Anyone use 14" wheels for the track?

[gussy]

Hey guys,

I'm in the process of getting my car ready to do a few trackdays in the near future. The car is a NA6 with 185/60/14 wheels from the factory. Do you guys recommend buying a set of 15" wheels for the track in order to get a slightly wider tyre and lower profile?

Do many of you use 14" tyres on the stock rims for the track?

Thanks in advance

[Guran]

Yes I use stock 14" wheels with 185/60R14 tyres for track days. If you plan to do club trackdays or supersprints and run in the standard class, then you will have to stick with the stock wheels (true in NSW and VIC, at least). If you plan to run in modified class then you're free to change. I'll leave it to others to comment on what difference 15" makes over 14" since I've no experience there. If you don't know which class or don't plan to compete on laptimes, and/or are just starting trackdays, I'd say stick with a standard car, learn to drive it well on the track, and only then should you consider modifying it or fitting different wheels/tyres. This approach will save you money and be more rewarding in terms of developing your driving skills.

[gussy]

Thanks for the reply. What tyres do you use? Semi slicks?

[Jeo]

Guran (and most others) run Bridgestone RE001s at the club days as semi's aren't allowed in the stock class.

[Hammer]

Where are you going to do your track day?

I compete in the same class as Guran (Class 1) in NSW. And the MX5 Club of NSW only allows factory size street tyres in this class. But I believe its different on the other states in the same class.

As for what tyres....the choice of good performance tyres on this size 185/60/14 are limited. And as Jeo pointed out, a lot of us use Bridgestones Adrenalins. I use Adrenalins for their affordability (about $110ea) and IMO best type available in that size.

[Guran]

I use Bridgestone Adrenalin RE001 at the NSW MX-5 Club trackdays and Bridgestone RE55S semi-slicks at the NSW Supersprints.

15s are not allowed in the standard NA class in Victoria either, but they do permit 195 width tyres (185 only in NSW). The other thing "different" down there is that NA6s can run a catback exhaust, and early NAs can have the rear underbody chassis brace added to match the later NAs. Hammer is lucky he runs in NSW because his Clubman would not be permitted in Standard NA in VIC. Full details for VIC are here:
http://www.mx5vic.org.au/motorsport/mot ... 9-2010.pdf

Could you add your location to your profile? That way we can better advise.

[gussy]

Thanks for the reply guys.

I'm in Brisbane. I an going to a Bmw track day on Saturday and I would like some better tyres for the track. I will also join the Mx5 club soon - I didn't realise there was only different types of sizes certain clubs could run though?

Have any of you guys found the 14" tyres to have too high a profile (as in 60 profile on a 14" rim) for the track?

Once again, thanks for the replies.

[fattima]

15s are not allowed in the standard NA class in Victoria either, but they do permit 195 width tyres (185 only in NSW). The other thing "different" down there is that NA6s can run a catback exhaust, and early NAs can have the rear underbody chassis brace added to match the later NAs. Hammer is lucky he runs in NSW because his Clubman would not be permitted in Standard NA in VIC. Full details for VIC are here:
http://www.mx5vic.org.au/motorsport/mot ... 9-2010.pdf

Guran you can run 15 inch rims for standard class in Vic, many people do. It falls under the free modifications for all classes segment of the rules. Limit is on width of tyre not diameter, this was introduced so not to deter people who only swapped rims from getting lumped in with more modified cars. From memory the thinking was if someone rolls up with 18 inch rims they not likely to have a performance advantage and there was not much in the way of tyre choice in 14 inch.

I used to run RE001 tyres when I ran standard, bloody good tyre for the price.

[Guran]

Thanks fattima - I stand corrected.

A high profile tyre (eg 185/60R14) is fine for the track. It'll give you a bit more compliance in the sidewalls and a bit more clearance between your rims and the ripple strip edges (less risk of gravel rash). Just aim for a tyre pressure of not more than 40psi hot and you'll be fine with them.

Now stop wasting time and go fill out your entry form for the next MX-5 Club QLD trackday at Queensland Raceway on 5th July!

[Steampunk]

I used to run aftermarket 14" with the superseded Bridgestone G-grid III in 185/50.
I don't know the limitations on other track days up here, but the MX-5 Club of Queensland track days have no limitations on wheel/tyre sizes.

Regardless of wheel size, get a highly reputable brand and model tyre, and of course there are more performance choices for 15" wheels than 14".

[Jeo]

If you're not aiming for a specific class then go nuts, pick whatever takes your fancy.

[NMX516]

No classes up here in the MX5 Club of Queensland track days, we don't discriminate

The worst we do is group cars/drivers together by lap times so that broadly speaking, the faster guys aren't out on track at the same time as the first timers. The only real car requirements are that it is in a safe condition, and noise limits apply at Lakeside.

We don't get as many cars to our track days though as they seem to in VIC and NSW, so we don't have to be too picky about who, how, and in what, as they probably do.

As long as you have some reasonable quality tyres fitted, just go out there and have fun and learn the track and the car. It might be worth getting a sharp road/track wheel alignment done first, but otherwise just check all the fluids (perhaps change brake fluid if it's been there a while) check brake pads, pump the tyres up to at least 36psi or so, cold, and go and have some fun!

[gussy]

Thanks guys.

NMX516 - the last owner actually specced the car to what he said was "track wheel allignment" - it certainly runs a few degrees of negative camber - no toe in etc. though.

How does this affect the car on the track - better turn in etc? Does it have any implications for the road?

[NMX516]

Thanks guys.

NMX516 - the last owner actually specced the car to what he said was "track wheel allignment" - it certainly runs a few degrees of negative camber - no toe in etc. though.

How does this affect the car on the track - better turn in etc? Does it have any implications for the road?

Better mid corner grip basically. Zero front toe keeps it fairly simple, and in my opinion, more predictable. Toe in or out both have some amount of compromise, and benefit one way or the other, for the track, so zero toe seems to be a happy medium.

On the road, zero front toe will have the car wanting to follow the camber of the road to some extent, but you soon get used to that. A couple of degrees of camber is good, but requires more frequent tyre rotation to maximise tyre life span. You also need to be more "religious" about the correct tyre pressures than the average punter would be - again to maximise tyre life. It all depends how serious you are or intend to get. The wheel alignment can be changed at any time though - some people get an alignment for a track day and then get it put back to their road setting a few days later.

[Jeo]

No classes up here in the MX5 Club of Queensland track days, we don't discriminate

We don't discriminate against newbies either, the classes are only of importance for those trying to compete. The individual groups which people are out on the track with are based on laptimes, not class. The only requirements for actually running are just like yours, safety and noise.