Need some advice to wheel and tire set up

[pgonza2723]

So as I'm getting more and more hooked into the RR scene, I'm wanting to slowly migrate to better tire specifically for track days. I'm currently running 285/35/20 PS4's on 20x10 SVE squared set up. Although they do a great job on the track overall, I would like stickier tires to be able to push the car a little more and not have to blow through expensive street tires quickly. I was looking for a budget squared wheel set up (with current BF deals, looks like SVE the best option for 19x10" or 19x11" wheels) and tire sizes to go with them. I've been reading that 18-19" the typical wheel size, but there seems to be a dizzying amount of information for tire width choices with the varying requirements for supporting those sizes (seems like when going for 305 or above then get into spacers, studs, etc). My goals are really to ease into it and to make it easy overall. I see when you get into some tire widths it requires changing out the wheels studs, spacers, etc etc. Is there a max tire width that can be run without worry about rubbing issues or needing wheel spacers, etc etc? I realize it depends greatly on the wheel and corresponding offsets, but I have to assume I'm not the only one who is..... well lazy atm. If spacers are a must, I assume its relatively painless to add them while swapping in track pads, but then I worry about the waterfall effect of needing to put in longer wheels studs etc etc. Thoughts, advice? Thank you!

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[Nagare]

If you stick with a 10" wide wheel all around from the SVE deals, you're likely going to stay around 275-295 and there shouldn't be an issue with that rubbing. Now if you want to put the 11" up front too, I think you'll need the longer studs and a bigger spacer.

 

[AlbertD]

By far... the biggest bang for the buck would be a set of SVE 19x10s squared with 285/35 NT01s. No other mods necessary to get that setup to fit, although I would HIGHLY recommend getting camber plates if you don't already have some to elongate the life of the outside edge of the tire.I run -3 degrees with GT350R bars and BMR handling/FRPP damper setup. I can get a whole season out of the tires as long as I stay on top of the rotations. (10-12 days of 4-5 20 min sessions).

The 285 NT01 setup provides plenty of grip and is cost effective as far as wear is concerned.

 

[TDC]

Second the NT01’s as long as you don’t mind tire noise. So far mine are lasting and are maintaining grip after very hard use.

Another tire that I was happy with are the RE71R. They are quieter than NT01 but have a stiffer sidewall which transmits more vibrations into the cabin.

 

[pgonza2723]

Excellent... Thanks for the suggestions gentlemen.... Definitely don't care about the daily aspect as these will be track only set up. Any other suggestions welcome as well. If there is an option that require spacers (assume 305) ... Are spacers hard to put on and off? Require anything special?

 

[NightmareMoon]

Excellent... Thanks for the suggestions gentlemen.... Definitely don't care about the daily aspect as these will be track only set up. Any other suggestions welcome as well. If there is an option that require spacers (assume 305) ... Are spacers hard to put on and off? Require anything special?

If you want to replace the front wheel hubs with one with longer studs installed, or just install individual longer studs in your existing hubs, you can easily buy a slip on spacer which makes switching between your existing street wheels and a 11" wide track set no harder than just changing wheels (slip on spacers take all of 5 seconds). You're out the cost of the new front hubs (or studs) and the cost of 2x 1'"/25mm spacers, install costs, camber plates... Hubs w/ extended studs + slip on spacers + camber plates is the formula if you want to run square 11" wheels with 305s.

But, a good tire in a 285 size will be faster than a slower 305. If you're not racing and looking for every last edge on the competition, 10" wheels and 285 tires are really very capable. 305s are only marginally faster, if you can even tell. I have beaten cars on wider tires and lost to cars on narrower tires and have run the same tires in 275,285, and 305 sizes, and its an embarrassingly small difference. 305s look easily 150% meaner tho.

 

[pgonza2723]

If you want to replace the front wheel hubs with one with longer studs installed, or just install individual longer studs in your existing hubs, you can easily buy a slip on spacer which makes switching between your existing street wheels and a 11" wide track set no harder than just changing wheels (slip on spacers take all of 5 seconds). You're out the cost of the new front hubs (or studs) and the cost of 2x 1'"/25mm spacers, install costs, camber plates... Hubs w/ extended studs + slip on spacers + camber plates is the formula if you want to run square 11" wheels with 305s.

