For cost and weight I'm looking at running 17 inch for track days. If anyone is using this set up, what wheels are you using? Thanks for any info.

 

i ran 17x8.5 ET 40 5zigen fn-01r's last year for the scca's solo STU class. you have a PM.

 

olddragger has the Enkei RPO-2's, and runs them on track with 17" R Comps. He likes them, and speaks highly of running 17's on the track. PM him, and he will tell you all about it, he is a great guy.

 

One of the guys on this board that is local to me just mounted a set of 255/40/17 Toyo RA-1s on his 17x9.5 Enkeis. We were at a highspeed autocross over the weekend (1.5 mile course) and I drove it on a couple of fun runs. It felt great!

He's also running Koni SAs with Mazdaspeed springs.

I don't see a problem with this setup, it would work great at the track and had a ton of grip.

 

been running 17's for over a year on the track. I have the enkei's 17 x8 -40 offset if i remember correctly. I have ran 235/40/17 RA 1's and currently running 225/45/17 hoosier r 5's. The hoosiers size is a little differant than other manufactors. The 225 is actually wider than my 235 RA's and the 45 sidewall is only almost 1/2 inch taller.
Benefits---
1- lower cost and the ease of getting 17's tires vs 18's
2- lighter weight--my track wheels are 10lbs PER corner lighter than my enkei rpf 1 -17/8- kumho street tire combo! helps in accleration and braking.
3- the reduced height of the wheel/tire results in a much better "grunt" coming out of the corners. on one track i run (roebling rd--savannah) it helped the gearing so much that i had only to change gears twice for the entire track. That helped me stay in the right power band without overdriving the engine--therefore it ran much cooler.
And the list could go on.
if you ever go 17's on the track you will not go back.
olddragger

 

addendum---buy used r compund tires from the pro boys--therefore 17' are MUCH easier to get as many grand am cup guys use them. Got my nearly new set of hoosiers for $200--thats all four.
OD

 

I'm using a 17X9.5 Enkei NT03+M in 44 offset. Tire is 255/40/17 RA-1 and I'm very happy with the combo. The 17" helps a bit with gearing although I think the previous 255/40/17 Falken RT615's I used were a bit shorter. I would highly reccomend my setup and found 33 or 34 cold worked fine.

Olddragger, how do you contact teams to pick up their old scrubs?

 

Yeah, I was talking about Cosmos's car. I'm very impressed with the setup.

 

cosmos---buy an issue of Grassroots car magizine and look in the back where the classifieds are. Several people buy and resale these tires.
Also go to track events and hook up with the tire guys---heck after one NASA hpde event at Road Atlanta the tire guys were selling GOOD used tires for $5 a piece! If you give them an idea of what you are looking for then they may be able to fix you up after the racing is over.
Good Luck.
Olddragger

 

Thanks for the info, unfortunately we don't have any tracks that host big race series around here that I know of (maybe something at MSR). I wouldn't mind picking up some cheap hoosiers or RA1's, I need to get myself a subscription to GRM anyways.

 

4x Nitto NT-01 R-Comp 245/45/17
4x Hot Wheels (their brand ~20lbs) 17x9 (!) 45mm offset
- exact center bore, no inserts needed

Best part...
... only $1200 mounted/balanced/shipped

total tire/wheel weight 48lbs and they look good as well black on red IMHO

 

save your subscription, they all advertise on teh intraweb, including the GRM site

 

BFG just released new sizes for the g-Force R1 (including 17"). I know that was a popular tire back in the later 90s with it's stiff sidewall.

M@

 

The '90s BFG was a completely different tire than the current one -- the new one does not have the asymmetrical carcass that the '90s one did.

 

yep, and back then it only had one stiff sidewall, which wasn't near as stiff as todays DOT-R sidewalls

 

Know this thread has been quiet, but I just ordered ...

Enkei RP-F1 17x9, 45mm offset 5x114, 15 pounds

and want to pair it with one of the top R-Compounds in a 255/40/17" size for HPDe use. That size because it drops the car 1/2" and gears down 3.6%

I'm considering the Nitto NT-01 or Toyo R888, B F Goodrich g-Force R1, and also Hoosier - but they're in 245/40 as no 255/40. I'd appreciate any thoughts on these or other best R-comp please.

