low grip/low stress track tire setup?
 

Looking for a track friendly, low(ish) grip setup as I don't feel like stressing over the gen2 oil pressure issue. My local track is an 11 turn, 0.9 mi kart track with only 2 spots I get into 3rd gear. Sessions consist of 1 warm-up lap, 4 hot laps, and 1 cool down lap.

Currently running Yoko V601 (280tw) in a 225/45 on 17x8 which have nearly enough grip for me, but take too much effort to prevent overheating. I want a slightly grippier and more consistent setup for next season. I also do not want a smaller diameter tire, as my ground clearance is already a bit lower then I'd like. I plan on daily driving these for 6-7 months each year, so something not ridiculously loud would be nice. My commute is short enough that street mileage is a non-issue.

Considering 205/50 AD09 on my current 17x8, an lowish grip endurance 200tw in 225/45 on 17x8.5 (615+, conti ECF, etc.), 225/45 sx2 on 17x8.5, or maybe trying my current compound with a wider contact patch in hopes of less overheating (V601 in 245/40 on 17x8.5).

I was not a fan of the RS4 on an Rx-8 I had used on some larger road courses in the SE due to unpredictability when cold, so would prefer not go that route (plus I feel like there are less grippy 200tw options).

Interested in hearing relevant thoughts/experiences to help me decide what to try for the next 2-3 seasons.

In a lot of the testing videos I've seen, the oil pressure issue happens with lower grip tires like the GT Radial SX2. This is listed as a 200TW tire, but it's certainly not anywhere close to something like the RE71RS, A052, etc.

Point is, even with the stock tires, you'll have the same oil pressure issues it appears. More grip might make it slightly worse.

Yes, I have seen that. I suppose I should have said lowER stress? I'm going to track the car regardless, but don't need max grip to have fun and even with my current setup I'm quite competitive. The overheating thing just gets annoying to me (my last fun car was more track focused).

If I were in your shoes, I've probably look at something like the Conti Forces or even their ECS tire. They're sticky, but more focused for endurance vs some of the higher grip tires.


That would be a good compromise. I've run mine on something like the stock Primacies and it wasn't really fun at all.

GT Radial SX2 is your winner.

Sidewall like a R compound, grip like a true street tire. Cheap and wears like iron.

Different opinion here because I know the exact track and series you're talking about :)
We joined in for the first time with RRR this summer.

That track doesn't put any more lateral load on the car than an autocross and there's been a few folks who've datalogged and shown that the issue doesn't happen at autocross-level g loads.

And... there's countless folks out there with dozens of track days on their 2nd gen cars with no issues at all. I'd imagine you could run forever out there and never have a failure.

Pick something sticky and send it. I'd go for Kumho v730s personally. Grip like a RT660 but they seem to like heat a bit more and last longer.

Those same thoughts often cross my mind. But since I don't have data from GJMS, and don't plan on installing a gauge, I'll take the conservative route for at least a little while longer. If this wasn't a new car I'm making payments on, I would for sure be running something grippy on a 17x9.

I'm thinking it's going to come down to sx2 or 615k+. So either way, I'll be moving to something more fun and likely a little faster.

If you don't want to install a gauge, with the 2nd gens, can you get an oil pressure reading on your dash or console display?

Neither generations have an oil pressure sensor stock. There is only a pressure switch (tied to the oil pressure warning light), but by the time it lights up it's probably too late.

Can we replace the pressure switch with another one that trigger the oil light with a greater pressure ?
So we can have ”time” to lift off throttle / understand that something is going wild ?
Maybe just a stupid idea !

I live in PNW so I have been thinking about getting pilot 4S or it's successor. CSG mike's choice is solid for track use though my requirements also include rain.

The pressure drops happen to quickly for someone to lift throttle and it matter.

It would happen in a turn. You aren't just going to lift in the middle of a turn when pulling 1.0+ g.

It seems best case is to run 1 qt extra.

And... there's a huge amount of people who have literally dozens of track days on their 2nd gen, with sticky tires, often with aero as well, who have had no actual issues resulting from the pressure drops.

Fazian Babar just won Gridlife Laguna in ClubTR class... last time I saw someone ask him about the pressure drop, his response is he has 40+ track days on his motor with no issues. And that's someone with serious pace, the stickiest of the 200tw tires, and full aero.

Even 900brz, who brought public attention to the pressure drop, had dozens of track days on his motor including many AFTER he found out about the pressure drop. Motor ran fine up until a prototype part failure took it out.

The pressure drop definitely isn't ideal and no one likes it... but it doesn't seem like it turns a car into a ticking time bomb by any means.

I'm in this predicament as well. In Canada SX2 is basically the same cost as the RS4.