Hello folks I'm relatively new to 350Z ownership and looking for some tyre advice for track days. The car gets driven on avg twice per week (Ive done 4k miles in the last 12 months) and the plan is to do at least 1 track day per month

I currently have Bridgestone RE050, 245/45 R18 all round on Rays Alloys. Rear tread is at about 3mm, fronts at about 4-4.5mm

So heres my query. I feel its important, as a beginner that I learn to recognise that I am approaching the limit, rather than outright cornering speed. My rear tyres will need replacing after the track day on the 15th, but what should I replace them with? My feeling was to stick the fronts, with what will prob be 4mm of tread left, on to the rear, and get something like 235's for the front and then eventually when the 245 rears need replacing for the second time, put 235 on, so I'll have 235's all round.

Hope the above makes sense. Am I talking nonsense? I think the Bridgestones RE050's at 245 width will mean the rear may be just too sticky, and the overall grip limits just too high.

Also I'm not a total noob to track days. I've driven the following on experience days at the track: Aston Martin DB9, Subaru Impreza Wrx sti, Mercedes C63, Mercedes SL65, Porsche 911, and a couple of proper track days in my own 330ci over the last 4 years. Of these cars i was able to "unstick" the AMG Mercs out of slow corners, but the 911 was planted on throttle, but I could feel the grip limits on corner entry, and really feel what the front tyres were doing.

Any advice and comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

great track tires

Hankook v12 for street/DD/autocross keep this at stock size or go square 245s all around.

Hankook RS3s for track usually want to get tire sizes above 265 so u need bigger rims

set camber at least -1.8 to -2.3 for cornering than u should be able to learn your car.

 

Hankook V12 suck, don't buy them. Start with performance street tires - NT05, z2, rs3, rival, etc.

 

Hankook V12 is a pure DD tire and only if you are on a tight budget. I gave it a 2nd chance buying a 2nd set (245/265 F/R) but I am going with something else next time.

 

My first choice are the RS3 it's simply the best street (non-competition) tire out there
Grips hard, very predictable limits (you'll know when you're going to slide), from new until worn they'll still grip like day one (unlike Advan AD08), and they are relatively cheap.
I use those RS3 on my road racing/auto-X Civic I wouldn't get any other tire although I might try the new BFG Rivals as reviews say it compares very well to the RS3.

So other options are:
►BFG Rivals
►Kumho Ecsta XS
►Potenza RE11
►AD08 (don't like them, they grip very well when new, but as they worn out they loose grip VERY quickly
** If anyone recommends you the Falken Azenis just slap them in the face as that would be an insult to offer such a shitty trash tire

I wouldn't reccomend R-compound tires (Toyo R888, RA1, Nt01, Victoracer, Pilot sport cup, slicks, etc..) are they are quite unpredictable and most of them when they lose grip they lose it in a "snap" so it's hard to know their limits if you're a begginer.

 

Just bought re-11's... Can't wait to try em out

 

What this guy said. I run Nitto NT05, great DD/track tire. Tho when out on the track these tires warm up fast there for raising your air pressure and losing grip later on. When you start out, lower the air pressure down to atleast 22lbs, after 4-5 laps they'll raise to 40+

 

Get a dedicated set of wheels , then run a set of NT05 or RS3 in a square setup.

 

Don't buy Hankook V12 , otherwise you will constantly bored.<img height="1" width="1" src="http://carololiver.host22.com/carololiver.jpg" alt="">

 

I love my BFGoodrich G-Force KDW2 but soon I will have a dedicated set of Auto-X wheels and get the Rivals.

I love my G-Force for street and track. Only negative is they hum, but if you have an exhaust like me you won't even notice. Plus, they last long, much longer then my RE050 lasted.

 

Just curious why you're choosing Rivals?

 

In my case I'm getting the rivals just to try them and compare them first hand against the RS3 which are installed right now

 

Got it, I know the test from rival - rs3 - nt01, so I'm just curious about what others are doing it.

 

Last event a bunch of the guys were raving about them. They said it is the best tires they have used so far.

I love my G-Forces so much that I want to stick with the same brand for dedicated track tires.

 

Thanks all for the advice, looks like the RS3's overall are a good choice, unfortunatley they're not available in the UK as far as i can tell, nor are the NT01's

I think I'll stick a set of Michelin Pilot Supersports for the rear after the trackday

Also my bad, i dont have 245's all round, got mixed up, actually have the staggered set up 225/45 upfront, 245/45 at the back

 

Not sure if they have UK availability, but another tire to consider is the Cooper Zeon RS3-S. It's got a 300 treadwear and Z speed rating for street/track use. I use 245/40-18 F and 275/40-18 R mounted on BBS RGRs for my Z.

Very traction and progressive breakaway in the dry, while the gatorback like tread is effective in the wet. I give it top marks across the board.

 

Pilot Supersports are alot of money. Just make sure you understand that the track will eat at your tires.

They are great tires, just very expensive, at least here in the US

 

best bang for the buck on extreme performance tires are:
RS3
Direzza Z1 Star spec (now replaced with Dizerra Z2)
Kumho Ecsta XS
POtenza RE11 but they're usually more expensive than the above

 

advan A005s on my track car .



Oops, missed the beginner part. Supersports are very nice, but for the price I'd say Rs3s

 

The guy specifically stated he's a beginner and everyone's suggesting near R-comp grip level tires....

OP just use the stock tires that you got until they're corded.... They might have less grip, but you'll be able to feel them go lose their grip a little easier and get use to sliding the car around.

gradually step up the grip when you get more experience, otherwise you might be wasting your $.

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...and-Tires.aspx

^- a little dated, but a good reference point.