I'd like the tire to last a few track days, maybe 4? or 6? if possible. Otherwise good personality and top grip. Thanks.

 

I just drove on a set of 245/45/17 NT-01 this weekend (in a friend's supercharged RX8) and I found them very, very nice. At that size, they handled the power surprisingly well.

I've been told the NT-01 isn't exactly the most competitive of the R-Comp's you've listed, but is a great value for HPDE. If you're running TT, then definately ask around.

 

Do you have any feel/handling/grip comparisons you can share about the NT-01s you drove on in your friends car relative to whatever you use on your own car at HPDEs? I'd like to get peoples experiences and discussion about the pros and cons of different dedicated track tires. Perhaps develop a cross reference of opinions.

 

I'm using 225/45/18 Dunlop Z1 on my car- a stiff sidewall 200 treadwear tire marketed as a competitor to the RE-01, RT-615, and RS2 Z212 (though we know these are not exactly equal in ability).

I did back to back runs between my tire and the NT-01 and the feel was rather similar despite the NT-01's tallish aspect ratio and that it was on a smallish 17x8 wheel- so the sidewall wasn't vertical (it was ballooning out a bit).

It was a 100 vs. 200 treadwear comparison.

Accel:
His car was supercharged, my car is NA. The grip to throttle ratio was basically equal. I was basically driving both cars the same, using similar throttle modulation on corner exits as the wheel opened up to center without any wheelspin.

Trail Brake:
He was using Cobalt GT-Sport and the NT-01 was easy to modulate under braking.

Turn-in & Lateral transition:
Again, despite the tallish, ballooning sidewall, turn-in and lateral transition was crisp- very similar in feel to my Z1 set. By comparison, this is where I can really differentiate between the Z1 and the Bridgestone S-03 (a 220 treadwear tire), as the S-03's sidewalls have more squish, with less crisp turn-in and more pendulum effect in transition.

 

I recently picked up a set of 255/40-17 RA-1s for track days. Unless you're time trialing or doing some other kind timed competition, I'd recommend a set of these. They are inexpensive, long lasting, and hold up well to the abuse of extended run sessions. I put 130 track miles on mine this past Saturday in 70-80 degree ambient temps, and saw very reasonable wear. I'd estimate that I could get 10-12 similar track days out of a set.

These tires aren't going to be quite as quick as an R888 or NT01, but you can't beat the price. Edge Racing is currently selling 255/40-17 RA-1s for $173 each. The cheapest R888s I could find in that size were through AIM Tire at $195 each.

I wasn't running a transponder on Saturday, so I don't have any lap times, but I was able to run down every car in my run group, including an instructor's R34 Skyline on RT615s.

 

Interesting, why don't you think The RA-1 are faster than the NT-01 or R888? They are dot R-comps yes? BTW the same size NT-01 is $178. I haven't heard anyone running the R888, wish someone could chime in on that guy too, guess it's kinda too new.

It's always fun being able to run down and pass those other guys, hee hee!

 

Not all R comps are created equal. The RA-1s are an excellent track day tire, but if you want ultimate lap times on an DOT-R tire you need to be looking at a V710 or Hoosier A6... just don't expect them to last particularly long. Autocross compounds are much softer than typical track compounds, which means more grip at the expense of longer life. Having run Kumho R compounds for the last several years on the track and autocrossing (Victoracers, Ecsta V700s, and V710s) I can tell you that the RA-1 won't match a V710 for ultimate grip, but it won't get greasy halfway through a session, either.

As another data point, NASA's Time Trial rules assign point values to R compound tires. V710s, Hoosier R6s and A6s, etc. are +10. NT01s and R888s are +7. RA-1s are a +5.

The R888s are supposedly the same compound as the RA-1s, but have a different tread pattern and belt layup in the carcass. They should be a good tire. My only experience with Nittos was with a set of street tires ten years ago that had belt separation issues, but I've never used a set of their R compound tires.

 

Never knew that rating system was in place for NASA TT - good info and of course makes sense. With the 40wr tires, I'd be worried I'd need to buy new tires 1/2 way thru a 2 or 3 day event lol

 

not the cheapest, but the Michelin Pilot Cup DOT-R tire fits the bill for wear and grip

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/comp.jsp

 

Yep. Sport Cups are popular with the p-car crowd, but I've never used them myself.