But, a good tire in a 285 size will be faster than a slower 305. If you're not racing and looking for every last edge on the competition, 10" wheels and 285 tires are really very capable. 305s are only marginally faster, if you can even tell. I have beaten cars on wider tires and lost to cars on narrower tires and have run the same tires in 275,285, and 305 sizes, and its an embarrassingly small difference. 305s look easily 150% meaner tho.

Thank you for the input and seems to solidify the decision on just sticking with 285 squared and not worry about hubs/studs till they need to be replaced. So there's been a few suggestions on tires. I'm at about 5 track events a year at this point (have a few little ones under the roof and their sports takes most of my weekends...) so looking for a consistent tire. I've seen NT01's which read nothing but good things about minus not being as fast, RE71s, etc etc. What tire do you run that’s given you good results?

 

[strengthrehab]

NT01s are aresome and last quite a bit of time if you don't overdrive them like crazy. Hankook RS4s last a long time. Neither as fast as the top 200tw tires, but great track day/DE tires.

 

[TDC]

My NT01 times and G force was close to the RE71. For hot ambient conditions and weight of the Mustang the NT01 is the better setup. You give up a little stiffness in the sidewall and road feel compared to the RE71 but they are pretty consistent in grip from new to used. If ambient temps at the track were always in the 40’s - 70’s I’d prefer the RE71 but that’ll never happen. Range where I am is 40’s - 100.

 

[PoppinJ]

My votes in for NT01s. I run a 305 squared. The noise is extreeme though. When I first put them on and drive home from the track I thought I had seized a hub or something. Pulled over on the way home to check things out. It's REALLY bad. Awesome tire though, holds up well over time. Takes a long time to get greesy in the Texas heat if they get greesy at all, unlike the RE71s.

 

[TDC]

The noise of the NT01 sounds like an aggressive off road treaded tire on a Jeep Wrangler.

 

[strengthrehab]

My NT01 times and G force was close to the RE71. For hot ambient conditions and weight of the Mustang the NT01 is the better setup. You give up a little stiffness in the sidewall and road feel compared to the RE71 but they are pretty consistent in grip from new to used. If ambient temps at the track were always in the 40’s - 70’s I’d prefer the RE71 but that’ll never happen. Range where I am is 40’s - 100.

I dont consider RE71R a lapping tire though. It is a competition tire best suited to autocross or time trial where it is "best run/lap early" atmosphere.

Lapping? NT01 or even RS4

 

[TDC]

I hear ya with the RE71R. They served me well with autox with a season win in A Stock in my SCCA region NNJR. I thought the same about the RE’s until I ran a few events and found them to be pretty darn good as long as the ambient temps weren’t too high. The NT01 definitely hold on better at high temps but in the high 80’s low 90’s and several fast laps they start getting greasy as well.

 

[strengthrehab]

I hear ya with the RE71R. They served me well with autox with a season win in A Stock in my SCCA region NNJR. I thought the same about the RE’s until I ran a few events and found them to be pretty darn good as long as the ambient temps weren’t too high. The NT01 definitely hold on better at high temps but in the high 80’s low 90’s and several fast laps they start getting greasy as well.

Texas summers mean no tire lasts well in 100 deg ambient. Lol.

 

[mikeD4V]

19x10 w/ 285 NT01 is hard to argue with since they're bolt on and go. Camber plates will prolong the tires. NT01s lose the noise when you wear away the tread pattern.


18x11 w/ 305 if you're willing to do spacers, studs, and opened ended nuts. 18x11 also opens the door to take off slicks. 18 tires cost less than their 19 counterparts if you're factoring in multiple sets of tires but 18 does narrow the availability of tires. A cordless impact will speed up swaps when removing nuts off the longer studs.

16 track days on these 305 square NT01s with rotation (-2.8F/-2.2R). Might've gotten to 20 days by flipping them as there is more meat left on the inside. Ended up slightly cording one by running it 4 days on the front left at the same clockwise track without rotating. I also ran a personal best on that 16th day. It may be an older compound and not the fastest tire but they're not slow, very tolerant to abuse, and they seem to last a long time.

305/35r18 NT01s after 16 track days by MikeD, on Flickr

305/35r18 NT01s after 16 track days by MikeD, on Flickr

305/35r18 NT01s after 16 track days by MikeD, on Flickr

305/35r18 NT01s after 16 track days by MikeD, on Flickr

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