Went to my first circuit track outing last week here in Japan. Not very fun with street tires. Was being passed in the corners, bad. Now I am looking at buying some track tires and am looking at Falken Azenis sport and Hankook Ventus R-S2. Tire size are 225/45/17. I know there are some better tires out there but the price range is also out there. Anyone have any comments on the above tires or recomendation on something else in the 140$ or lower per tire price range. Photo is of my front tires after 15 minutes.

Thanks

chuck

Tire Rack has been offering a huge special on the new Dunlop R-compound since they came out. Your size is $119 Shipping is probably an issue though! https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png









Tire Rack - Dunlop Super Sport Race





You've got a couple pretty good choices there, I would imagine the Falken would last longer than the Hankook but not be as fast.



Can you get Yokohama A032R tires for that price there?

i'd suggest doing a few more events with the street tires... sure you'll get passed more. BUT you'll learn how to drive teh car better.... then when you get teh race rubber, you'll be smoother, carry a better line, and be WAY faster...

Tires here are double that of the states. I have a set of BFG drag radials that I paid just over 300$ for and was offered 500$ for the two. So the tires I get will be mail order from the states. Even with the shipping cost it will be allot cheaper.

Thanks for the suggestions, I think I will go with the Hankook ventus R-S2. the Falken tires do look like they will handle well. The track event I went to had 77 racers. I placed 42. Fastest time was 1.04 minutes and I ran a 1.13 minutes. Slowest was a 1.27.

With out tires, it's not very fun. I had to brake before everyone else entering a turn and could not power out of the turn until way later then everyone else. Very frustrating. But the straits where fun! I am only looking to circuit race the car maybe two more times. Just looking to do the best I can with the small amount of money I have. Cost of a track event here is 200$ for 2 30 minute runs. Tolls cost me 80$. Renting a van to transport parts, tires, food/drinks and extra gas was 135$. How does that compare to the states.

chuck

Track fees range from $320-500 for a weekend. Thats for 8 20 minute sessions during the weekend. I normally have to drive atleast 4 1/2 hours to the track ... Counting food,gas and hotels... i think i average about $700-800 for a track weekend. It's an expensive hobby.

WOW! I think I will stay with drag racing when I get back to the states. Just figured since I am in the world of grip and drift racing, I would give it a try.





Those AO32R are some nice tires. These might be worth the extra 150-200$ on a set of four. The two tires I am considering to buy don't compared to the AO32R. The AO32R is a real track/circuit tire and the other two are want-to-be tack tires. But I figure NEW high performance tires are a 100 times better then my old/dry rotted tires.

Thanks

chuck

The Hankook is a spec tire for Spec Miata over here, our current SOLO I champ won on those too. Don't discount them automatically!

Thanks for clearing this up with me. Looks like the hankook tire it is unless opinions are the Dunlup SP race tire would be a better choice.

Thanks you

chuck

i was gonna say those front tires look feathered from drifting on them........! get some more pix or video https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...DIR#>/wink.png

Vosko, no drifting just grip, trying anyways.



Well guys, I ended up ordering Yokohama AO32R, 225/45/16. I went with the same size tire so I can rotate them if needed and the 16s were cheapre then 17s.

Went with the AO32Rs so there will be no excuses for me at the nexted track event which is May 17. Hope these tires come in on time. Paid first class through Tire Rack. I also placed a order for drilled/slotted rotors all around with metal pads. Replacing brake lines with steel one and changing the fluid with Dot4. Rebuilding the master cylinder also. Adding bigger sway bars and lowering the car another inch or two. No excusses to not be competative. Only draw back with the car is the 4 puck unsprung disc with the ACT Xtreme PP. Really hard to use the clutch to down shift with out the rear tires braking traction. I may change the disc out with a new stock turboII disc and run the ACT Xtreme PP. What do you guys think of useing a stock clutch disc for circuit racing?

Again thanks for all the advice.

chuck

drilled rotors are bad.... if you have to use them alot at the track you are at, you'll crack them.. I've broken several sets.

Well I already ordered them. Thats money I could have saved. No one here said drilled rotor may crack. I guess I will just try them and hope for the best. The next event is four 15 minute runs. Last event with two 30 minute runs were to much on the car and me. Maybe the 15 minute runs will be easier on the brakes and tires. I will take my stock rotors with me for back up.

Thanks

chuck

Remember I am running street tires and most of the other guys are running R or S tires.



http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Tsukuba-apr-05



chuck

Ny new tires came in today https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683329.gif https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

A032R's!!! Woo Hoo!!

