Track racing: Run 225's and high or 205's and low?

[BTLF3D]

Atm i run 225/50/15s for track racing, but i have to make the car pretty high, well alot higher than i could if i was to run 205/50/15s on there.

Who thinks i would be better to run the 205/50/15's and have it low but sacrafice the grip of the 225/50/15's?
Let me know what you guys think, im starting to think it would be better to run it low and smaller tyres...

Cheers

[dazznz]

one thing to remember is that lower does not mean your car is going to handle better. In fact in many cases especially with front wheel drive cars they actually handle better when they are not sitting right down. Just a thought for you.

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by dazznz

one thing to remember is that lower does not mean your car is going to handle better. In fact in many cases especially with front wheel drive cars they actually handle better when they are not sitting right down. Just a thought for you.

well, when i race i have to raise the car about 20mm higher than what i normally have it set at with my 17's and that is also what height i had the wheel alignment done at, so that would be affecting handling too wouldnt it?

4000th post

[FLYRYD]

your car will only be 10mm higher with the 225 compared to 205 tyres.
is it really that much difference?

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by FLYRYD

your car will only be 10mm higher with the 225 compared to 205 tyres.
is it really that much difference?

no... i have to raise the car 20mm otherwise the tyres rub on the guard.

[DrRubber]

imo, its more logical to run a tyre that dosnt mean you have to get a re-alignment every time.....but i guess if your times are better then its worth it :wink:

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by badcf4

imo, its more logical to run a tyre that dosnt mean you have to get a re-alignment every time.....but i guess if your times are better then its worth it :wink:

i dont get another alignment after i raise it... that is probly putting some of the handling out i would think.
I dont know if the times are better or not, that is why i am posting up here to try and find out what would be better before spending $650 on new semi slicks.

[DrRubber]

oh well every time you raise/lower your car it does alter your toe settings........

the only way your really going to know is by trial and error regarding the tyres.....of course that becomes an expensive exersize

[FLYRYD]

oh i see....

so...
if you didnt have to raise your car, by running 225's your car(chassis) will be 10mm higher anyways because of the bigger diameter.

but you still have to raise it 20mm on the suspension, to clear the guards.
so 20mm from suspension + 10 mm from the tyre size height = your car will be 30mm higher?



anyways, im in the same boat as you (looking at getting 225's) but my car probably isnt set as low as yours

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by FLYRYD

oh i see....

so...
if you didnt have to raise your car, by running 225's your car(chassis) will be 10mm higher anyways because of the bigger diameter.

but you still have to raise it 20mm on the suspension, to clear the guards.
so 20mm from suspension + 10 mm from the tyre size height = your car will be 30mm higher?

correct.
But if i run 205/50/15 it will be a little bit lower to the ground than on my 17's 205/40/17. Im just trying to find out which would be better.

[FLYRYD]

i reckon, if your going to take it to the track.
being so low is a hassle and its something that will probably hold you back from pushing the car hard. (in case you spin out and damage the kit etc)

running 225s, your car should still be way lower than stock right?

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by FLYRYD

i reckon, if your going to take it to the track.
being so low is a hassle and its something that will probably hold you back from pushing the car hard.

running 225s, your car should still be way lower than stock right?

yup still way lower, just thought it must be better being lower but maybe not, ill just have to test out the new susp and wider wheels (thats maybe why it felt like it was handling shit because of sidewall flex with 225/50 on 6.5" rims?)
Heres a pic of what height it is at the track.



not too high i spose, but could still be alot lower...

[nemesisteg]

i find it quite amazing you are running a 15" wheel, when i changed from 17's down to 16's i noticed a huge difference in loss of traction, was the handling really poor on 17's? why not get some 205 45 17 semi slicks?? if your trial and erroring..

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by nemesisteg

i find it quite amazing you are running a 15" wheel, when i changed from 17's down to 16's i noticed a huge difference in loss of traction, was the handling really poor on 17's? why not get some 205 45 17 semi slicks?? if your trial and erroring..

the price between 225/50/15 ($350 a pair fitted, ra1's) and 205/40/17's ($210 each i think, ra1's again) is quite a difference, then i would also have to buy another set of 17's.
It could work, but i would have to try it i spose i notice the blue ss2000 civic turbo ran 17's with 205/45/17 tyres, maybe they done that to help with traction too?

