tomzz

I am putting my first 350 Z set up together to use for Track days and DE events (6-10 per year) The forum has been very helpful for the "Track Prep List". I have read a number of Track wheel and tire suggestions for setting up my Perf 350 Z for track days, Drivers Ed days and other road racing track events. I have not found a clear reccomendation for road racing track prep. I have done two track events and they send you and your 350Z into a whole other world.

What wheel size and tire size would be best for road race track use?? (Not autocross or highly competitive racing) I have stock 18" wheels (will continue to be used as street use now, intend to upgrade the brakes).

What are the widest wheel/tire setup that offers the best performance and traction performance for the track?? Any opinions??

2003z

iTrader: (7)

I use 17x9's with 275/40 all around. could probably go wider in the rear. Kuhmo Victorracers are great race tires, but I hear toyo RA-1s last longer for 90% of the grip.

D'oh

I think it will partially come down to what else you want to do in the car.

Here are my thoughts:

If you just want to have fun, then street tires are probably sufficient for track use, especially if you have the non-brembo brakes. You may want to change to 245/40's in front to help balance the car a bit more.

If you have no other considerations, then go with lightweight 17" wheels and an inexpensive race tire (Kumho V700 or Toyo RA-1 probably). Use the same size tire and wheel on all four corners to help balance the car if you have noticed the understeer when cornering hard.

If you want to use race tires, and you also do SCCA AutoX, then you will need to stay with your stock wheel size if you want to stay in the stock SCCA AutoX class. This will affect what size tires (and therefore which brands) you can use. Also, this will affect what other changes you can make to balance the car (such as changing the swaybars or springs).

Since I AutoX, I decided to get race wheels that were the same size as stock (18 x 8" all around) and stuff a very large tire on that rim. I am therefore running 265/35-18 Kumho Ecsta V700 all around on Enkei RPO2-J 18x8x35mm offset. The entire setup ran me $2003 OTD from Discount Tire. Also, because I am using 18" wheels, the choices for race rubber are significantly reduced. When I was buying tires, Toyo did not have RA-1's available yet, and the selection in 18" sizes from other MFG's was pretty slim. Probably won't matter too much in the near future, but if I were buying race tires for the track only, I'd go with 17" wheels since both the wheel and tire choices are much better.

However, because the non-brembo brakes are marginal for track use, and because I don't really feel the need for faster speeds at this time (already spun out once, and I'm not willing to do that again) I am using my street tires for the big tracks. I currently have 245/40-18 yokohama's in front and 245/45-18 Hankook's in back. They seem to do quite well. Also, since the spin-out I've been running with VDC ON at the track. The wider front tires (and probably the harder rear tires) have helped balance the car and have made VDC less obtrusive when I come too hard into a corner.

Once my ********* grow back, I'll probably turn VDC off and maybe even take the race tires to the big tracks, but for now the street tires with VDC are good enough for me.

Also, I'll be going to Laguna Seca on Sept 2nd, so I'll get to compare my times with my Yoks/Hankook/VDC to my times with OEM RE040's/no VDC from a year ago (when I spun out). We'll see how things compare.

-D'oh!

2003z

iTrader: (7)

yeah, like D'oh said, on the track I am running 255/40-17 f and 255/45-17 -r

one plus for 18s is you can get used race tires in 18s more easily than 17s.

dwnshift

iTrader: (1)

We are using 245 fronts on 9 inch rims and 275 rears on 9.5" rears.
BBS 17" 3 pc race wheels and Hoosier tires.

tomzz

Thanks for the Race Track Wheel/Tire opinions thus far. It seems as if there are 3-4 levels of cost/performance options, with a few dangling questions.


