Having super-sticky tyres is not always a benefit.
I run Bridgestone RE-002 and they're fine unless you really hammer it (I've got a full stable of horses under my bonnet). When you lose traction it is a warning to back off.

[pepejesus]

Bridgestone RE003s for a true road tyre, Advan AD08Rs or Hankook RS3s for something that is a road/track hybrid type tyre.

[billybunter]

I'd say I am really easy on the car. I have never hit the rev limit once in any lower gears up to 5th gear in 4 years of ownership. This move on the upgrade is more to say -it's got it if required plus I want to see a dyno sheet but as to using it's potential - it might never happen.
the opportunity is there to let dann give it a bit of a work over so I really have nothing better to do than see what happens. I might be going up a power increase but if you know what I mean I am in no hurry for a quick exit....lol
these tyres have been on the car 4 years and although they have travelled only 20k I am thinking a bit better set of tread may be worthwhile to run with the new upgrades

[pepejesus]

Also I can't believe the suggestions to use crappier tyres when you've got more power in order to save your gearbox, it's nonsensical.

Would you also recommend downgrading your clutch in a 300+hp build?

[hks_kansei]

Also I can't believe the suggestions to use crappier tyres when you've got more power in order to save your gearbox, it's nonsensical.

Would you also recommend downgrading your clutch in a 300+hp build?

Look at it this way.
$500 clutch vs $3,000 gearbox rebuild

$300 of tyres vs $1,000 Torsen replacement


Think of it like a fuse in electrical systems.
It's often easier to design in a known weak point that's easy and cheap to replace.
Of course, the best option is to replace the whole system with items sized for the task.

[NitroDann]

Guys, the gearbox will be absolutely fine. Forget that.

The car will have almost little enough peak torque to use a stock engine even -smooth as silk and legs for days, and he has a 6 speed, and he doesnt bang shift it, and its a street car.

What do you guys think given these circumstances? AD08? NT01? or a softer tyre for comfort and ride quality?

[hks_kansei]

What do you guys think given these circumstances? AD08? NT01? or a softer tyre for comfort and ride quality?

Really depends what other factors.

Wet weather use?

I know Billy went on a trip to the NT, including dirt roads, any more planned?


Ideally something like the AD08 or similar, since it covers most boxes. And a cheapo set of spare wheels fitted with some normal road tyres for the interstate trips (just remount the current tyres)

[billybunter]

This reminds me of my bird breeding and mutation crosses on the bird forum ...touchy subject! if i'd know it excites I would have let it go. I don't even know if the car has 8" or 9" rims...lol
if I go north I don't plan to run any more dirt road stuff. I photographed the finches on the last run so I have now covered that side of it.
whatever dann decides to do is fine by me. i'm only supplying the car. as for how i'd drive it as a rule I never speed so i'd say it's in for a very easy life.
the reason for the tyre idea was simple. a fair few new parts are going on the car. some would think if i did all that work and was then too miserable to get myself a good set of tyres. so I thought once the work is done I will do that but no suspension work.
crook back so I couldn't handle it and that would ruin it for me. that's the main reason I got rid of the factory 17". what about I just go for the Yokohama's and that will solve the issue
I think when dann starts the work - if he wants he can tell what he doing - don't ask me!... i'm flat out telling you what day it is

[pepejesus]

What do you guys think given these circumstances? AD08? NT01? or a softer tyre for comfort and ride quality?

If it's not going to hit the track at least semi-regularly, RE003 all day erry day.

They are magic as a street tyre.