Edit: didnt see the bit you said about poor handling on 17's, i have only use street tyres on the track with the 17's and yea it was pretty shit

[nemesisteg]

im running 16's with 205's, dont know what it handles like because i still have to paint the wheels before i put the tyres on.. its about $200 each for 16" semi slicks each, lucky i get em half price 8)

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by nemesisteg

im running 16's with 205's, dont know what it handles like because i still have to paint the wheels before i put the tyres on.. its about $200 each for 16" semi slicks each, lucky i get em half price 8)

what tyres are they?

[dazznz]

I run 17's on my car with 215/45/17 Dunlop 02G's on them. I always run the "hard" compound tyre because they are easier to get because they have been the control tyre for the production cars and they have heaps of grip. As for this whole thing that 17's dont handle as well, its complete rubish. In fact the opposite is more likely. A 17 has a smaller wall genrally than if you ran 15's or 16's therefore there is less wall flex in the tyre. The reason most people go for the smaller wheels is not for handleing but for accelaration because 15's and 16's are usually lighter. However there are some 17's that are lighter than most 15's.

[nemesisteg]

dunlop formula r's or yokohama ao32r's. have a nosey at this: http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_2912/article.html and http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_0593/article.html i have pretty endless options for which i want to run, anything i decide will be half price at the moment i have bridgestone potenza reo1r's, 6 of them lol

[nemesisteg]

Originally Posted by dazznz

I run 17's on my car with 215/45/17 Dunlop 02G's on them. I always run the "hard" compound tyre because they are easier to get because they have been the control tyre for the production cars and they have heaps of grip. As for this whole thing that 17's dont handle as well, its complete rubish. In fact the opposite is more likely. A 17 has a smaller wall genrally than if you ran 15's or 16's therefore there is less wall flex in the tyre. The reason most people go for the smaller wheels is not for handleing but for accelaration because 15's and 16's are usually lighter. However there are some 17's that are lighter than most 15's.

mmm like the look of those tyres!! they may have made it towards the top of the list, does the hard compound give you much grief when the track gets a bit greasy etc? you still run the same tyres in the rain?

[-KONIG-]

I had a price for 17inch r888 at about 280 per tyre, which isnt bad when you consider a high performance street tyre is like 230 ish. I agree go with 17inch rims to eradicate too much side wasll flex, look at race cars thats why the do it. JDM doesnt equal good race practice when running tyres the size you need.

Even changing from my 215/40/17s streets to 205/50/15s A038 semis the steering got alot more doughy and less direct.

17s for the win if you can rock it!, else go 16inch and get a 7 inch rim at least, but the tires will be almost the same as 17's anyway.

[DrRubber]

I think im tending to agree in some ways regarding larger wheels........

eliminating tyre roll/flex has got to be a track advantage

couldnt get a definitive answer on those tyres today hayden as they have to look further into them, they certainly arnt listed for nzdm.

[BTLF3D]

Originally Posted by badcf4

I think im tending to agree in some ways regarding larger wheels........

eliminating tyre roll/flex has got to be a track advantage

couldnt get a definitive answer on those tyres today hayden as they have to look further into them, they certainly arnt listed for nzdm.

damn wonder what sorrta price it would be to import some... then again i dont really want to import tyres all the time when i need them!

Ill see how these 15's go and if they still feel shit well then ill look at something better. Most likely cheap 17's with r888s.

[dazznz]

Originally Posted by nemesisteg

mmm like the look of those tyres!! they may have made it towards the top of the list, does the hard compound give you much grief when the track gets a bit greasy etc? you still run the same tyres in the rain?

yer man i run the same tyres in the wet. They are still good for alot of grip in the rain.

[Coupe-R]

Get a really light EG6 stripped out and put some 17's on it and it can tend to wander around the road.

Vs some 15's

Dunno if thats tyre/side wall effects tho?

205/15/50 RA1 have a VERY hard sidewall and I doubt the difference in flex would be HUGE with a 205/15/50 and a 205/17/40 RA1.