Track day tyres - Road legal

Davyboy · May 17, 2007

Ok so what do people have sititng around there garage that they bought on a whim but have never used? What do you have, can you help me make up a cheap set for my Nurburgring adventures 2007.

I NEED a set of tyres pronto (el cheap).

I have a good set of 225 50 16 Pirelli P zero C
I would like a matching set of 245 45 16

I can get hold of a set of 225 50 16 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tryes
This would leave me needing a set of matching 245 45 16 MPSC

I also have a set of 7j and 8.5j 17 inch wheels which I could put some tyres on.

I see 2 different places have the following (so I could make a set)
225 45 17 (maybe too wide) Dunlop Super Sport race
245 40 17 Dunlop Super Sport race

Neil Haughey · May 17, 2007

I plumped in the end for Hankook RS-2, one of the reasons being that they do a 245 rear for 16" wheels. I can see 16" becoming more and more of a problem and cost wise it is starting to look better to go for 17" in the sizes you list. As an example my RS2 rears cost the best part of 150 quid whereas I can the 224x45-17 for 80 quid.

This particular tyre is marketed as a (soft end of) road type compound but with a race tyre construction.

Davyboy · May 17, 2007

Dunlop Super sport race is out of the question.

I could get some fronts, but only one rear [:'(]

The Hankook looks OK and very cheap, but I'm really after a 1B tyre.

dixhuit · May 17, 2007

Just bought a set of Toyo Proxes T1 R 16 205/55 and 225/50 from Black Circles
with PCGB discount £287 delivered to my office next day.
200 miles last weekend and wet grip unbelievable and superb roadholding. So far I am very impressed. (Quick Devon lanes)Goodwood in two weeks will cement the opinion
These were recommended to me by a motorsport company I deal with that converts Subarus as a good tarmac track tyre that handles safely in the wet as opposed to a road legal trackday tyre which is lethal in the wet.

Neil Haughey · May 17, 2007

ORIGINAL: dixhuit

Just bought a set of Toyo Proxes T1 R 16 205/55 and 225/50 from Black Circles
These were recommended to me by a motorsport company I deal with that converts Subarus as a good tarmac track tyre that handles safely in the wet as opposed to a road legal trackday tyre which is lethal in the wet.

Not always the case. Before buying the Hankooks I read a review that one of the German mags did where it outperformed the Toyo both wet and dry, I can't remember the link. The RS2 is an unusual tyre though.

However at Bedford they didn't go to well in the wet but I now believe this was due to the tyre requiring an extraordinary amount of breaking in. Recently on the road they feel totally different and seem to grip like hell, when warmed up they make a lot of noise like yoko's used to do years ago.

Maybe not enough ultimate dry grip for what Dave is looking for but IMHO they handle fantastically well on the 944 better then the Toyo's I used to run.

Dave are you looking to break your BTG record and can we expect to see perhaps a 8:10 vid appearing soon?

Davyboy · May 17, 2007

There will be no breaking of records I'm afraid. The lap I had on video was never supposed to be my fastest lap ever, who knows I could have gone faster during that weekend.

With a new set of brakes, cups etc I think I could go faster, but there are no prizes for doing that ...I can only lose if I make a mistake. I'm happy just doing laps around 8.30-8.40 pace in traffic etc.

I also know that a (fast) mate of mine from Finland did a 7.57btg in a 944 on Cup tyres and KW suspension. While I could go faster, I'll NEVER be that fast.