Tire recommendation for HPDE

[Grintch]

Not going to the track to win. The OP is looking for a good track tire for their first HPDE. Do you think they are trying to win? Sheesh man. All I am saying is for the price you can get a good bunch of laps out of them and drive good on the street. Not everyone is going balls out.

It is people like you I avoid at the track, all ego, the best at everything and always have a better story than the person talking about one.

I guess you didn't see my post where I said as a novice just use what you have, and after that it is a factor of budget, and how serious you want to be.

But NT555 don't make my list at any level, other than they are already on the car and you are a novice. The Indy 500 is my budget, 95% street choice. But feel free to run them if you like them. And to avoid me.

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[Shadow277]

I guess you didn't see my post where I said as a novice just use what you have, and after that it is a factor of budget, and how serious you want to be.

But NT555 don't make my list at any level, other than they are already on the car and you are a novice. The Indy 500 is my budget, 95% street choice. But feel free to run them if you like them. And to avoid me.

I agree for the most part... I am definitely a fan of "use what you have," which is why I run stock. No way in hell could I be a serious racer. Let me get more experience and I'll buy expensive tires. That's about it. I am a fan of Fire Hawk Indy 500s because of its price to performance aspect.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Can you explain this one to me? I heard Porsche's can use 255 in front and 305 in the back out of the box.

a Porsche is a very different with a rear engine, different suspension geometry and more importantly, different weight distribution 45F/55R versus the GT’s 53/47, which is why they use such a big rear tire stagger and we need all the front tire we can get.

 

[Shadow277]

a Porsche is a very different with a rear engine, different suspension geometry and more importantly, different weight distribution 45F/55R versus the GT’s 53/47, which is why they use such a big rear tire stagger and we need all the front tire we can get.

One of these days I need to start a "How much tire is too much?" Type of thread. 235s on the base are obviously too small (why is that even an option?) I have seen people run 305s square but that may be too much for me as I don't live at the track. Sounds like the premium wheels are best for me. Mostly in the streets or canyons and a little bit of track time.

 

[Brian@BMVK]

One of these days I need to start a "How much tire is too much?" Type of thread. 235s on the base are obviously too small (why is that even an option?) I have seen people run 305s square but that may be too much for me as I don't live at the track. Sounds like the premium wheels are best for me. Mostly in the streets or canyons and a little bit of track time.

When it doesn't fit anymore.

 

[Brian@BMVK]

a Porsche is a very different with a rear engine, different suspension geometry and more importantly, different weight distribution 45F/55R versus the GT’s 53/47, which is why they use such a big rear tire stagger and we need all the front tire we can get.

It's actually more like 41/59 for the 911, and 45/55 for the Cayman/Boxster.

 

[NightmareMoon]

One of these days I need to start a "How much tire is too much?" Type of thread. 235s on the base are obviously too small (why is that even an option?) I have seen people run 305s square but that may be too much for me as I don't live at the track. Sounds like the premium wheels are best for me. Mostly in the streets or canyons and a little bit of track time.

10” wide wheels with 285 tires are about perfect for streets with some occasional hard use. No spacers required and you can rotate them freely.

that said, I’m over here trying to figure if I want to jump to 315s square.

 

[Twenty4/7]

no experience but the 555g2 seems like the most hated summer tire ever lol. i looked into them because lmr has that package with the sve wheels so it would have been convenient (im sure a lot of people have them for this reason). the reviews on youtube from all the various rwd muscle cars is nothing but hate aside from nitto dealers. there are videos of people returning the tires ect lol.

this topic comes up on fb groups all the time and for some reason people are so eager to defend their purchase that they defend the tires and say they arent made for racing, stop saying they are something they arent, use them like they are deigned ect. lol hello, they are a 300 treadwear max performance summer only tire and people are acting like they bought an all season.

 

[Brian@BMVK]

no experience but the 555g2 seems like the most hated summer tire ever lol. i looked into them because lmr has that package with the sve wheels so it would have been convenient (im sure a lot of people have them for this reason). the reviews on youtube from all the various rwd muscle cars is nothing but hate aside from nitto dealers. there are videos of people returning the tires ect lol.

this topic comes up on fb groups all the time and for some reason people are so eager to defend their purchase that they defend the tires and say they arent made for racing, stop saying they are something they arent, use them like they are deigned ect. lol hello, they are a 300 treadwear max performance summer only tire and people are acting like they bought an all season.

There are MUCH better tires in the same category that aren't really any more expensive either. There's no reason to by that tire.

 

[shogun32]

There are MUCH better tires in the same category that aren't really any more expensive either.

would that include the RS4 or Federal 595 or are those just as questionable? For $800-950 a set I personally don't see a point in not using the Supercar3 and 3R.

 

[Brian@BMVK]

would that include the RS4 or Federal 595 or are those just as questionable? For $800-950 a set I personally don't see a point in not using the Supercar3 and 3R.

The R-S4 is arguably the best lapping tire you could buy. Durable, tolerant of track heat and loads. Supercar 3 seems to be close, but a little more temp sensitive.

595 RS-Pro are a performance bargain but are missing on some of the subjective aspects compared to the other popular 200TW tires. They also will be a step back on pace for autocross/TT if you care, but then again so will the R-S4.

 

[Norm Peterson]

So drag racers need staggered set ups.

Drag racers go to a staggered setup because they don't need the front tires to do much more than hold the front of the car off the ground.

So with no traction requirements either laterally or for forward acceleration, drag racers tend to go with small tires up front to reduce overall car weight and rotating inertia, and to shift the car's weight distribution a tiny bit rearward. Even if that's only by a quarter of a percentage point (i.e. 53/47 to 52.75/47.25) there's still a little benefit to be had.

So a squared set up allows easier power slides?

If your car has big power or you're driving up near the limits of front tire grip, more than likely yes.

Power sliding is almost never the fast way around a corner and is always a fast way to wear your rear tires out.


Norm

 

[Norm Peterson]

no experience but the 555g2 seems like the most hated summer tire ever lol. i looked into them because lmr has that package with the sve wheels so it would have been convenient (im sure a lot of people have them for this reason).

Over the years, Nitto 555 variants have been sold on two things. Price and tread pattern. And they probably are adequate for the vast majority of AM, CJPony, and LMR customers.

But this is specifically a "Road Course, Track, Autocross, HPDE" forum where even a newbie is likely to be driving harder than anybody whose driving is limited to the streets and whose car interests lie more toward appearance mods, car shows, and the occasional run when the traffic light goes green. Run 555G2 tires if that's what you already have, but don't buy them because you are going to try HPDE.


Norm

 

[Shadow277]

When it doesn't fit anymore.

Spacers.

 

[Shadow277]

10” wide wheels with 285 tires are about perfect for streets with some occasional hard use. No spacers required and you can rotate them freely.

that said, I’m over here trying to figure if I want to jump to 315s square.

I assume you are pushing more power?

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