[jabingb]

I know it's probably been thrashed a zillion times but I've grown weary of searching. I'm about to put new track shoes on my sport suspension stock '05 with 15X7, +28, 16X8, +34 Rota Slipstream rims, presently running 205/50-15 and 245/45-16 RA-1s. What is the consensus of size, primarily fronts, 205 OK? I see a number of you use 225s but I suspect that may be with mods, i.e. camber, etc, of which I have none. Then there's the decision of R888s, Hoosier R6s or? I'm running with NASA in TTC and am about 4 -5 secs adrift of a 944 and would really like to be giving him more of a challenge.

 

[kaz]

I know it's probably been thrashed a zillion times but I've grown weary of searching. I'm about to put new track shoes on my sport suspension stock '05 with 15X7, +28, 16X8, +34 Rota Slipstream rims, presently running 205/50-15 and 245/45-16 RA-1s. What is the consensus of size, primarily fronts, 205 OK? I see a number of you use 225s but I suspect that may be with mods, i.e. camber, etc, of which I none. Then there's the decision of R888s, Hoosier R6s or? I'm running with NASA in TTC and am about 4 -5 secs adrift of a 944 and would really like to be giving him more of a challenge.

Many of us run the 205 up front since it does provide a better feel for what's going on, and it's plenty of tire for the car. Get some camber in the fronts (you can order the Sector parts for this) and there is lots and lots of tire. I have been running BFG R1's to great success and much prefer this tire over the R888's...the RA1's you have will last longer while only giving up small amount of grip. I've never run Hoosiers, or the Yoko slicks...the latter which is amazing tire I hear. But then you have other problems like fuel and oil starvation, suspension tweaking, etc.

 

[MartinBerryman]

I've run the same sizes as you in R888s on the Elise, and been pretty happy with the balance. Try starting pressures (cold) of about 24/26, depending on ambient / setup.
My car needs some camber (base suspension at stock settings), so there's lot's left for me to go after. I've run R6, BFG R1, Nitto NT-01, and both Toyos on my racecar. My impressions:
The R6 is consistently fastest, but is best in the first session then degrades, and a big spin or lockup can write off a set (cording).

The BFGs are probably the best qualifying tires - I find them scary for the first 3 laps, really fast (2 tenths faster than R6s) for a couple of laps, then incrementally slower.

The R-888s are easy to drive and are almost as quick as the R6s, once the R6s are a few heat cycles old. I use the same 205/50/15 tires and SSR wheels on the front of my Elise and my CRX racecar. R-888s are pretty durable and quite rugged.

Th Nitto NT01 is a similar compound (suposedly the same) as the Toyos but feels slighlty more vague, and by my measure is a little slower than the R888s.

The RA-1s are the friendliest R compound around. Very forgiving, good in damp conditions, and predictable when cold. If you're on the steep part of the learning curve, they represent great value.

Laptimes have more to do with the driver than the car. I've seen a very stock Elise lapping some very capable cars.

Anybody tried Kuhmos?

Cheers,
Martin

 

[tireshoppe]

I have the Hankook Z214 C51 compound available in 205/50R15 and 245/45R16 or 205/50R16 and 225/45R17. A very competative DOT R Compound roadrace tire. Good for track days or competition.
Joe
TreadZone

 

[AZReason]

The best way to go fasters is to get some coaching. If you want to stay in TTC and go faster, swap out your springs or your shocks for the stock parts and run Hoosier A6 205 f, 225 r. The A6 heat cycles out much slower than the R6. Added bonus of the A6 is that they need less front camber than the RA-1, so you can avoid shaving the arms and the big points hit in NASA TT.

Martin's review of tires is probably the best description of the available tires on the Elise. I have had the same experience (except NT-01) but doubt I could give such a well worded review.

In my expeince our ABS and Kumho 710's don't work well together, are twitchy mid and corner entry but put the power down better than all the other tires I have tried. YMMV.

 

[darkSol]

I have the Hankook Z214 C51 compound available in 205/50R15 and 245/45R16 or 205/50R16 and 225/45R17. A very competative DOT R Compound roadrace tire. Good for track days or competition.
Joe
TreadZone

Joe, how's the Z214 C51 compound longevity compared to Toyo R888's, RA1's or stock Yoko LTS A048's?

I contacted Hankook last fall to get tire weights (something missing from every web site I could find) and they gave me the following list... I'm posting it here so it will be searchable in the future (Keywords: Hankook tire weights).

