tire/sizing question

[mac11]

I was looking for input on tire size for next years setup. I have a tein drop and 18 x 8" wheels. I have also partially rolled all of the fenders and am not afraid to further modify them a little bit if need be. I run hpde events so i really dont want to tolerate ANY rubbing under any kind of compression and take the risk of cutting and blowing out a tire.

Do you think i would have room to run 235/40/18s?

I ask because I am considering the Hankook RS2's and don't see them in a 225/40 only a 235/40. another possibility would be 235/35 but I have not even checked to see if they are made and they would probably cost considerably more.

Also the other tires I am considering are the KUMHO MX's and the Falken rt-615's, eithre in 225/40 or 235/40. What is your opinion on tire selection and size? Thanks.


Mac

[Malik112099]

stick with the 40's .... those are the correct sizing for 18 inch tires on the tib...as for 235..you will probably rub....i run 225/35ZR19 Nitto 555's and dont have enough room to put my finger in between the tire and unrolled fender....you MIGHT not rub if you roll the fenders all the way and dont correct the camber....my camber is not corrected otherwise i would rub

[mac11]

Well by correct the camber i am sure you mean take out negative camber. That is all well and good for a street car. But being that this car will see frequent track duty this summer I will be dialing in more negative camber. In the area of 1.5-2 degrees of negative camber front and rear.

[Malik112099]

im -1.5 in the rear just from the sportlines and pro-dampers

[mac11]

How is your tire wear?

That doesn't seem like enough camber to wear too badly but enough to get the job done.

I also forgot to ask you, Malik, what is your offset.

I also didn't throw mine in there either. I'm +35

[mac11]

So i decided last night that I am deffinately getting the 235/40's. If they end up rubbing with my wheels I have a backup. I have a friend with an RX-8 that is going to give me his stock wheels (18 x 8 +50 114.3 x 5) to use. I am sure that with that large an offset I will probably rub on the inside but I could easily just space those out to +45 or +40 so that should work pretty well.

Now I just need to decide between the Falken RT-615s, the Hankook R-s2's or the Kumho MX's.

They all seem to have their strong points and a certain downside so I may just end up going with whatever I can find cheaper. Anyone have any input on this?

[Malik112099]

i dont have any wear issues... my offset is +35 i think...im pretty sure

[mac11]

thanks, kid.

[mac11]

Ok My decision is down to this:

Kumho Ecsta MX in 225/40/18 for 495 shipped from TireRack.com

-OR-

Falken Azenis RT-615 in 235/40/18 for 596 shipped from VulcanTire.com

[blacksmithmotoring]

What are you wanting in a tire. I would suggest a nitto 555 or if you wanted to budget more the NEO. we run 225/35/20. tried the 235 were okay for the front but you will have to roll the rear.and it really isn't worth the cost of rolling for an 18inch. plus with heavy roll situations it still may tap. Falken are a pretty good performance tire for every day use, and they handle fairly well in the rain. I tend to keep our customers on Nitto 555 extremes due to there nice ride, durability(Die to running such small side walls), wet handling, and upper mph handling. the Kuhmo are okay, but most people i know drive them more so on the looks/cost factor and are not big on performance. I would have to check on a price for the Nitto to give you a price comparision, but it those were you only choices and performance weights a little heavier go with Falken. at the 35 offset you will not see any rubbing but at the 40 and up you will.

[mac11]

What are you wanting in a tire.?

What I am looking for right now are track tires that I can run every day. So the 555's are out of the question because they dont have the grip necessary.



I would suggest a nitto 555 or if you wanted to budget more the NEO....I tend to keep our customers on Nitto 555 extremes due to there nice ride, durability(Die to running such small side walls), wet handling, and upper mph handling

The 555 is not at all a track tire. And last season I had the neogens on because i just hadn't worn them out yet. They were good for all the things you mentioned and they were servicable as light track use tires - but only because I wasn't a good enough driver to need more than that yet. I will this year. Those are not even close to track tires - neither the 555 or the neogens. And I haven't heard much good about nitto as track tires in general. But I havent heard anything about the new ultra high performance tire on their site(the iNVO) at all.

we run 225/35/20. tried the 235 were okay for the front but you will have to roll the rear.and it really isn't worth the cost of rolling for an 18inch. plus with heavy roll situations it still may tap.




