Which Tyre & Size advice please

Which Tyre & Size advice please

Author
Discussion

StottyGTR

Original Poster:

6,860 posts

170 months

Tuesday 17th September 2019
quotequote all
I've just bought a Hawkeye on 19s so looking to replace the wheels & tyres but I'm not sure which to go for.

The car will be used for track days and competitive sprints so I'm also willing to buy 2 sets of wheels for each use. Currently I have 255/30/19 to match this exact rolling radius I can use 255/35/18 or 255/40/17. I was thinking of running 9J rims regardless of wheel diameter but I'm also not sure what tyres to go for.

The sprints don't allow for warming tyres so something soft that grips from cold is ideal, for track days I want something hard lasting so I can get the maximum amount of laps in.

The car is 1400kg and will be ~480hp on the sprint map. Any advice would be appreciated.

I have a feeling Yokohama A052 will be best for sprints but maybe R888r's with a soft compound or Trofeo R's. I'm thinking Yokohama AD08R for trackdays thus far or maybe a R888r with a hard compound.

df76

3,823 posts

285 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Can't help with the size advice I'm afraid, but you're not a million miles off with the tyre choice. I have a EP3 Type R and use Yoko AD08Rs for everyday driving and trackdays (these have now been replaced by AD08RSs, and those will be on the MSUK tyre lists for next year anyway). They also cope ok in wet weather. For sprints / hillclimbs then I've got Toyo R888Rs. There is only one compound.

There's a couple of other options and the Extreme and Maxsport (I have a pair of those) remoulds are very soft, good value, and popular. However, some of the fastest cars in the SW are running R888Rs and are winning / setting records (one has reverted from Maxsports back to Toyos). There's also significant doubt about the MSUK tyre regulations for 2020/21 and the Toyos would be the safe bet.

Trev450

6,439 posts

179 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
As said above your thoughts on AD08R for track days and road use and R888R for sprints is petty much spot on. Beware standing water with both though


Jim Spencer

154 posts

229 months

Thursday 19th September 2019
quotequote all
Hi

As per post above, assuming the Sprints are next season now, I'd suggest:-

Wait until early next year.
Decide what Championship you're going to do.
and
You'll then know what the tyre regulations for that championship are.
(Motorsport UK sets the overall Tyre rules - which gives a choice too > Championship Organisers, who > determine what's 'right' for their competitors)

Plus you'll get fresh tyres too!

HTH

StottyGTR

Original Poster:

6,860 posts

170 months

Saturday 21st September 2019
quotequote all
Thank you very much for the advice lads! I've decided on 255/40 17 and ordered my wheels to arrive in a couple of weeks.

I've found a brand new set of 2015 Cup 2's for £500 which strikes me as a bargain, I was going to use these for trackdays and my sprints until I buy a second set of wheels but I may just try and find some R888r's now though since your responses, I didn't realise they would be so good for sprints!

So if anyone knows a decent cheap supplier of R888r's in 255/40/17 it would be much appreciated if you could share the details!