well i'm planning to do some track events this year and wanted to know your opinions on which tire sizes to run on stock wheels? I don't want to trigger any abs, psm lights, but still would like to get the biggest tire i can fit on stock wheels without rubbing. the two sizes i was looking at were:

1. toyo's ra1s 245/40zr18 frt & 305/35zr18 rears 8/32s tread
2. nitto's nt01s 245/40zr18 frt & 315/30zr18 rears 6/32s tread
which would be the best combination?
I'm planning on driving to and from the track on these tires
as for suspension (installing jic/cross gt3 sways)

any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Adrian
03 996tt

 

either should be fine. I run the michelin Pilot Sport Cups, 235/35 315/30's

 

Tom:

Do the Michelin's take a lap to heat up? I've received mixed answers to this question, mostly (if not all) hear say from those who've never run the Cups.

I too have to make a tire decision as the current track tires are shot and are older technology! Thanks in advance.

Mark "Feff" Pfeffer
www.MVPTrackTime.com

 

Mark, absolutely!! A lap or two to get to temp and a considered drawback of an otherwise awesome tire!
I have mine heat cycled when I buy them and the Cups hold up well and take the most heat cycles. also acceptable to a point in wet conditions, not standing water.
The Toyo RA-1's are my next choice.
And when I am ***** out I go with the Hoosier R-6's.

Best track tire if you trail are the Hoosiers hands down, if you want street use sometimes or drive to the track choose from the others.

 

Tom:

Thanks for the input. I've looked at the Toyo RA-1 as my second choice simply because the Cups take a bit to heat up.

Mark "Feff" Pfeffer
www.MVPTrackTime.com

 

You need to be careful with the tire diameter differences on the all wheel drive cars. You could damage your front differential with the diameter difference between a 245/40 18 and 305/35 18.

 

can you explan? as for the nittos nt01s they also have 225/40 , 235/40 , 245/40 for the fronts and 315/30zr18 rears as for toyos they have 245/40zr18, 225/40zr18 for the fronts and 305/35zr18 335/30zr18. which would be the best combo?

thanks any advise?
Adrian

 

The 245/40's and the 305/35's are 3/4 inch apart in diameter. If you want to run the 245's, the 315 is only 1/4 inch off. You will also want to consider how tall the stock tires were. The 245/40 is .7 inches greater diameter than stock, and the 305/35 is 1.5 inches greater. The Nitto 235/40's and 315/30's have an almost identical overall diameter, and they're only .4 inches taller than the stock tires.

 

I used to run PSCS with my M3 and looked at all options for my 997S. After much consideration, it's over to PSC again in 235/295 18" sizes. Several reasons...

Wear like iron, stick like velcro, lightest weight track tire out there.

The PSC does need a lap or two to get hot, but so do the brakes. Of course you the driver needs a warm-up lap too

The RA1 and Nitto looked great, but man are they heavy. They leave performance on the table in order to wear longer (almost street tread depth - you'd need to shave to 6/10 to avoid major chunking). They are slightly better in the wet, but I run street PS2s if raining or extremely cold. So, for warm and sunny days, I want the top performer, and for me that's PSC.

 

Has anyone tried Toyo R888?
Toyo have told me it is a higher spec than the RA-1

 

Supposedly same compound, different tread pattern. More geared to dry pavement than the RA1, which is pretty good in the wet.

 

Quoted response from toyo technical support:


"Comparing the Proxes R888 & Proxes RA1, the Proxes R888 will give superior performance in dry conditions where both patterns have new tread depths.



The Proxes RA1 is designed to be used as a wet weather tyre with new tread depth, and buffed or shaved to >3mm tread depth for consistent dry track performance.

The Proxes R888 is designed primarily as a dry weather tyre."

 

I just did a track day on MPSC
i liked the tire but like all have stated, it needs a warm up for a few laps (i found 2-3 where necessary).

i found the rears much better than the fronts for overall grip. i didnt get the level of understeer right in the car on the day and cant help but feel the front end was lacking in grip no matter what i did with the pressures.

considering hoosiers, Nitto NT-01 or Toyo for the gt3 next.
having said that, i had P zero corsa on the 996TT and they where incredible.
they dont seem to get mentioned or rated much here?

 

The R888 is a HUGE improvement over the RA1, I just talked to a miata guy who did some testing on the R888 for us (I work for toyo) and he shaved over a second off his lap time on his regular track.

It is geared more towards dry then the RA1. I have talked to a few of our tech guys and they say it is much louder then the RA1 (For those who plan on making it a street tire).

I should be getting my first set very soon and they will be my only tire on my GTO

FYI, the R888 is released this month with limited sized. The RA-1 will continue to be available for a long time

 

where can i get R888 or NT-01 in 19"

they show them as available sizes on the web site but i need a dealer