Track Day Tyres

[Peter Cee]

Any suggestions for suitable (road legal) track day tyres ?

Thinking of reverting to a spare set of 18inch wheels for this purpose.

 

[spyderman]

How about Pirelli PZero Corsa - slightly better wet weather performance than Michellin Cups. The new Michelin Pilot Super Sport is supposed to be even better, but so far they're difficult to get hold of.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Pirelli/PZero-Corsa-System.htm

Just noticed yours is PDK - have you tracked it yet - if so, how did you get on?

 

[Nick_USA]

I can vouch for the Corsa System as it is fitted to my car. I would also say it is better wearing, and performs way better in the wet than the cups.

Sizing maybe an issue though if you're after standard sizes.

 

[Peter Cee]

Not been on track in the Boxster yet but toying with the idea - and I won't be afraid of going round in Sport Plus mode and letting the car do some of the work - interesting to see how well it copes on track.

Using 18 inch wheels means front - 235 x 40 and rear - 255 x 40 (maybe?)

Using 19 ich wheels means front - 235 x 35 and rear - 265 x 35 (corrected!)


Sod's law but I can't seem to find these combinations in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup - nor in most other trackday tyre brands.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Peter, that rear size for the 18"s doesn't look right to me?

 

[Nick_USA]

What rims are you running for your 19" as the rear offsets critical for the rear tyre size you have specified.

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Peter Cee

Not been on track in the Boxster yet but toying with the idea - and I won't be afraid of going round in Sport Plus mode and letting the car do some of the work - interesting to see how well it copes on track.

Using 18 inch wheels means front - 235 x 40 and rear - 255 x 40

Using 19 ich wheels means front - 235 x 35 and rear - 295 x 30

Sod's law but I can't seem to find these combinations in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup - nor in most other trackday tyre brands.

Aren't the 19" rears 265/30 Peter. It may be the thinking man's 911 but don't think it has C2S size rear tyres?[] Only getting my info from the Tequipment book so may be completely wrong!

Have you looked at Camskill. They have Yokohama AD08's in all those sizes which are pretty decent for the occasional track day I believe.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m12b0s0p0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QawxMjQZ58

 

[Steve Brookes]

I would be wary about running a full track tyre such as the Mich PS cups or Toyo R888 on a standard Boxster because of the higher cornering forces they allow, leading to a greater risk of oil starvation. Your handbook will confirm this. I would stick with standard good road tyres like Mich PS2 or Bridgestone S02. GT3s and air-cooled 911s can cope with the higher cornering forces because of their dry sump system. Many will say that you'll have just as much and possibly more fun on good road tyres on track because it will be a lot looser through the corners.

 

[spyderman]

ORIGINAL: Steve Brookes
Many will say that you'll have just as much and possibly more fun on good road tyres on track because it will be a lot looser through the corners.

Have tracked mine on the PZero Rossos it came with - plenty fun! And they seem to be wearing pretty well too.

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Steve Brookes

I would be wary about running a full track tyre such as the Mich PS cups or Toyo R888 on a standard Boxster because of the higher cornering forces they allow, leading to a greater risk of oil starvation. Your handbook will confirm this. I would stick with standard good road tyres like Mich PS2 or Bridgestone S02. GT3s and air-cooled 911s can cope with the higher cornering forces because of their dry sump system. Many will say that you'll have just as much and possibly more fun on good road tyres on track because it will be a lot looser through the corners.

According to Mr Porsche........

"Integrated dry-sump lubrication guarantees a reliable oil supply while reducing engine temperatures, even in sportily driven cars. The oil reservoir is located inside the engine. Four oil pumps transport the oil from the cylinder heads directly into the oil sump. A fifth pump in the oil sump directly supplies the lubricating points in the engine. To reduce power losses and increase efficiency, an electronically controlled oil pump supplies the engine lubrication points as and when required. This means that the oil pump does not work so hard when there is less demand for lubrication. The benefits of an on-demand oil supply system are optimum efficiency combined with a reduction in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. For the engine, these detailed solutions mean a consistent oil supply, regardless of gravitational loads, even in the most demanding track conditions."[]

 

[Steve Brookes]

What engine does that refer to TS?

This is from the boxster (986) handbook:

"The fitting of racing tyres (e.g. slicks) for sporting events is not approved by Porsche. Very high cornering speeds can be achieved with racing tyres. The resulting lateral acceleration values would jeopardise the adequate supply of oil to the engine"


OK slicks would be a bit extreme [] but I think they would say the same about full trackday tyres. Has this changed for 987 or 987 gen II engines?

 

[tscaptain]

The DFI engine that Peter has in his 2010 Boxster S

http://www.porsche.com/uk/models/boxster/boxster-s/detail/?gtabindex=2

See under "integrated dry sump lubrication"

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

The DFI engine that Peter has in his 2010 Boxster S

http://www.porsche.com/uk/models/boxster/boxster-s/detail/?gtabindex=2

See under "integrated dry sump lubrication"

Great to hear that they've addressed the issue.....might aswell go for the track tyres then or even slicks! []

 

[tscaptain]

I had an amusing exchange with someone at Porsche HQ last year when I asked if fitting GT3 anti roll bars to mine would affect the warranty. The reply was "that the higher g forces in the corners would affect the oil supply and might starve the engine of oil and therefore would not be covered by warranty". My reply was that he should go away and read the material on their website and stop talking such b@lls.[]

 

[Peter Cee]

Apologies for stating the incorrect sizes for the 19 inch wheels - that's what comes of getting your info from the internet.

Checked the car today and the 19 inch wheels have 235 x 35 on the front and 265 x 35 on the rear.

In theory, according to the Porsche website, a new Boxster with 18 inch wheels has 235 x 40 on the front, and 265 x 40 on the rear.

I kind of fancied the new Michelin Pilot Super Sports which I have heard good things about - but no front's available if i use 18 inch, and no rears if I use 19 inch.

As far as I can see it looks like none of the usual track day tyres (A038's, R888, pilot cup sports) will fit either the 18inch or 19 inch combinations.

Somebody must know the answer........

 

[tscaptain]

Looks like it's the 265 rears that are the problem Peter and I think you are right that nobody makes track tyres in 265/35/19 or 265/40/18. I see the "winter tyres" are 255's and that size is available in a track tyre! I wonder if putting 265/30/19 on the rears would be ok? According to the calculator the diameter is 26mm less with the 30 profile tyre.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

You don't have to rigidly stick to approved tyre sizes.
I'm running 315/30/18s at the rear instead of the approved 295/30/18s (so 'wrong' in terms of both width and profile height) and they are fine.