AlanC

Hi all,

I'm looking for some suggestions for track tires sizes, primarily for HPDE use.

I'm currently running CCW Classic wheels (18x11 front, 18x12 rear) and Toyo R888 tires (295/30ZR18 front, 335/30ZR18 rear).

The rears are a bit too wide, and are occasionally rubbing the rear fenders. I like being able to hook up the power (500 rwhp), but also the car is understeering so I'm thinking I need to go with a bit narrower tire out back to balance things out a bit better.

Will a 315 work without rubbing? What size front tires will compliment these best? Do I need to consider going even narrower out back?

I'm also considering downsizing the 18x12s to 18x10 (or 10.5) and putting the 18x11s in the back. It looks like the 315s are happiest on an 11" rim.

Also, what are you guys running for track tires these days? I'm probably more interested in bang for the buck rather than all out performance.

Thanks!

Alan

Last C5

I'm running CCWs in 17X10 and 18X11 with 275/40s in front and 305/35 in back. The tires are 888s. Fronts are that size to clear my brake ducting. I've got Hotchkiss bars and Bilsteins so it's not all that exotic of a set up but the car handles extremely well. Very neutral.

argonaut

The Nitto NT01 and Nitto 555RII are both well liked HPDE tires. IMO best DE bang for the buck is scrubs - you can generally find them for ~$100/tire.

Eagle Colorado - I use to live in Avon. Do you live there year round? Where do you attend DEs....seems like a long haul to any track from there.

AlanC

Yes, I'm using scrubs. Just curious if there was any particular brand/type I should watch for.

Yes, I live here year round and I work in Avon. Closest track is High Plains Raceway East of Denver, about a 3 hour drive.

Thanks for the info!

TS Motorsport

I run 17x11F 17x12R with 315's all around with kumho v700's. The 335's will rub in the back, the 315's will not. It really depends on your wheel offset.

MJM

A lot of people (myself included) run stock C5 Z06 rear wheels on all 4 corners.

They are relatively inexpensive and at 18 x 10.5 you have a wide selection of tires available to fit them.

I run scrub Pirelli's.

Matt

MotoJB

So what are your choices to run on that 12" rear rim? 315 or 335?

Did you have to remove your rear brake duct tubing to make that 12" with a 335 fit?

How flush are those CCW Classic 12" rears with the tires mounted? Do they stick out past the fender when looking down at them from above the car?

Are they rubbing on the inside or outside of the rear fenders?

Thanks.

AlanC

I could probably run a 305 on the back as well, but I'm thinking 315 is closer to ideal.

I don't have rear brake ducts, I'm a hardtop.

The 12" rears stick out a little. Here's a picture:



The current tires are rubbing on the outside fender lip. This has only been a problem for me at TWS with a passenger due to the high compression caused by the banking on some of the corners.

I've been told that going to 315s should alleviate this.

Jason

You're talking to a bunch of guys that run 255's and 275's.

Timz06

Go up to a 315 on front and leave the 335 on the rear. If you don't want to do that, a tried and true combo is 315 all around and makes it easier to rotate/have spare tires.

AlanC

Tim, do you ever having any issues with rubbing with the 335s in the back?

What wheels are you running?

I was thinking I needed to go down in size, not up!

MotoJB

Thanks for the input/help

Did the rubbing cause any damage to your fenders?

I'm assuming then if I had to run 335's on the rear to match the fronts for 1 set of tires (fronts come with BFG's and they don't apparently make a 315 for my rears) that I wouldn't likely recreate the conditions you are experiencing to cause the rubbing (since I'm only driving on the steet).

After the BFG's were gone, I'd go to another tire.

Thoughts anyone? Thank you!

PS: Other than the rubbing issue, how do you like the CCW Classics?

AlanC

Nope. They didn't really rub very much. Left some black rubber on the fender rim and a slight mark on the tire but nothing too concerning. I'd just prefer to not have to worry about it in the future.

I thought about getting some aftermarket fenders, but I think going with a narrower tire is probably a better strategy.

I don't know that I'd even worry about 335s on the street, unless your roads are particularly bumpy and/or you've lowered the car dramatically.

Great wheel. A classic!

Timz06

I am not running 335's - I run 315 square combo on the old 17 inch T1 wheels. My car tends to be a bit tail happy, but I have the T1 suspension and the rear bar is too stiff. Increasing the size of your front tires (or reducing the rear size) would of course help with the pushing.

I know a couple of guys who do run the 335's and that is a pretty fast combo. We have race cars so rubbing for us is not really an issue.

Generally, the hoosier tires are wider than some of the other makes (like Kumho.) Hoosier 315's will wear my front fender a bit, however the kumho's do not. No effect on the rear.

The only reason to run skinny tires like 295's is because of rules. There are guys doing it well on 275's very well, but their cars are perfectly set up and they get an HP bonus for the skinnies. They are also a bit lighter.

Tim

GT Racing Tires

Alan,

Ask one question and get a thousand answers. You have to decide what works best for you, your budget and your car!

I run 18x11 fronts and 18x12 rears and use either Pirelli or Continental scrubs. 285/645/18 fronts and 305/660/18 rears. This is what my car is set up for. I could run 305/660/18 fronts and 325/680/18 rears with the Continentals. Some guys run 305's all around.

Now the sales

We have Toyo R888, Pirelli and Continental all in your size.

Todd
414-350-6303

AlanC

Todd,

No rubbing problems with the 305 I assume?

Running the 305 on a 12" wheel is about the limit of the range for most tires, but still within the recommended range.

I just use my car for HPDE days, so I really don't care so much about being competitive. I am putting some power to the ground, so a wider rear tire seems like it would be better.

I'm thinking if I can run the 315 without any rubbing issues that's probably the size I'll go with the next time I need tires.

The next question is should I go to a wider front tire. Anyone having any rubbing problems with 305s up front with stock wheel well liners?

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Alan

63Corvette

Phoenix Racing is running a special sale of Hoosier A6 scrubs on this forum. That's the hot setup....whatever it is, BUY SOME!!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...-for-sale.html

Larry W

Do you run the same size on all 4? Any issues with the front clearance if you are?
Thanks,
L.W.

Larry W

Do yo run the same size on all 4? If so is there any problem with frnt cleaarance?

Thanks,
L.W.

Bossdog

I have completed my first track day with my C5 and first experience with NT01's.
I am running a square set up, 315's all round. Stock Z06 sway bars, JOC featherlight Coilovers.
I ran NT05's on my 2005 STi.I really liked the NT05's. Like other reviews, I found they got a bit Greezzie feeling after 6 or 7 laps on a warm day. I read the NT01's were more resilient when it cane to fading into the Greezzie state. I found the 01's were similar to the 05's in that at about 7 or 8 laps in they started to get Greezzie. Not quite as much as the O5's but similar. The 01's seemed to plateau and not continue to get more Squishy like the NT05's did.
All and all, I like them, Very consistent,. I have a second track day coming up a Grattan next week, I am expecting a similar performance.