Suggestion for new tires?
 

After only a few track days, I've progressively learned what my car is capable of and I feel like I'm demanding more than what it can actually provide. Part of this may be due to my tires, and the other part, worn out 76k mile shocks. I have a pretty aggressive alignment and it worked great for the first half of the session.

I want to address the tires right now though. They are MPSS 245/40/17 on a 17x9 rpf1, a fairly common setup. I bought this set a year ago or so, only about 8k miles driven total. I've used the same combo on track, twice at Palmer, once at Thompson this year and during the last half of the third event, I really felt like I was capable of so much more but my car would just plow straight and I'd be sitting there waiting for it to catch up .. It wasn't even a hot day either, maybe mid 60's. Am I overworking these tires?

I've been signed off from novice and moved into the Intermediate 1 run group where I am able to further refine my skills. There still seems to be a decent amount of tread left on my tires, but I feel like they are not gripping as much as I want them to be.

How did you guys decide that it was time to upgrade? Where would you go from here?


For reference, I'm putting down a bit more power with a JDL turbo kit. Nothing too crazy - stock motor, 9psi, a bit of other suspension and driveline mods, but that's it.

Well yeah mpss are not track tires at all. Not sure who told you they are. But anyway..
Here's the thing you can't have a track tire and daily driver tire. If you really want to do track days you really need to have a track set of tires.
I'm sure you seen other people on the track with two sets of wheels. Take a note and do the same. In the long run you'll save money.

As for the tires, stay away from mpss. Move up to a proper track tire, heck didn't you ever ask the expert run group what kind of tires they where running ?

Others here that have had their MPSS fade ( on the track ) have gone to the RE71R and are happy. I can't seem to find the specific thread right now...

Just about any 200tw tire will be a huge improvement on track compared to MPSS.

Thanks. I didn't buy the tires specifically for the track. It was just what I had on my car at the time I decided to start tracking it this year.

Maxxis VR-1, Hankook RS4, or Dunlop Direzza ZIII.

The Falken Azenis 615k+ make a great track tire. They hold up well, handle the heat fine (they hold up for me in Texas), and have pretty good grip (not RE71r levels, but not too far off, 1-2s).

I picked them when the RS4's were on back ordered and liked them so much that when I wore them out I bought another set without worrying about getting the RS4's.

You mention a ‘bit of other suspension and driveline mods’ that are installed - can you tell me more about them and let me know what your alignment settings look like? You probably already know where I’m going with this: Dual purpose tires suitable for occasional track days are only part of the equation, and your suspension modifications and alignment settings play a big role, too. The bottom line is you’ll need to maximize both to get the most out of the car.

I totally understand where you're going, and I should have clarified from the beginning. I think I'm in the position to get a designated track tire now as this is no longer my primary vehicle like it once was with the MPSS tires I currently have on. They carried over from when this was my only car so I've sort of been experimenting at the track this season and assessing where I want it to be for the future.



As for the other suspension/driveline mods, there are Cusco engine mounts, perrin rear shift bushing & tranny mount, SPL LCA, SPL toe arms, SPL trailing arms, Hotchkis springs (1" drop). Like I said before, nothing crazy, I'm just looking for some advice on where I should go next to maximize the potential of my car on the track. (I've gotten addicted rather quickly).



Alignment:

-2.8* front camber using bolts

0.1* front toe out
-1.6* rear camber
zero toe rear
I'm not sure what the caster is off the top of my head but I know it is within factory spec.
thrust angle 0.0* spot on.

I’ve been pretty happy with R-S4’s. I drive them to / from the track and they work pretty well for a streetable tire.

I'll second the RT615K+ as a great performance value. Certainly not competitive autocross-levels of grip, but they seem to be very heat tolerant and so are pretty consistent at the track. Decent levels of grip once they're up to temp, and they seem to be pretty ambiguous about being over driven, and the price just seals the deal. I'd previously used Ecsta XS and was thinking of going to the new V720 until I heard stories of overheating/chunking. I'd rate dry grip about the same as the XS with maybe a little more heat tolerance. They both didn't see to mind being overdriven much, which is good since I like to keep my tires talking...

How often do you track, and are you willing to have a 2nd set of wheels and tires?

Considering my fourth event is coming up in two weeks, and the season started early April, I'd say "fairly often." And yes, ultimately I'd like to keep the 17" rpf1s for the track with a nice tire and get a set of 18" wheels and tires for the street. I still have the stock wheels too that I could throw on for whatever.

I'd say try a set of GT Radial SX2. Great learning tire.

What size would you recommend as a fit for this platform?

I'm looking on their site and don't see any of the 'standard' sizes guys track these cars with. Then again, maybe they aren't all listed there?

Depends on the application.

20% off on Ebay today....

dat eBay coupon.


A set of Falken RT615K+ tires come to $452. 255/40 though.



Couldn't find the SX2 tires, Mike.

255/40 will work beautifully on a 9" wheel.

Given that you mentioned just moving from novice to intermediate, I'd still recommend a "less sticky" tire. Something like an RE71R, Direzza ZIII or RS4 is just going to "cover up" poor driving.

While I certainly don't consider MPSS's a dedicated track tire, it's a great tire for learning, so if recommend sticking with it. You'll benefit greatly from a tire that makes noise, provides plenty of slip angle and isn't sticky enough to cover up mistakes.......like pushing/understeering hard in a corner.

FWIW, I just ran a 1:57 (by no means "fast") at Palmer on 225 Conti Sports. I'd imagine with your set up, you should be running 1:52-1:53.

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20% off Ebay??? I missed out :(

I'll also toss in recommendation to try the Falken 615K+.
I got them few months ago when America's Tire had the $75 gift card deal, and replaced worn out MPSS that I had been DD.


To me, they are just as comfortable as MPSS for DD and the grip levels are excellent.
And they don't have that unbearable howling/humming sound that RE71R makes on the street.


I also have the RE71R on Enkei for autox, but have been too lazy to swap and ran the last 2 autox with the Falkens. I was very pleasantly surprised by the Falkens performance!


Falkens don't seem to chew through the rubber like the RE71R does, and for my amateur driving skills, the Falkens seem to be much more forgiving than the RE71R.
I think I actually feel more confident with the Falkens because it's so forgiving, where as RE71R feels more razor sharp.


For the price, I'll be using these Falkens for my DD since they are good for autox too on those lazy days.