Hai guize -

I am considering selling the 19" SF challenges and going with something lighter, probably in 18s.

I want tires that I can take to a road course and have a good time, but that I can also daily drive. Therefore, they don't have to be the ultimate tires known to all mankind.

The popular options for this seem to be so-called "Extreme performance" tires like the Yoko/ADVAN Neova AD08, or Hankook RS3.

HOWEVER.

These tires don't seem to be available (at least from what I have seen) in proper sizes for the 18 inch fitment I'm looking for.

Assuming I have roughly following setup:

18x9.5 +22
18x10.5 +22

And I'm looking for 255/40/18 front, 285/40/18 rear.
(I want correct stagger for VDC to be happy.)

Anyone know of some good tire options in this range or know where to buy? I am wearing out the search button looking.

 

I suggest that you check out other compatible sizes.
For example:
Front - 225/45, 245/40
Rear - 245/45, 275/40

 

While I have never been on a road course and don't know from personal experience, I have heard the Dunlop Star Specs are a great tire and are user friendly when it comes to daily driving. I don't know if they will fit your criteria though. What about Toyo R888's?

 

Those are DOT Legal Competition Tires.

 

You can keep VDC happy with other sizes, though your speedo will be off a touch. I'd try to get the front tire as large as you're comfortable with to counter the understeer. Something like 265/35 with 275/35 or 285/35. Dunlop Star Spec, Hankook RS3, Bridgestone RE11 all come to mind.

 

Somehow it seems wrong to me to run 265/35/18 and 285/35/18, i.e. shorter tires than I have now.

Right now I have 255/35/19 and 285/35/19... so it's like dropping an inch without changing sidewall... that seems just wrong....

Is this really ok and enough stagger for VDC? How can I confirm before dropping the cash?

 

Assuming a square setup is acceptable:

275/35/18 front
275/40/18 rear
Nitto NT-05 (front tire is slightly [-0.3 in.] shorter than stock 18s)
(I have these)

or

265/35/18 front or 265/40/18 (the 35 series tire is 0.6 in shorter than stock; the 40 series is 0.4 in. taller)
275/40/18 rear
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
(I'm considering these)

Both would be great for dual duty: track and DD

 

So based on further searching ( https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-...-included.html )

it looks like 265/35/18 and 285/35/18 will work with VDC... (0.6" diameter difference versus 0.71" diameter difference stock)

So looks like RS3's might be the ticket...

 

Why do you keep picking bizarre sizes? The overall diameter is over an inch off stock. If you're so concerned with VDC compatibility, why do you ignore speedometer accuracy?

 

They are not bizarre sizes. They are sizes that are quite common within the community.

You suggested a front 225/45 or 245/40, he is running a 9.5" wheel, so a larger tire is preferable. As for the rear, you suggested 245/45 or 275/40. 275 is the absolute minimum I would use on a 10.5" wheel, and even then the lip pokes out from the tire (which I absolutely hate). A 285 is the minimum tire - to me - that is suitable for a 10.5" wheel. Yes, the speedo will be off, but that can be compensated. There is a reason the competition-style street tires don't come in high aspect ratios on big tires, and a 285/40 would look like a Tonka truck.

 

I would suggest going with a square setup 18x10 or 18x10.5 +15-22 offset and run 275x35 all around. Lawn Dart you are a clown.

 

+1

Lawn Dart your sizes are far more ridiculous given the wheel sizes I provided.

For the record, it's not that I want to pick these "bizarre sizes"... I would run a closer OD to stock if I could, but the tire sizes simply are not available in the decent tires that I was thinking about running.

Not sure why it's so much easier to find right sized tires for 19" wheels but I'm looking to cut down on weight and rotational inertia after the akebono install, so 18's it is.

I will be running staggered OD due to VDC... thanks though - I agree with you if not for VDC

 

My suggestion is very similer to Scotts, 265 or 275/35 front and 285/35 rear RS3. Or if you want to be closer to stock height 275/35 front and 295/35 rear with Nitto NT05.

Both combo's work great, RS3 is a little faster tire on the track, but both make great "street" class track tires.

 

+1 on square.. 18x9.5 w/ 265/35 all the way around on RS3s

i forget if you are running aftermarket suspension, the 35 series side wall will drop the car a little lower than a 40 series, but will be in line with the VDC... you will read a little bit faster but the differences in 265/35 and 275/35 RS3s i less than 0.25" in total width difference... you can go with the 275 if you want too, but the rear i think you might need to roll with the +22 offset.

 

Why do you need VDC? My car doesn't even have TCS and when you are tracking the car I assume you are turning off the VDC anyways correct?

 

Truthfully? Mostly because I don't want to have to switch it off every time I get in the car. Also, VDC has saved my car on the highway before. No, I don't run VDC on the track.

Square tires sounds very attractive though, would love to be able to rotate tires.


Also - Cheston - I don't have the 18's yet... so the +22 is not definitive. Thinking of "downgrading" from SF Challenges to RPF1s in 18x9.5 and 18x10.5 which seems to be pretty much +15 offset in this size. But I am not sure I like the +15 offset... have to run too much negative camber.

Or I can copy you and get some Weds. What do you think


I am still running on Hotchkis springs, rear fenders are cut, not rolled...but they currently accomodate 19x10.5 +23 285/35/19 at the current camber.

Probably going to keep suspension setup for a while and upgrade camber arms/toe bolts.

 

if you would like to test fit my SA55M on your car you can, but you'd have to roll down to LA to do so.i can't believe i waited this long to run square. lulz

i think you should have no problem at all with the 275 all the way around with your current suspension setup..

 

R-S3, Star Specs, and NT05 would all wear out relatively quickly, I would think, if you're planning on daily driving on them, also. Even if it does last, I don't know what winters over there are like but that would also have an effect on the softer compound tires, unless you have a second set.

Why not get a cheap set of 17" wheels (many lightweight options) and get tires for those? Cheaper cost (wheels, tires, replacements.. especially long term) and better for the track.

 

side wall on a 17" will roll like a french bakery


17s for drag, yea i can see that.. road coarse, meh.

 

I thought I read autocross and didn't realize he was asking about road courses. For autocross, he could get tires with slightly smaller overall diameter (kind of like getting slightly shorter gears). The Zs with shorter gears at the autocross events I've been to were noticeably faster than the rest of us.