Going to another track event may 17. four 15 minute runs. I can not wait to try the new tires. Will take some more incar video but this time I hope to show me passing instead of me being passssssssed.

chuck

[quote name='sleeper7' date='May 9 2005, 05:36 PM']Going to another track event may 17. four 15 minute runs. I can not wait to try the new tires. Will take some more incar video but this time I hope to show me passing instead of me being passssssssed.

chuck


[/quote]



I've ran those Yokohama's before and there not a "podium" tyre, but much better than any street tyre... I just bought the new Azenis RT 615's and there as close to a DOT track tyre as you can get and probably one of the best street tyre I've ever had next to the S02's or Pilots & half the price. Yet there there still actually a street tyre. Those tyres will improve your times (Yoks) forsure... anyway have fun https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683329.gif

get a set of toyo RA1 shaved to 3/32nd

Went to the track yesterday with the new AO32Rs and new pads and rotors. Rotors held up pretty good but the pads started to smoke after 5-7 minutes of driving but only had brake fade three times. That is with 5 ten minute runs. The tires made the car feel better but still could not power out of the turns as soon or as hard as I wanted. Going into the turns was better with these tires. The class I ran was the "race" class, only 4 cars. The practice class had 15 cars. I was the slowest in my class with a 47second time per lap. Fastest in my class was 41seconds. Other two guys ran 43-44 second laps. Two of the guys were running AO48s and the other guy was running a comparable tire with 255s in the rear. Track was 1.1km with 12 turns. my top speed was 140kmph. Did'nt push the rpms past 7000, max boost was .8-.9bar. All in all I am happy with these tires but really can't give a good opinion on them until I go back to the track were I ran "old/street" tires at.

Thanks again for all the advice.

chuck

[quote name='sleeper7' date='May 18 2005, 03:10 AM']Went to the track yesterday with the new AO32Rs and new pads and rotors. Rotors held up pretty good but the pads started to smoke after 5-7 minutes of driving but only had brake fade three times. That is with 5 ten minute runs. The tires made the car feel better but still could not power out of the turns as soon or as hard as I wanted. Going into the turns was better with these tires. The class I ran was the "race" class, only 4 cars. The practice class had 15 cars. I was the slowest in my class with a 47second time per lap. Fastest in my class was 41seconds. Other two guys ran 43-44 second laps. Two of the guys were running AO48s and the other guy was running a comparable tire with 255s in the rear. Track was 1.1km with 12 turns. my top speed was 140kmph. Did'nt push the rpms past 7000, max boost was .8-.9bar. All in all I am happy with these tires but really can't give a good opinion on them until I go back to the track were I ran "old/street" tires at.

Thanks again for all the advice.

chuck


[/quote]



remove your rear antiroll bar. And run around 27 to 28 psi cold. You want the tires to be aruond 40 to 41 psi hot

[quote name='Cheers!' date='May 18 2005, 04:18 AM']remove your rear antiroll bar. And run around 27 to 28 psi cold. You want the tires to be aruond 40 to 41 psi hot


[/quote]



Are you saying the sway bar is lifting the inside tire off the ground causing a loss of traction?



Tire pressure cold was at 25-27psi and went to 34-36psi hot. That was the at the start of the day. Second run was lowered to 22-23psi at the start and ended up at 32-34psi after 7minutes of run time. Tires "looked" like they were making full contact with the track but I did notice the car had more side to side movement at the lower tire pressures. I will try the 40psi when hot setting next time.

chuck

[quote name='sleeper7' date='May 18 2005, 10:10 PM']Are you saying the sway bar is lifting the inside tire off the ground causing a loss of traction?



Tire pressure cold was at 25-27psi and went to 34-36psi hot. That was the at the start of the day. Second run was lowered to 22-23psi at the start and ended up at 32-34psi after 7minutes of run time. Tires "looked" like they were making full contact with the track but I did notice the car had more side to side movement at the lower tire pressures. I will try the 40psi when hot setting next time.

chuck


[/quote]



Yes on the lifting. Unless it's due to lack of camber in the rear.



I have no experience running the yoko A320Rs, but most R compounds want to be between 40 and 43 psi when the tire is at operating temp. IF you are doing short stints you want to increase the cold tire pressure. Whereas if you were doing a 2 hour race non stop you want to be at a little lower in tire temp. Tires don't instantly heat up, especially a harder R compound like the A320Rs.