Notices
RX-8 Racing Want to discuss autocrossing, road-racing and drag racing the RX-8? Bring it here. This is NOT a kills/street racing forum.

Need Tire Input for Track Days

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 03-23-2012, 01:41 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Federighi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 857
Received 160 Likes on 122 Posts
Need Tire Input for Track Days

Hi,
I already have two new 235/40/18 Michelin Pilot Cups to track, but I'm wondering what to use in the rear which will help produce an even, predictable response/ result. I'm nearly maxed on budget, so cost has become a factor. My wheels are 18x8.5 +30 gramlights.

A.) 235/40 Pilot Cups
B.) Larger Pilot Cups
Or
C.) Ps2's of same size or larger

Thank you for your input!

Last edited by Federighi; 03-23-2012 at 09:16 PM.
Old 03-27-2012, 02:48 PM
  #2  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Chris_Bangle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toronto/Windsor
Posts: 828
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
D) Michelin Winter tires
Old 03-27-2012, 02:59 PM
  #3  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
E. Sell them and buy some 245 Hankook RS-3's.
Old 03-27-2012, 03:06 PM
  #4  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Depending on your experience road tyres may teach you more than semi slicks.
The pilot cups are outstanding tyres anyway but seriously, if you don't have much experience stick to road tyres.
Old 03-27-2012, 03:24 PM
  #5  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Chris_Bangle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toronto/Windsor
Posts: 828
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by bse50
Depending on your experience road tyres may teach you more than semi slicks.
The pilot cups are outstanding tyres anyway but seriously, if you don't have much experience stick to road tyres.
A MAN who is considering combining street tires with proper racing slicks does not need "teaching". He needs action and nothing brings as much action and excitement as the combo of slicks and winter tires (that is as long as he sticks with Michelin winter tires).
Old 03-27-2012, 04:10 PM
  #6  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
lol!
Old 03-27-2012, 06:52 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
Voodoo22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I personally would never mix and match. But if you are budget minded Id say just buy the back two pilot cups and have fun, or buy a set of 4 Falken azenis 615. I have always liked these and the price is usually lower than the alternatives.

You really cant go wrong with

Dunlop Direzza star Specs
Or as mentioned above the hankooks
Old 03-27-2012, 07:52 PM
  #8  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Chris_Bangle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toronto/Windsor
Posts: 828
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Just read the initial post again. I originally thought you said slicks and not the cup tires (although that does not change much).

Here is the problem with your initial post:
1) You are going to the track and based on your question you don’t have allot of experience (otherwise you would not pose the question that you did);
2) You state that you "maxed out your budget" which is kinda scary based on your question as there are walls and other cars at the track and cars do get written off;
3) The problem with some of the options you have listed that the car's behavior will be pretty unpredictable. After a few laps a street tire no matter how good will get "greasy" and lose grip after a number of laps (depending on the track, set up, temp, etc) which a dot r comp like the pilot cup will stay consistent allot longer. The initial grip is much higher as well so – that’s a big no no unless you have some specific car control learning method;
4) Unless you have a very specific set up and lots of power you will want to run a square set up so no bigger or smaller tire front to back;
5) My suggestion: probably safer to go with a street tire like others said;
6) Do a school instead of just lapping.

Cheers
Old 03-28-2012, 04:10 AM
  #9  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Federighi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 857
Received 160 Likes on 122 Posts
Chris Bangle-
1.) I'm a former modified FD3S R1 owner & I had the opportunity of bringing that car to numerous track & autoX days. Aside from that I was also running shifter karts back then & worked at a track in addition to riding my GSX-R at open events.
2.) My car is purely a hobby & just for fun. I'll only justify spending so much, hence why I asked for input of those currently on the track.
4.) I'm running JIC coilover's & will be getting a more aggressive set-up per a combination of forum post info & my friend at his speed shop.

Top Gear 8- No offense, but I'll probably never buy Korean tires.

Please try to keep future posts as serious as possible. Thank you in advance.
Old 03-28-2012, 07:09 AM
  #10  
Momentum Keeps Me Going
 
Spin9k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Colorado
Posts: 5,036
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
^ 1.), 2.), 3.), above are irreleavant. As to your 1st question, A.) is (obviously) the one and only reasonable choice. Unless you knew that and this posting was a trick question to see how dumb we are on this board, why don't you believe what people tell you, either done thru sarcasm or truthful answers? Other than that there's only one other reason you would be asking....

ps. My advice...if you can't afford to play with correct and sometimes expensive equipment, best stay on the sidelines and save up. Others lives and cars are at stake.

pps. Unlikely you'd get thru inspection (hopefully your events have this?) with mismatched tires anyway, with the possible exception of mismatched size same tire.

