shoes needed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 3
From: seattle wa
shoes needed
are there any suggestions on alternate shoes for the stock gumby rims? i have a set of the gumby rims that i want to dedicate to track time and wanted to try the pilot super sport cup 2, but they dont come int he stock size (looks like only z06 size rim)…any other options/thoughts/suggestions?..maybe the pilot super sport zp?
(btw im assuming the z51 package didnt change rim size…im fairly certain it didnt...if not, i made a bad 250 dollar purchase a year or two ago
)
(btw im assuming the z51 package didnt change rim size…im fairly certain it didnt...if not, i made a bad 250 dollar purchase a year or two ago
)
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 37
From: Lone Star State
I can recommend Bridgestone RE-11s, I have been running them on my C6 for about 7k miles as a DD with about 900 track day miles and a couple of Auto-X days last year. They have good predictable grip but they are a bit slick below 50F, this is on a car that dyno'd 510whp.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,628
For high road course work, would start with a set of R6's and go from there. If you are parking lot autocrossing tires instead, then the A6's (gummy and don't need to be warmed up, but don't run them for high speed tracks, or your going to wear them out too fast.
Just bring the extra rims, and what them at the track.
Note, the R6's have a lot more grip, which will put a lot more demand on your brakes, so will end changing brake pads to high temp pads when you tire swap as well.
The only positive thing about the super cups is that they are a street tire that you can drive to the track on, but your giving up traction when compared to a true racing tire instead.
Just bring the extra rims, and what them at the track.
Note, the R6's have a lot more grip, which will put a lot more demand on your brakes, so will end changing brake pads to high temp pads when you tire swap as well.
The only positive thing about the super cups is that they are a street tire that you can drive to the track on, but your giving up traction when compared to a true racing tire instead.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 3
From: seattle wa
thanks for the feedback guys…these will be dedicated to track hpde events…
are the r6's slicks?…assuming they come in the stock size?…as for the brake pads, i already swap those out since i have dedicated track pads, track rotors, and bleed the brakes every event…so i should be good there...
are the r6's slicks?…assuming they come in the stock size?…as for the brake pads, i already swap those out since i have dedicated track pads, track rotors, and bleed the brakes every event…so i should be good there...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 3
From: seattle wa
the other question i had was regarding tire size…how big of a tire size can i go on a stock rim safely? for example stock rear is 285/35-19 while some of the sizes im seeing are 295/35-19…is 295 "ok" to put on or will there be rubbing somewhere inside?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
I run Toyo Proxes R888. They are a good intermediate tire between a street tire like the Michelin Pilot Super Sport and the Hoosier R6. If you drive to the track on the R888s, they are a noisy tire but on the track....who cares? 
I've also used the Nitto NT01 which at one time had the same compound as the R888, just a different tread pattern. Not sure if that is still the case or not. Both the NT01 and R888 can be used in damp conditions although not in a flat out rain storm and can be driven to the track. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cups would be in the NT01 / R888 category as well.
The R6 is a DOT tire although with only two circumferential grooves, it's much more "slick like". I'd be cautious about driving it any distance on the street. Depending on track, they take 1-2 laps to heat up. Once they do, they stick like glue. As is typical of a tread compound of this nature, when they let go there is little to no warning. If pushed hard with a heavy car like the Corvette, I found I could get ~20 minutes out of them before they got greasy on hot summer days. In cooler temps, 30 minute sessions were no problem. I stopped running R6s because I was going through hubs....too much side loading due to the added grip. Of course a tire like this also wears much faster. I could cord fronts in a day if I pushed hard on a technical track. However, flipping the tires side-to-side after each session and flipping them on the rim after a weekend would extend that to 5-6 track days. Lots of fun and a pleasure to drive, but have the wallet ready to open. One thing you can do is look for scrubs...tires guys have used for practice or qualifying. They may only have a couple heat cycles on them and you can pick them up for 30%-50% of the cost of buying new.
I've also used the Nitto NT01 which at one time had the same compound as the R888, just a different tread pattern. Not sure if that is still the case or not. Both the NT01 and R888 can be used in damp conditions although not in a flat out rain storm and can be driven to the track. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cups would be in the NT01 / R888 category as well.