What was the offset on the wheels that you ran the 235 wide tires on?


Rolling the fender is not expensive at all when you do your own work on the car. It will only "cost" me about 20 minutes and the cost of running a dremmel and swinging a hammer. The fenders are already partially rolled to accomodate the 225/45s that i ran for an event last year so I am not at all opposed to rolling and chopping them the rest of the way.


You run 20's on a tib? Is this just to say you could do it or what? The only 3 pics I have seen of a tib with 20s look ridiculous. Do you have any pics of yours?

Falken are a pretty good performance tire for every day use, and they handle fairly well in the rain. . the Kuhmo are okay, but most people i know drive them more so on the looks/cost factor and are not big on performance. I would have to check on a price for the Nitto to give you a price comparision, but if those were you only choices and performance weights a little heavier go with Falken. at the 35 offset you will not see any rubbing but at the 40 and up you will.


I am not really sure how you can say that people run the kumhos for looks but not the performance. Assuming we are both on the same page - talking about the ecsta MX's - then you are dead wrong. I have first hand experience with the MX's being run for performance, and I don't see how they are much to look at. Not to mention tirerack (TESTING not user review garbage), grassroots motorsports and people that I know that have run both the kumhos and the falken rt-615s all give both tires very good reviews for a track day ST class tire.

Please don't take any of what I have said as hostile just the information I have. This is one area I really would like to get all available information from all available sources. So , please, by all means let me know what you think on the subject - keeping in mind that these will be track day tires.

You seem to have a heart for Nitto, are you some sort of vender/dealer for them?

[blacksmithmotoring]

I can get any tire, we favor Nitto due to our client base street use and track use. I know the guys from both Nitto and Falken and Hanook. So I assumed your use was for street/track. I should have waited after i posted what you wanted to use them for. As for track use I personally would favor the falken RT..I usually don't go off of reviews, our information comes back for the different communities, time attack, auto, drifitng etc. when i said looks, didn't mean show looks, mean aggresive race looks. It is a phrase we use when a product is not high on our opinion list..but for the track i would go falken. Also you might want to do the 235 and just get your rear's rolled, that would be worth it since you will be running it hard on the track.

[blacksmithmotoring]

you might not be to happy with the 225. You can usally get a good shop to roll your inner for $75 a well. I would have to think about a shop in your area. I grew up in chicago and go back a few times a year. what suburbs are you near?

[mac11]

I can get any tire, we favor Nitto due to our client base street use and track use. I know the guys from both Nitto and Falken and Hanook. So I assumed your use was for street/track. I should have waited after i posted what you wanted to use them for. As for track use I personally would favor the falken RT..I usually don't go off of reviews, our information comes back for the different communities, time attack, auto, drifitng etc. when i said looks, didn't mean show looks, mean aggresive race looks. It is a phrase we use when a product is not high on our opinion list..but for the track i would go falken. Also you might want to do the 235 and just get your rear's rolled, that would be worth it since you will be running it hard on the track.

what was the offset on the wheels you tried the 235s on?

[mac11]

you might not be to happy with the 225. You can usally get a good shop to roll your inner for $75 a well. I would have to think about a shop in your area. I grew up in chicago and go back a few times a year. what suburbs are you near?

Why would I pay a shop to do something I just told you i do on my own?

[mac11]

I usually don't go off of reviews

I never said I was basing anything off any reviews but rather testing done by tirerack and grassroots motorsports along with people I have first hand knowledge of running each tire.

BTW, what kind of prices could you do for me on the following tires:

Kumho MX
225/40/18
235/40/18

Hankook R-S2
225/40/18
235/40/18

Falken RT-615
225/40/18
235/40/18

Nitto iNVO
225/40/18
235/40/18



shipped to 46307, or if a business addy is cheaper 46323

and what else in this category of tire might you recommend?

