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!

D) Michelin Winter tires

E. Sell them and buy some 245 Hankook RS-3's.

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).

lol!

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

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

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.

^ 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.

Did you spend any of your budget on brake pads? ;)

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...

That's fine, just don't get upset when the guys who bought Korean tires are faster than you...

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.....

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.

^I didn't say RS3's in particular...Hankook makes slicks as well...

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!

yeah...stupid autocross events. like that's real driving. :eyetwitch

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.

^ 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 :)

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

Thanks everyone for their input. Getting two more Pilot cups.

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.