I've searched and read some on wheel options and tires. Some things seem clear: There aren't as many choices in track rubber for 18" and 19" wheels when compared to the 17's, they also cost more.

I purchased an extra set of 06 base wheels(same as 35th anniversary). My question is, am I better off selling these and buying 17's for the track? If not, wich tires are a good fit for the 18's? I've looked at the Falken RT615 tire in 245/40/18 F and 255/40/18 R. I've read though that they become "greasy" after a few hot laps.

I won't be racing the car, only track days. I want a tire that I can drive to the track on, but that's all the street use they'll get.

Thanks!

 

Most any street oriented DOT tire will get greasy after a few hot laps, especially if the driver is not used to racing and taking care of his tires while on the track. For what you are planning on doing, the Falkens are a good choice. Learning how to drive the car and save the tires will make you a faster driver.

 

Toyo RA-1's fit this description exactly. They've got 17 and 18" sizes. They last forever, can be driven to and from the track and are progressive in grip.
AIM tire (at infineon) is the local resource for these.
In fact, he's onsite with most nasa and scca events so you can show up at the track and have fresh tires mouted up between sessions.
I believe the website is www.aimtire.com

 

Thanks for the answers.

The price difference between the 17" and 18" tires is pretty significant. I should have done a bit more homework before buying these 18's... If I were to buy 17's, which are descent track wheels besides 5zigen, and won't break the bank? I would be selling the 18's. It seems that those that go with 17's run 275 width tires all around. Is this the hot setup for the Z on the track?

Thanks again.

 

enkei has some lightweight versions that'll do the job. I picked up a used Enkei RPF??? (17X8.5) set w/ RA-1's (50% worn) for $1k earlier this year - tires are still holding up after 2 track days and 10 autoX's.

*the RA-1s are a great tire - I've driven more than 50 miles each way to track events on the street with no issues...only downside is that I'm wearing them out on the street opposed to the track. (the tread pattern isn't too deep, so after 50%, it looks like the kuhmo V700's ~ then they become dry condition only tires)

-peter

 

Another good tire offering in the DOT-R category is the cousin to the Toyo RA-1, the Nitto NT-01. More dry condition due to the large tread blocks, and a bit noisier with the large siping grooves. Stiffer sidewall with faster modular rebound/recovery and slightly grippier compound. Good wear characteristics. Very nice pricing too. Worth a try.

 

Both the Nitto and Toyo's appear to be very selective in the available tire sizing...

Are there any concerns with going 245/40/18 in front and 275/35/18 in rear? I wish they had 255/285 in either tire...but from reading other folks' reviews of the Nitto tires, they seem like one heck of a deal...

EDIT: I see that Nitto has a 275/40/18 size on their website, it was just the specific dealership that did not.

 

Go "square" (same size all the way around) and turn off the TDC or VDC.

 

I have a base model so I don't need to worry about that, but I am really leery of going square. I'd rather error on the side of understeer, especially when I begin running full boost on the track. Can you imagine how scary that would be entering the back straight at PIR all squirrel-ly with the relatively tight fit? Do you run the same size all around? What are your impressions? I'm assuming you must like it since you are recommending it...

We gonna meet up next year?

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Looks like I'll stick with the 18's and go with RA-1's 225/40/18 F and 245/40/18 R. If not it'll be the RT615's in 245/40/18 F and 255/40/18 R. With either of these, the car will be under driven but shouldn"t be a big deal if I just put these wheels/tires on for events.

Eagle1, thanks for the info on the Nitto's.

Thanks.

 

Another thing, could i go 245's all around with the Toyos if i have 8 inch front and 8.5 inch rear?
Thanks!

 

Yes, you should be fine.

 

Thanks.

handling-wise though, would I be better off with the 225 front or 245 all around?

 

Although not the optimal set-up for performance, this is probably the most economical approach to making your tires last a long time since you can rotate them however you want (depending on directional and/or asymetirical). I've done this w/ 2 sets of autoX wheels and the tire life you can get our of them is remarkable if you flip them 1/2 through their life (Hoosiers & Avons).

 

go with the 17in rims &
275/35 r17 hoosiers(all 4)

this is probably the best combo out there for 17in


or the 275/35 r18's all the way around for the 18in rims

 

Actually, there's still a little bit of understeer if you enter a corner too quickly, it's just not as pronounced as when the fronts are narrower. I run the same tire all the way around, and not because I can rotate front to back (I can't with the 18x8 and 18x8.5 without physically swapping the tires) -- I do it because the car handles so much better. I "practice" on the 245/275 combo that are my street tires, and I can feel the difference in the balance of the car.

I'll probably be at most of any Packwood events...

 

I ended up ordering 4 x 245/40/18 RT-615's

Thanks for the help.

 

I ran that config on the G35 and it worked fine. I believe that the overall diameter and circumference is virtually identical with those sizes

 

Bringing this back from the dead.

As I mentioned above in this thread, I'm running 245/40/18 all around on stock 06' wheels (18x8F and 18x8.5R)

New question: can I just mount the front wheels on the back and vice versa since the tires are the same size? I don't know if the offsets are the same or what else would be affected. Just wondering so that i can rotate wheels with tires instead of having to dismount, mount and balance tires all over again.

Thanks.

 

shouldn't be a problem...just remember that the front OE rotors have a little bolt sticking out to prevent ppl from doing that accidentally...so you'll need to remove it.