track tyre questions for you motorsport guys

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:36 pm

hey guys,

i'm getting WAY ahead of myself here, but anyway.

i'm planning on some track days this year. not sure how serious i am going to get but i'm trying to plan ahead.

so here are my 2 questions.

say if i wanted to buy a set of road legal semi slicks or similar for the track... which of my 2 sets of wheels will it be easier / cheaper to find them for:
my 15 x 6's, or my 16 x 7's?

also, will either of these wheel sizes clearly outperform the other on the track ?

the reason i am asking is because i don't need my 16 x 7's anymore and was thinking of selling them. BUT if they will clearly outperform my 15 x 6's on the track, then i'll probably hold on to them.

i probably haven't phrased these questions very well but hopefully you guys get where i'm coming from.

thanks,

james

Samselectrics · Postby **Samselectrics** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:36 pm

James,
You're only going to want 205's at the most but probably 195's so they'll fit on both rims. If they were the same style and brand of wheel, the 6\" wheels would be better simply because they'd be lighter. However, in most cases wheel weights vary dramatically so the short answer would be the lightest is better.

Tyres cost a fortune and unless you set the car up with regard to alignment, you'll chew out new tyres very quickly. Not sure if you've been on track but I'd save my tyre money and do a few track days till you get the hang of it. By then you'll be able to answer the questions yourself. The motorsport guys (like all men) love to give advice and some of them even know what they're talking about (though I'd consult your doctor for a second opinion). :mrgreen:

Seeya on the black stuff.

Boags · Postby **Boags** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:13 pm

What Sam said is VERY good advice IMO. I'd only add this:

16\" is a difficult size to find good tyres in, and they are going to be MUCH more expensive in 16\" than 15\".

Buy some Nankangs and chew the hell outta them, then replace with good stuff! :mrgreen:

Boags

PS - Been at QR all day, gotta love motorsport...

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:21 pm

thanks guys.

ok then i'll probly just sell my 16 nich rims then. you guys have confirmed what i had suspected.

cheers.

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:29 pm

15 inch motorsport tyres start at about $250, so I can only imagine what the 16's would be worth! :shock:

Postby **orx626** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:35 pm

Craig wrote:15 inch motorsport tyres start at about $250, so I can only imagine what the 16's would be worth!

The tyre companies who manufacture motorsport tyres have a dislike for 16 inch rubber. Heaps of different sizes in 15 inch and just as many in 17 inch.

Cheers,
Danny

irwin83r · Postby **irwin83r** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:52 pm

AHHH!!!!

dont sell dont sell!!

the best thing you can do if you have room is have two sets of tyres.

semi slicks on the road can be noisy and will wear out rather quickly.

if you have the space keep your pretty looking wheels for the road with some decent road rubber and keep your 15's in storage with the track rubber on them.

however if your only going to be going to the track 2 or 3 times a year i'd just stick to good road rubber unless you have deep pockets

Samselectrics · Postby **Samselectrics** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:27 pm

irwin83r wrote:AHHH!!!!

dont sell dont sell!!

the best thing you can do if you have room is have two sets of tyres.

semi slicks on the road can be noisy and will wear out rather quickly.

if you have the space keep your pretty looking wheels for the road with some decent road rubber and keep your 15's in storage with the track rubber on them.

however if your only going to be going to the track 2 or 3 times a year i'd just stick to good road rubber unless you have deep pockets

I must admit. I have 4 sets of wheels and about 6 sets of tyres in all svariables of size and condition. They do come in handy. A lot of peop like the 16's for the road.
Good option

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:07 pm

nope i'm sick of my 16's for the road. i'm sick of the look of them, too flashy, and have bought a set of stock nb8a 15's to replace them.

but yeah down the track i might pick up a second set of 15 inch rims of some description for the track tyres. but as i said in the first post, i'm getting ahead of myself wiith this kind of thinking anyway .