Track Wheel/Tire Level 1 – Use Your Street 18”
Track time just for fun so just use street tires and go a little slower in the corners
Est. Cost $0 (just buy street tires a little more often)

Track Wheel/Tire Level 2 – Street Plus 18”
Use stock wheels and street tires but add wider street 245/18’s in the front to help correct understeer
Est. Cost $500

Track Wheel/Tire Level 3 - Low End 17” Track Setup
Use a wider 17” set up with inexpensive wheels and inexpensive race tires such as an Enkei/Kumho combo(wider in the rear, or same : width options – suspension variable?)
Est. Cost $2000

Track Wheel/Tire Level 4 – Top Shelf 17” Track Setup
Use a wider 17” setup with top quality BBS wheels and sticky Hoosiers
Est. Cost $3500-$4000 (used BBS race wheels are available)

A couple of remaining questions.
1. Why does a 17” set up offer better traction than an 18” set up?
2. Will a 17” wheel setup lower the car?
3. What size brake set up upgrades will the 17” setup take? (beyond stock brakes with racing pads)
4. Why not a 17”x 10” wide wheel in the rear?
5. If I make recommended track prep modifications to the front
suspension, should I still stay with the same size tires front and rear?

2003z

iTrader: (7)

Track Wheel/Tire Level 3 - Low End 17” Track Setup
Use a wider 17” set up with inexpensive wheels and inexpensive race tires such as an Enkei/Kumho combo(wider in the rear, or same : width options – suspension variable?)
Est. Cost $2000

actually, about $1400 from discount tire direct, enkei rpo2j and kuhmo

A couple of remaining questions.
1. Why does a 17” set up offer better traction than an 18” set up?
doesn't necesarrily. But it is lighter

2. Will a 17” wheel setup lower the car?
depends on tire size. 255/40 will lower the car

3. What size brake set up upgrades will the 17” setup take? (beyond stock brakes with racing pads)
brembos fit fine with mine, dont know about others, but they should.


4. Why not a 17”x 10” wide wheel in the rear?
went with the same width all around so I could rotate and extend life.


5. If I make recommended track prep modifications to the front
suspension, should I still stay with the same size tires front and rear?
Its preference, but I've got cusco sways and still like the same sizes all around.

D'oh

A stoptech 13" kit will fit under a 17" wheel, but you need to make sure you pick a wheel/offset design that leaves room for the face of the calipers. Wheels with big lips will probably not work because the spokes will be too close to the brakes.

-D'oh!

tomzz

Thank You all - This information is very helpful! I appreciate the advice. On to the Track!!

imelda

Tom,
Do I Have a Deal For You...
4- 18X10 Forged Aluminum Axis foot work Wheels.
3- 275/30r18 Hoosiers 1-still Brand New The Other two Have 30 Miles. on them.
2-305/30r18 also with 30 Miles On them.
I Will Let them go for $2,000. All Five Pcs.

I Would Like to keep them For My Racing Debut in '04 ...but I was Locked Out By My Employer.(Albertsons) so I Could use The Funds. I Bought Them from James
Over at axis wheels He Used them for The Ultimate Street car Challenge sponsored by Sport Compact Magazine.check them out heres a picture...

350ed

iTrader: (17)

You need to roll your fenders for those tires right?
Didn't know NE1 was running 305's.

rktjhn

If you have the 17" wheels and mini brakes you can run Cobra rims off 94 and up Mustang Cobras, thousands of those floating around used.

RIVET

Hoosiers are definitley the ringer setup, none better for track/street although wear is an issue. This is a killer deal for this setup, I'd jump on it.

imelda

JAMES @ AXIS SPORT TUNING ,
CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR FENDERS ON THE AXIS 350Z
FEATURED IN (FEB. '2004) SPORT COMPACT CAR MAGAZINE.
HAVE BEEN ROLLED.

tomzz

Whoa - Major Rubber!!

Thanks for the offer. That is a great price for a great dose of TRACTION!!

I had seen these units when they were first posted. I droolled then at so much rubber. But, I better start with training wheels so to speak for a newbie Z track student. As well, road race tracks are so far away from home for me, the use of a track wheel/tire trailer is necessary. I may hate myself in the AM for passing on this Major Rubber Deal. Anybody want to offer a track student scholarship for me to have some really bad boy rubber???? Be happy to say "THANK YOU (fill in your name)" when I win Sebring in my Z with your rubber.

Thanks