The R6 is a DOT tire although with only two circumferential grooves, it's much more "slick like". I'd be cautious about driving it any distance on the street. Depending on track, they take 1-2 laps to heat up. Once they do, they stick like glue. As is typical of a tread compound of this nature, when they let go there is little to no warning. If pushed hard with a heavy car like the Corvette, I found I could get ~20 minutes out of them before they got greasy on hot summer days. In cooler temps, 30 minute sessions were no problem. I stopped running R6s because I was going through hubs....too much side loading due to the added grip. Of course a tire like this also wears much faster. I could cord fronts in a day if I pushed hard on a technical track. However, flipping the tires side-to-side after each session and flipping them on the rim after a weekend would extend that to 5-6 track days. Lots of fun and a pleasure to drive, but have the wallet ready to open. One thing you can do is look for scrubs...tires guys have used for practice or qualifying. They may only have a couple heat cycles on them and you can pick them up for 30%-50% of the cost of buying new.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 3
From: seattle wa
I run Toyo Proxes R888. They are a good intermediate tire between a street tire like the Michelin Pilot Super Sport and the Hoosier R6. If you drive to the track on the R888s, they are a noisy tire but on the track....who cares?
I've also used the Nitto NT01 which at one time had the same compound as the R888, just a different tread pattern. Not sure if that is still the case or not. Both the NT01 and R888 can be used in damp conditions although not in a flat out rain storm and can be driven to the track. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cups would be in the NT01 / R888 category as well.
The R6 is a DOT tire although with only two circumferential grooves, it's much more "slick like". I'd be cautious about driving it any distance on the street. Depending on track, they take 1-2 laps to heat up. Once they do, they stick like glue. As is typical of a tread compound of this nature, when they let go there is little to no warning. If pushed hard with a heavy car like the Corvette, I found I could get ~20 minutes out of them before they got greasy on hot summer days. In cooler temps, 30 minute sessions were no problem. I stopped running R6s because I was going through hubs....too much side loading due to the added grip. Of course a tire like this also wears much faster. I could cord fronts in a day if I pushed hard on a technical track. However, flipping the tires side-to-side after each session and flipping them on the rim after a weekend would extend that to 5-6 track days. Lots of fun and a pleasure to drive, but have the wallet ready to open. One thing you can do is look for scrubs...tires guys have used for practice or qualifying. They may only have a couple heat cycles on them and you can pick them up for 30%-50% of the cost of buying new.
I've also used the Nitto NT01 which at one time had the same compound as the R888, just a different tread pattern. Not sure if that is still the case or not. Both the NT01 and R888 can be used in damp conditions although not in a flat out rain storm and can be driven to the track. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cups would be in the NT01 / R888 category as well.
The R6 is a DOT tire although with only two circumferential grooves, it's much more "slick like". I'd be cautious about driving it any distance on the street. Depending on track, they take 1-2 laps to heat up. Once they do, they stick like glue. As is typical of a tread compound of this nature, when they let go there is little to no warning. If pushed hard with a heavy car like the Corvette, I found I could get ~20 minutes out of them before they got greasy on hot summer days. In cooler temps, 30 minute sessions were no problem. I stopped running R6s because I was going through hubs....too much side loading due to the added grip. Of course a tire like this also wears much faster. I could cord fronts in a day if I pushed hard on a technical track. However, flipping the tires side-to-side after each session and flipping them on the rim after a weekend would extend that to 5-6 track days. Lots of fun and a pleasure to drive, but have the wallet ready to open. One thing you can do is look for scrubs...tires guys have used for practice or qualifying. They may only have a couple heat cycles on them and you can pick them up for 30%-50% of the cost of buying new.
as for scrubs…never considered it…but will add to my list...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
awesome info! the r888's were mentioned to me by a friend as well. it sounds like i should consider the r888's, pilot super sport cups, or nt01's…i guess my next question would be if the sizes available would work for the stock rim…is it of any concern going 295 vs 285 (285 is stock rim size on the c6)…or would that cause an issue?
as for scrubs…never considered it…but will add to my list...
as for scrubs…never considered it…but will add to my list...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 3
From: seattle wa
thanks again for the feedback!!
