R-compound tires/wheels for HPDE track use
 

Hi all,

I'm going to purchase an extra set of wheels and R-compound tires, specifically for track days. I'll keep the stock wheels and Goodyears for street use. It's a hard decision on what to go with, but this is what I'm thinking:

285/35-20 Toyo Proxes R888s front and rear
Factory 1LE/ZL1 forged black OEM wheels (not reproductions)


Here's my criteria:

• Has to work well with stock 1LE suspension, as well as Pedders if I decide to upgrade later. Square tire sizes, so same size front and rear.
• Has to work well with Competitive Mode traction/stability control. I read that a ZL1 owner had issues with the much-shorter 305/30-19s, and had to turn it full off. Anyone have any insights on this?
• Only considering tire sizes that come in R compound. Not street tires or slicks. I need to drive 3 hours to some of my favorite tracks on them.
• Reasonable price for R compound tires ($400 max). I don't want to pay for Corsas for example, which are typically >$600 each.
• I don't want to add fender flares like the upcoming Z/28. It'd be nice to avoid rock chips, so it may be that the Z/28's 305s are too wide.

Not a lot of choices in tires, so I'll need to go with the R888s. Reviews I've read are pretty good, but I would appreciate any feedback on these tires. I also heard that I new track tire will be out soon, but I don't recall what it is and what sizes will be available. If anyone can jog my memory, that would be great.

Regarding wheels, I love the stock forged black 1LE wheels. Mean looking, nice and light. Plus, I like the fact that if I ever curb a wheel (god forbid!), I can use my scratched wheel with my track tires, and keep my street wheels/tires looking pristine. I'm hoping to find some take-off wheels slightly used and in perfect condition.

What do you think? Any other suggestions are appreciated!

19x10.0 wheels all around, and Hooser R6 295/35-19 DOT radial tires.

I know a few guys that drive around on the softer A6 tires, using them sort of like drag radials. The R6 lasts longer, just needs a warm-up lap to get them track sticky.

Here is a customer car using 295 front tires, 19x10 front wheels, negative camber. Pfadt coil-overs. Rears are 305 on 19x11. Bridgestone Potenza

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...tar/19x10c.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...tar/19x10b.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...tar/19x10a.jpg

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...tar/19x10e.jpg

Thanks Tony. Good looking set up. I like that as a 19" option, but am concerned about the effect of the smaller diameter on stability control.

I'm leaning hard towards your original suggestion of 285/35-20 R888s, and there's something cool about keeping it stock looking. So I am beginning to look around for a set of 1LE/ZL1 black take-off wheels in like-new condition.

i ran 18s in a 30 tall sidewall tire and it had zero affects to stabilitrak.

lots of r compounds out there the triple 8s are popular. Mr Pete at pedders likes the potenzas i think. my go to guys for track equipment advice at CMS suggested nt01 from nitto and r888 from toyo. those tires would keep you street legal
tho they wont work well in rain or even slightly cold. They also want to see me on 19s in a hoosier slick which will happen for next year.

if you are going for a track wheel and tire why not go lightweight wheels and slicks? i did the same thing you do with the travel...went 18s with falkens comp tire...good tire but wish i would have gone slicks


edited to say didnt see Mr Tony's response. If he suggests something its legit ;)

Smaller diameter alone will not affect the stability control on your Camaro...I ran 19" wheels with 275/35-19's which are 2" smaller than stock outside diameter with no issues. It isn't the smaller diameter that causes an issue, it is when people put different sizes from front to rear that cause an issue, so if you run the same size on all four corners, you're good, just lower in my case....

Good to know that the Stabilitrak works with undersized tires, I read that the ZL1's more sophisticated stability control system doesn't. Makes sense that the different diameters front to rear is the culprit.

Good question on the slicks Vs. R compounds. I was going back and forth, but settled on R compounds. Thunderhill is over 3 hours away, as is Buttonwillow. Laguna Seca is closer, at 1-1/2 hours. The closest to slicks I would run are the Hoosier R6s, and I just can't see driving those distances on R6s, based on what I've read. So I've been leaning towards the R888s, I think it would be the more practical solution.

And thanks for the heads up on the Nitto NT01s. I see they're also now available in 285/35-20. It's a shame Tire Rack doesn't carry them, because I like Tire Rack's heat cycling service.

Since you prefer to drive to the track, how about something like this?

http://www.brazeauracing.com/tiretrailer.htm

http://home.mindspring.com/~tkehne/id20.html

Tony

I suppose I could trailer it, but I just hate the idea of adding a hitch to the back of this track beast.

I'm thinking hard again about the 305/30-19s R888s on Z/28 sized wheels, 19x11 front and 19x11.5 rear. Since Stabitrak will work fine with smaller but equal diameters, it's back on the table for consideration. Also need to be sure they won't rub if I install Pedders springs in the future.

Will the 305s give significant grip over the 285/35-20 R888s on stock 1LE weheels? The tread of the 285s are 10.8" wide, and the 305s are 11.5" wide. That's a 6.5% increase, but appearantly that's significant or the Z/28 wouldn't be sporting them.

Since I'm buying these tires/wheels solely for the track, I want to do it right.

Thanks for any insights.

Todd

Springs don't affect tire clearance. The tires ride beneath the lower spring perch. Changing out coil-overs affects the tire clearance. Some have less tire clearance than the stock strut, others have more tire clearance.

305 wide all around would be a great track combo, maybe those '14 Z28 fender flares will become available on the aftermarket to keep them from poking out so far.

Here is a photo of how the front tire sits relative to the factory strut. The spring is always above the tire.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/r...tar/19x95b.jpg

Thanks Tony. I read on Pedders website some good details. They're running 305/30-19 on 19 x 10.5 wheels in the front. I know they're running the same tire in the rear, not sure about the wheels. I'll get in touch with them and see if I can figure out what will fit for sure, and I may just lower it now as well. I may be back in touch with you to look at Forgestars or Forgelines with R888s once I firm up my plan.

Any idea what the weight of a 19 x 10 or 19 x 11 is, Forgestar Vs. Forgline? Not much info on their websites.

Forgestar weigh about the same as 3-piece forged wheels. 19s looking at mid-20 lbs ballpark.

Monoblock Forged (like Forgeline GA1R) are the lightest. Those 19s likely still in the high teens.

Please note that the ZL-1 actually doesn't have the same diameter wheel front and rear like the SS or 1LE.

Those GA1Rs look sick Tony, may get me a set next year when taxes come in :thumb:.

I went low budget and picked up 4 stock rear 20" SS rims that had 285/35 R888s mounted. No clearance issues and i'm lowered. Huge difference over stock PZeros, but they take a while to warm up. Wish I had the dollars I would definitely go with 19" rims since there are a lot more tire choices. I need to buy tires soon and all I can find are the NT01s and the R888s.