If You Were To Buy Track Day Wheels/tyres

[mikel]

what would you recommend if you were going to splurge on a set of rims and tyres to keep just for track days?

assuming standard brakes, and to use the wheels and tyres only on the track.

Can you get 2nd hand slicks based on a contolled tyre in 1 particular size?

Is the heat cycling of 2nd hand race tyres going to render the tyre useless or are they still good for a few hard laps on a track day?

I've heard Ford falcon wheels fit the skyline - is this true?

can you get 4 track day wheels/tyres in a skyline assuming no passengers?

[BHDave]

Find out what you can get tyre wise before doing anything else. If you are in sydney give gordon leven tyres a ring and see if the new RE55's are still cheap and what he has available second hand. Try the other motorsport tyre distributors in your area as well to see whats available second hand.

Don't get second hand ao48's. they tend to heat cycle worse than anything else and are likely stuffed.

Yes falcon wheels will fit. I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. just get some ugly looking second hand jap rims in good offsets. No one want's the ugly ones so they are cheap (start around 600 a set from importbitz or otomoto). You will end up with either 16 or 17 inch tyres so obviously wheels to suit. I'd be leaning towards 17's

pull out the rear seat and you can fit 4 tyres in there.

[mikel]

thanks BHDave,

I start looking around for tyres...

[Amec]

I find the RE55s are the best compromise between grip and longevity, they generally last on our car for around 130 laps.

we also can get you RE55s at competitive prices: http://www.amecautocare.com.au/bridgestonetyres.htm

[djr81]

what would you recommend if you were going to splurge on a set of rims and tyres to keep just for track days?

Get the lightest, widest rim you can afford. Don't run different sizes front and back. Don't buy Bob Jane sh!te or anything similar. Toyo & Bridgestone make very good track tyres.

Can you get 2nd hand slicks based on a contolled tyre in 1 particular size?

Yes, but they are usually well used.

Is the heat cycling of 2nd hand race tyres going to render the tyre useless or are they still good for a few hard laps on a track day?

Useless, no. Less effective, yes.

I've heard Ford falcon wheels fit the skyline - is this true?

Yes. Some fit.

can you get 4 track day wheels/tyres in a skyline assuming no passengers?

Well it depends on what type. In a 2 door, no. In a 4 door - maybe.

[weeman1]

^^what do you mean by different sizes? 16" front 17" rear? or are you talking about the width of the rim?

can i ask why for either

[lukits01]

I used to run this combination on my R33 GTS-t

R33 GTR rims 17*9J +35 all 4 corners ~ $1000-$1200 depending in condition

Bridgestone RE55S SR Compound 235/45/17 all 4 corners $1300-$1400

If you're lucky you should be able to find some for $600-$1000 2nd hand depending on wear

[Ant97GTR]

As others have said get the same sized rim/tyre combo front and rear as you will want to rotate the wheels front to rear and vice-versa.

Also I don't know what djr was talking about as I just mange to squeeze 4 18" by 10.5" rims with RE55's on them along the backseat of my GTR...it is a tight squeeze though!

[djr81]

As others have said get the same sized rim/tyre combo front and rear as you will want to rotate the wheels front to rear and vice-versa.

Some people like to run wider rubber on the rear of their 33 GTS-T's. It doesn't do anything for the handling balance of the car & as Ant said you can't rotate them to balance wear on the tyres.

Also I don't know what djr was talking about as I just mange to squeeze 4 18" by 10.5" rims with RE55's on them along the backseat of my GTR...it is a tight squeeze though!

Well to be fair I often don't know what I am talking about either. I can't fit wheels plus all the other shit I take to track days in my 32 & am not sure I like the idea of putting tyres on the back seat, least of all when some pillock in a Commodore runs into you. Although to be entirely accurate as there is often an overnight stay in Perth involved I usually take my fluffy bunny slippers which take up a lot of room.

Edited August 23, 2007 by djr81

[Beer Baron]

man you are a machine ANT. there is no way I can fit 4 17X9 with 235 semis on them in a row on the back seat (or in my case in the space where the back seat used to be.

[Abo Bob]

Some people like to run wider rubber on the rear of their 33 GTS-T's. It doesn't do anything for the handling balance of the car & as Ant said you can't rotate them to balance wear on the tyres.

