I’m planning on getting these for my track wheels. Since I don’t have a tow vehicle and might have to drive the car to the track a couple of times.

Anybody has experience with these?

I’m still debating the size for the fronts. 245/40R17 or 255/40R17?
Rears will be 275/40R17

Keeping in mind my Z is a ’05 Track pretty much bone stock except for real brake pads. It’s intended for HPDE/Time Trial on full road courses. So understeer is not that much of a problem as in AutoX.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

I run PS2's and I am thinking about buying an exact set of rims like I have now with Cups on them... I think the design is pretty much identical just softer rubber (and heats up faster) for track and/or autox. Might even come in handy for the drag strip. I am curious about these as well.

 

Well, it looks like I’ll be the first one ever to drive with these tires on a Z!

My new wheels should be here Friday. I’ll go with 255 front and 275 rears. Maybe I can do a wheel swap with John at MidOhio so we can compare his RA1s… John?

 

VRT has run them a few times and they tell me that they love them when they are warmed up, but they are a little slippery when cold. I am putting them on my Z next week and will try them out at the Redline Track Events Time Attack March 4-5. I would have loved to get shaved RA1s but they don't come in the sizes I need.

 

Just make sure they're "good and hot". I've got a friend in PCA and he decided to make the switch from RA1"s and quicly came back. Great tires...but take a few laps to get hot. They just don't come up to temp like Toyo's. Are you sure about the size not being available?

 

Yep, I need 285/30/18s and 315/30/18s. The RA1s don't come in those sizes.

 

Actually, I've ordered a set of Toyos instead.

Got them 300$ cheaper than the Michelins...

 

30's????

 

Just to clarify. I was writting that reply before 350ZNV did his post.

The size I got are 255/40R17 and 275/40R17.

It almost sounded like I had got 350ZNV's tire sizes, wich I haven't!

 

I've heard great things about both tires (RA-1's and MPSC's), so you can't really go wrong with either. As you already found out, the MPSC's are quite a bit more expensive. The MPSC's seem to be more popular with the Porsche folks, but those who have tried the RA1's love them too. I have read on numerous occasions that the MPSC's take longer to warm up, as 350ZNV had alluded.

 

I'll probably try the MPSC later this season. If only to get some data.

What pressure where the guys running they Michelins used? They (Michelin) advertise that the MPSC should be ran at a lower pressure than other R-compoud tires. 25psi for a lite sport car (like a Miata). That would make a huge difference in heat.

 

I have no idea what pressure they were running. I will ask though.

 

the pilot sport cups are OEM tires to the BMW M3 CSL (the hardest-core version of the M3)
so they are legitimately good

 

matter fact i think another choice might be advan neova's?
a bit MORE pricey than the cups...

 

JV, the Neova is a street tire.

The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup is a race tire designed to run between 160-220F. R-compound is way, way stickier than any street tire out there.

Note: 160-220F is not that hot for race conditions. F1 tires used to run in the 230-260F range. With the new rules, they probably run cooler to last longer.

 

yeah i know the neova is a street tire
lol...
its definately the best street tire ranked from tirerack's survey
and its the OEM to lotus elise
the cups are OEM to the M3 CSL...
lol

 

and re040 are OEM in the Z... :P

 

shouldnt have come to the forum this early lol...
just rambling
how ya liek my race magnet set up K?

 

375 TTB looks better...

Okay, enough OT for now...