Wheel and Tyre sizes
- Thread starter bdm01
- Start date
944 man
Active member
This reply'll go down like a lead balloon, Im sure: but keep to standard and work the tyres. I think youll find that 205s-215s all around will grip more than enough and overall youll be faster than on 205/225s or 225/245s, whichll grip too much for the chassis at best, or simply not heat up and grip at worst.
If need be you can always go up in size and its better to lag behind a little than it is to jump the gun...
Simon
If need be you can always go up in size and its better to lag behind a little than it is to jump the gun...
Simon
not at all, i'm sure it is the best advice.
part of me wanted to hear that big wide alloys with big wide low profile tyres was the way but i knew deep down there was a better way.
So car has 15" x 7J at the moment with an average set of road tyres.
do I stick with 15" or go to 16" or 17" stick with 7J or 7.5J wide what width of tyre and what aspect ratio to use? and any good tyre compound (must be road legal)
Cheers
part of me wanted to hear that big wide alloys with big wide low profile tyres was the way but i knew deep down there was a better way.
So car has 15" x 7J at the moment with an average set of road tyres.
do I stick with 15" or go to 16" or 17" stick with 7J or 7.5J wide what width of tyre and what aspect ratio to use? and any good tyre compound (must be road legal)
Cheers
944 man
Active member
Id be tempted to keep completely standard wheels (you dont need more caliper clearance after all, so why bother?) and consider going down to 205/50 or maybe 215/45 in a decent tyre such as a Toyo Proxes. Its hard to second guess the benefit to you of lowered gearing from here, of course... [
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944 man
Active member
Id thought about 195/45s, but I havent actually tried myself, so I didnt want to suggest it. Theyd need to be properly good tyres though, I think. 888s are now very expensive and equally difficult to get hold of. I was suggesting the new Proxes R1R , which seems to be a good compromise between the 888 and the T1-R, at a more sensible price.
Ive got the painters number now Ed, and Ive spoken to him about your car: hes happy to do it for the price quoted and you can strip what you wish off there.
Simon
Ive got the painters number now Ed, and Ive spoken to him about your car: hes happy to do it for the price quoted and you can strip what you wish off there.
Simon
Neil Haughey
New member
When we had out CSCC race at Mallory I was obsessed with finding who was carrying the most corner speed through Gerrards as I knew I lost a boat load of time in that corner in testing. I got to see all the other 944's and cars similar to ours close up in that corner and IMHO the quickest was Ben Eacocks 8v 944 (green one for sale on pistonheads). EMC ran diddy little 15" rims with 205 Dunlops on that thing []
There is a lot to be said for small wheels and tyres.
]There is a lot to be said for small wheels and tyres.
Yep I know Ben's car, very nicely put together bit of kit !
EMC have done some work on my car for me as they are fairly local and very good.
I sort of knew the smaller wheels / tyres was good for circuit racing but really wondered if it was the same for sprint hillclimb work.
ie, 35 second runs up a steep tarmac hill no time to warm the tyres and no second chance on any bend ?
Cheers
EMC have done some work on my car for me as they are fairly local and very good.
I sort of knew the smaller wheels / tyres was good for circuit racing but really wondered if it was the same for sprint hillclimb work.
ie, 35 second runs up a steep tarmac hill no time to warm the tyres and no second chance on any bend ?
Cheers
edh
New member
Last year when I bought tyres for the Honda I found A048's were by far the cheapest of all the track-spec tyres I priced up. Worth considering kuhmo V70a's as well - I have seen these come up very cheap on ebay.
While they will work better when hot, they will also grip better when cold than harder road tyres. Of course you also have the option for fitting softer compounds for sprint only work.
edh
New member
ORIGINAL: Neil Haughey
When we had out CSCC race at Mallory I was obsessed with finding who was carrying the most corner speed through Gerrards as I knew I lost a boat load of time in that corner in testing. I got to see all the other 944's and cars similar to ours close up in that corner and IMHO the quickest was Ben Eacocks 8v 944 (green one for sale on pistonheads). EMC ran diddy little 15" rims with 205 Dunlops on that thing [
There is a lot to be said for small wheels and tyres.
Having said all that I know MarkK is convinced that moving to 17's has given him loads more grip - but that's a 250hp turbo so a much more powerful / faster car
944 man
Active member
Further to the above: reduced mass equals reduced inertia, meaning that the wheels will be able to be turned from straight ahead with greater ease. A smaller rolling radius also gives the existing caliper/rotor greater leverage over the wheel, leading to increased braking effort. Win-win-win.
Simon
Simon
Hilux
New member
Also......................
A wheel, hub, caliper, control arm will have to be controlled by suspension systems designed to minimise and restrict bump reaction or the vehicle is uncontrollable.
The heavier the mass of the above as a whole means the reaction to bump with a greater mass (weight) is bigger thereby transferring vibration and energy into the chassis
Less mass (weight) of the above means the likely hood of transferring energy into the chassis is reduced and the reaction is less so the tyre stays in better, more even contact with the road enhancing the handling.
Also the wheels etc resist turning less as there is less mass with inertia to overcome and with reduced gyroscopic effect turn easier so react to input quicker. Hence smaller, lighter wheels and tyres are a definite advantage.
The 944 already has ally calipers (but not the lightest) and control arms.
A wheel, hub, caliper, control arm will have to be controlled by suspension systems designed to minimise and restrict bump reaction or the vehicle is uncontrollable.
The heavier the mass of the above as a whole means the reaction to bump with a greater mass (weight) is bigger thereby transferring vibration and energy into the chassis
Less mass (weight) of the above means the likely hood of transferring energy into the chassis is reduced and the reaction is less so the tyre stays in better, more even contact with the road enhancing the handling.
Also the wheels etc resist turning less as there is less mass with inertia to overcome and with reduced gyroscopic effect turn easier so react to input quicker. Hence smaller, lighter wheels and tyres are a definite advantage.
The 944 already has ally calipers (but not the lightest) and control arms.
I would have said even more so, is all about acceleration, my trackday 924S feels a fair bit brisker on the 15 ichers with 205/50 then the larger 16 inch jobbies, is a smaller rolling radius & the wheel & tyre combo is far lighter too. 195/50 may not be a bad idea, v popular size & easy to get, but may look a bit lost in a 944s arches tho.
Neil Haughey
New member
Not just that but a soft small tyre should heat up nice and quick
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