Maybe with sub 200rwkw you can have same front and rear on a GTST. On my GTT I immediately noticed much better ability to get the power down out of corners with 9" rear rims as opposed to the 8" all round I had previously. Obviously the trade off is increased understeer particularly mid corner but I just had to use a bit less gas to compensate for that.

[hrd-hr30]

Saloon Cars new control tyre is a 235 or 245/40*17 Kuhmo semi slick - can't remember exactly... The front runners will be throwing them out pretty early so you should be able to pick up reasonable 2nd hand ones nice and cheap if you look around.

[stolen_s15]

^^ Any idea where to pick up these second hand ones?

[Ant97GTR]

man you are a machine ANT. there is no way I can fit 4 17X9 with 235 semis on them in a row on the back seat (or in my case in the space where the back seat used to be.

Most of the other crap I take to a track day is in the boot so the rear seat is left for tyres.....will be different in Nov when we go up to NSW for a week All I do I cover the seats with an old bedsheet and there you go. Also the tyres and wheels are pretty much locked in their spot and I doubt that they would move even in a bad stack....well heres to hoping anyway

Time for you 32 boys to step into a 33 as it seems there is a little more room inside for your fluffy bunny slippers

[salad]

Having four doors really helps for taking rubber out to the track, 4 17x9s with 235-255 rubber fit in the back easily. I can just squeeze 6 in the back if I need to aswell which is pretty much only helpful for drift stuff... Granted with 6 I cant actually see out the back window or see my blind spot, but I make do, and check real carefully before lane changes

All the various other junk (jack, stands, tools, fluids, etc) go in the boot.

If you're after brand new rims, P1 Buddys can be had fairly cheap these days, one sponsor on NS is doing a set of 17x9 +17 for $1600

Look good, quite light and not overly expensive.

Edited September 21, 2007 by salad

[Roy]

Time for you 32 boys to step into a 33 as it seems there is a little more room inside for your fluffy bunny slippers

Hey if someone wants to swap me a neat R33 GTR for my car then no problem

[scathing]

235/45 R17 is a common control tyre size for R-Comps. I think the Commodore Cup cars run it. I think there are some control tyred series' on 15" rims too, but the details are kind of foggy. But, on an R33 GTS-t, you'd rather go 17" than 15".

I don't think that there are too many control tyres for 16" aside from the shitty Kumhos that the Lotus Cup cars use, and the guys I see rolling on them always complain about traction issues. They'd make good dori tyres, but if time is an issue I'd stay off them. They're just glorified street tyres from what I can see - they're not even at the Falken RT615's level, let alone a true R-Comp.

I personally prefer running the same sized rims and rubber all round on the track (for rotation and less understeer) but then my car isn't overly endowed with power.

Rim-wise, I'd suggest buying a second hand set of forged wheels if you can afford it. Used TE37s in 17" are floating around the $1500 mark these days; less if you don't care about their appearance. That said, $1500 could still be more than you're willing to spend on rims you only use once a month (and then only for a day). But I'd rather use stockers, which have a reasonable quality level, over some shitty rims you got from Tempe or whatever.

Do stock R33 GT-R rims fit on a GTS-t?

If you're planning on running full slicks then carrying them becomes an issue. Otherwise, run R-Comps, fit them at home, and drive to your venue on them.

Where you get tyres from is going to depend on your location. In Sydney, I get my Bridgestone RE55S from Gordon Leven. I'd either get Toyo R888s from TyrePower or JDMYard, if I were to use them.

Edited September 21, 2007 by scathing

[siddr20]

one sponsor on NS is doing a set of 17x9 +17 for $1600

Sold mine for 900!!

1.6k !!! what a rip off.. way to much price mark up!! lol

But mine were 17*8, 17*9s.. perfect offsets for non gtr

[khunjeng]

Maybe with sub 200rwkw you can have same front and rear on a GTST. On my GTT I immediately noticed much better ability to get the power down out of corners with 9" rear rims as opposed to the 8" all round I had previously. Obviously the trade off is increased understeer particularly mid corner but I just had to use a bit less gas to compensate for that.

agreed. running 18x9.5 Rear and 18x8.5 front I need the extra width for the back. WOuld love to go even wider on the Rear...

[salad]

Sold mine for 900!!

1.6k !!! what a rip off.. way to much price mark up!! lol

But mine were 17*8, 17*9s.. perfect offsets for non gtr

But yours weren't brand new were they?