[blacksmithmotoring]

go to the garage the chrome are 20's on a 35 offset. The plus size induction cars tend to be a standard out of our shop. Yeah I missed the part of the track use, so we did start off on the wrong page. I prefer using a roller as it give a nice smoooth tuck for the inner liner and you can get a nice roll that will not damage the tire if you side the car off the track. Most shops have them, that is why i suggested a shop so you would not have to worry about and ruff spots. The nitto INVO i don't see being able to match the falken with track use...235 were ran on a 35 offset and they inner needed to be rolled. are you running coilovers and what riding height

[blacksmithmotoring]

business would be cheaper..i will make a call for you in the morning and pm

[mac11]

are you running coilovers and what riding height

not running coilover just aftermarket springs and dampers. just less than 2" lower in the front and aroudn 1.5" in the rear (tein spings after settling) @ ~FR250# ~RR200# rates I think I am going to be right on the ragged edge of possibly being able to get 235s under the car.


I do have the option of a 18 x 8" wheel with a +50mm offset. This will more than likely run on the inside but at least i could take the step of spacing out the wheel. they are not my wheels though so i would much rather use the +35mm offset wheels if i at all possibly can.

[blacksmithmotoring]

the nitto are going to be expensive in comparsion.

[blacksmithmotoring]

how do you like running 200 in the rear?

[blacksmithmotoring]

250 inthe front you should have not problem with the 235. I would change out the OEM inner splash well bolt/screw heads with a round smooth head style screw.

[mac11]

go to the garage the chrome are 20's on a 35 offset....235 were ran on a 35 offset and they inner needed to be rolled.

thank you . were you on coilovers at all? and if so at what ride height?



I prefer using a roller as it give a nice smoooth tuck for the inner liner and you can get a nice roll that will not damage the tire if you side the car off the track. Most shops have them, that is why i suggested a shop so you would not have to worry about and ruff spots.


If i end up off the track the rears shouldnt be a problem either way. The problem will be in the front where the tires are turned and just being that the tires are sticking outside of the fenders they will chop the hell out of them. wont matter how well the lip is rolled. I did this last year. Ill get up some pics later when I get home.


The nitto INVO i don't see being able to match the falken with track use...

Ok then dont worry about getting a quote for them unless they will be stupid cheap.

[blacksmithmotoring]

I would stay at 35 offset. Depending on how much you might allow in rate change.and extra 25lb in the rear would help in keeping the 235 in check, but i don't want to assume, due to different driving styles the 200 rate might be best for you. either way stick with the 35 offset if possible and give the back a good roll. i will see what type of pricing i can get for you.

[blacksmithmotoring]

No coilovers. I and my vendor R&D special spring to allow me to get the same handling from my time attack car but on a 20inch wheels. I would have to look back at the my build sheet but i want to est. 1.5 front 265 ..1.25 rear 240 non linear. Mostly due to me have a couple extra inches on you. so that would be around where you are sitting, but would be another extra 20 or so on the rear rate. It was a pain in the butt but we finally worked out the system. What happens is out clients tend to run plus size by day and 18 and 19 at the track, but drive in the day time like they are on the track. So i with the help of our vendor Road magnet design spring to allow them to do both. The market is flooded with spring manufactures but none for plus sizes. That is where the whole "E" VIP thing comes from. Luxury with racing roots. Which is why we started off on the wrong page, because those 'E' VIP cars are mostly what we are building now so i assumed you were doing both..

[blacksmithmotoring]

the thing about the front inner well on the tib tend to rub a lot down low toward the fire wall where the two inner and center radius meet. so i would be afraid with the 50 offset after a few good runs removing the undercoating and exposing the steel and really damaging the tire. where the outer fender hit tend to just nick up the side walls

[blacksmithmotoring]

I will bring it up tomorrow at the shop and get a some more feedback and check the prices for you..

[mac11]

the thing about the front inner well on the tib tend to rub a lot down low toward the fire wall where the two inner and center radius meet. so i would be afraid with the 50 offset after a few good runs removing the undercoating and exposing the steel and really damaging the tire. where the outer fender hit tend to just nick up the side walls

That is exactly what is happening with my winter tires.

Im running 225/60s on the stock 16 x 6.5(i think 6.5) with a +46 offset. I have deff already rubbed down to the metal but it only rubs on almost full lock and those tires are much bigger diameter than the track tires are. I really wish I could find a 225 or 235 track worthy tire in a 35 series but none of the great ones are made in that size and i dont want to step down to a 215/35. not enough width.