Last edited by Spin9k; 03-28-2012 at 07:14 AM.
Old 03-28-2012, 08:45 AM
  #11  
please wait for the beep
iTrader: (5)
 
dmitrik4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Philly
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Did you spend any of your budget on brake pads?
Old 03-28-2012, 10:16 AM
  #12  
Registered
 
kbrewmr2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What's with the Korean tire hate? It's not like Falken and others like it are some unknown untested tire. They're fine...

Match a set of 4 in the least expensive way you're comfortable with. Street tires on a good RX8 is still plenty fun, and so what if they get a little slower a couple laps in. If you're just doing a trackday you shouldn't be going for ultimate laptime or racing anyway...
Old 03-28-2012, 10:52 AM
  #13  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
That's fine, just don't get upset when the guys who bought Korean tires are faster than you...
Old 03-28-2012, 10:57 AM
  #14  
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
dannobre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Smallville
Posts: 13,718
Received 334 Likes on 289 Posts
Originally Posted by Federighi
Chris Bangle-
1.) I'm a former modified FD3S R1 owner & I had the opportunity of bringing that car to numerous track & autoX days. Aside from that I was also running shifter karts back then & worked at a track in addition to riding my GSX-R at open events.
2.) My car is purely a hobby & just for fun. I'll only justify spending so much, hence why I asked for input of those currently on the track.

Please try to keep future posts as serious as possible. Thank you in advance.
If you have any experience at all you wouldn't have asked an obvious question....

You do not want to run different compound front and back...so get another set the same and you will be fine.....otherwise sell them and get 4 tires that are the same.....
Old 03-28-2012, 11:04 AM
  #15  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Originally Posted by TopGear8
That's fine, just don't get upset when the guys who bought Korean tires are faster than you...
Not likely the case with Michelin and Pirelli semislicks. Had a chance to drive a car on them both and they were simply astounding. Brand name aside there's a reason why they're so expensive.
Old 03-28-2012, 12:17 PM
  #16  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
^I didn't say RS3's in particular...Hankook makes slicks as well...
Old 03-28-2012, 02:04 PM
  #17  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Hankook makes pretty damn good tyres, it just sucks that they are hard to get where I live.
However you can't beat companies like Michelin\Pirelli given their involvement in motorsports... and by motorsports i don't mean some stupid time attack series or autocross events!
Old 03-28-2012, 02:10 PM
  #18  
please wait for the beep
iTrader: (5)
 
dmitrik4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Philly
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
yeah...stupid autocross events. like that's real driving.
Old 03-28-2012, 02:40 PM
  #19  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Federighi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 857
Received 160 Likes on 122 Posts
Spin9k- My question was in no way meant to "test" rx8 forum users. Let me put it this way, it would be as if you had 2 high quality guts string that you intended to use on an instrument & you sought others advice & input on what "set-up" to use & their compatibility with obviously other gut, synthetic or steel strings. My question was & is perfectly legitimate which shouldn't disturb an online community. I thought communities such as this were meant to be used as a resource for it's users?

Top Gear8- No worries, these days I'm just trying to have fun. I got over the urge to "be the fastest" along time ago. And for the record, I never said Hankook made poor quality tires. I've been very satisfied with Michelin's on my cars & motorbikes so I choose to continue to run their product.

Thank you.
Old 03-28-2012, 02:50 PM
  #20  
Momentum Keeps Me Going
 
Spin9k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Colorado
Posts: 5,036
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
^ Great, get the same size Pilot Cups then. Mixing tire brands is just asking for trouble/handling problems... that's why the question I posed... if you've never tried doing it, you'd find it often makes the car do weird things. With our cars, staggered isn't recommended either for stock track use, but doable certainly. Pilot's are great tires and will be a blast. Enjoy
Old 03-28-2012, 04:56 PM
  #21  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,719
Received 2,006 Likes on 1,635 Posts
Put the same tire on all four corners, do not go larger in the rear. The Pilot Cup is a great tire for track use.

If you can't afford another pair then take up knitting instead
Old 03-30-2012, 03:54 PM
  #22  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Federighi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 857
Received 160 Likes on 122 Posts
Thanks everyone for their input. Getting two more Pilot cups.
Old 05-01-2012, 07:18 PM
  #23  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
Federighi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 857
Received 160 Likes on 122 Posts
Hello again,
In case anyone is interested, I've decided to sell my Pilot cups in favor of purchasing a full set Dunlop Direzza Star Specs. Heard great things about the Star Specs & since they're near half the price of the Cups, it's very helpful to me & my pocketbook.

Here's the link: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-sale-wanted-44/michelin-pilot-sport-cup-race-tires-oem-coils-wires-232669/

Thank you.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jay_tibo
Series I Aftermarket Performance Modifications
22
09-13-2016 08:10 PM
FERRET
West RX-8 Forum
0
07-27-2015 11:03 PM
FERRET
West RX-8 Forum
0
07-22-2015 02:25 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Need Tire Input for Track Days



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:21 PM.