Ventus Z214 R-Comp

1006070 205/50ZR15 - 18.673*
1006677 225/45ZR15 - 19.861*
1006679 245/45ZR16 - 22.903*
1006072 225/50ZR16 - 21.914
1006192 205/50ZR16 - 19.656
1006076 225/45ZR17 - 20.445

*These are the sizes I'm considering for my 15/16" Rota Slipstreams. I have the wheels but no tires yet... still deciding...


Here's the Ventus R-S2 Z212 info as well:

1007145 225/45ZR15 - 20.390
1005368 205/45ZR16 - 19.308
1005087 245/45ZR16 - 24.552
1005141 225/45ZR17 - 23.578


Well how are they?

Here's my one-time experience with the Z214's...

Last October during a track day I ended up cording my LTS Yokohama A048's and my day was over 1/2 way through.

Another very gratious driver (Thanks Ron!) let me borrow his worn out 205/50ZR15 & 245/45ZR16 R-Comp Z214's (C51 compound) that were mounted on Rota Slipstreams and after a single session I ended up taking FIVE seconds off my previous best track lap time.

They were amazing worn out - I can't imagine how good they'd be brand new...

 

[tireshoppe]

You always have a tradeoff. Stickier is faster but wears out faster. Historically they last longer than the Hoosiers and are as fast. They usually don't last as long as the Toyos. Pick your priority.
Joe

 

[Green Hornet]

Is anybody out there running the Hankooks ?

Impressions?

 

[Chili Red]

Personally I feel that 225's in the front are quicker as the 205 setup still leaves quite a bit of understeer. Im running the Nitron Pro suspension and have about 1.7 degrees of neg camber up front. This setup is pretty much perfect for me and is much more neutral that 205's in the front.

BTW, Im currently running RA1's and no mods are necessary to make them fit.

225/45/15
245/45/16

 

[darkSol]

BTW, Im currently running RA1's and no mods are necessary to make them fit.

225/45/15
245/45/16

Chili, I was squinting to read all your sig and didn't see what wheels you're running with those RA1's... are you running Slipstreams as well?

Danke!

 

[rjflier]

Is anyone running the Hooiser R6 245/45/16s rears on Rota Slipstreams? Any clearance issues? I'm running Hankooks this size with no significant rubbing, and the Hooisers should be ok based upon the stated specs.

 

[Chili Red]

Chili, I was squinting to read all your sig and didn't see what wheels you're running with those RA1's... are you running Slipstreams as well?

Danke!

Im running Volk CE28N's... They arnt cheap and they are hard to get, they are very light though.

Most of the faster guys in Texas all run the same tire setup and most of them on the Rotas. The Rotas work just as well, but are just a bit heaver.

 

[Green Hornet]

Chilli -

What is the width of your your Volks F / R ?

Thanks -

 

[Chili Red]

Chilli -

What is the width of your your Volks F / R ?

Thanks -

7/8 I believe..

 

[plastique999]

Interesting discussion...I am picking up my Volks 15/16, and I am going to try stock sizes first - 195/225's. My car has BWR s/c on Ohlins DA....
I know most of you guys run 205 /245 setup but do you have that much more power to compensate for the extra rotational mass?

Btw, I am sticking with r888's (even though they wear out like crazy) because they keep me in the FI class in the LCS....most of us use this brand in the Series.

 

[Chili Red]

Interesting discussion...I am picking up my Volks 15/16, and I am going to try stock sizes first - 195/225's. My car has BWR s/c on Ohlins DA....
I know most of you guys run 205 /245 setup but do you have that much more power to compensate for the extra rotational mass?

Btw, I am sticking with r888's (even though they wear out like crazy) because they keep me in the FI class in the LCS....most of us use this brand in the Series.

As you probably know, grip is worth more than HP on the track. BTW, I would think RA1's and R888's should be classed the same as they are in the same class of tire..

 

[tireshoppe]

Interesting discussion...I am picking up my Volks 15/16, and I am going to try stock sizes first - 195/225's. My car has BWR s/c on Ohlins DA....

If I understand what you plan, I don't recommend it. When you change to a smaller rim you need to go to a larger tire. The 225/45R16 has 200 lb less weight capacity and it's 1 1/4" shorter. The 205/50R15 and 245/45R16 are the closest match to go with.
Joe
TreadZone.

 

[plastique999]

Yes Joe but the advantage of the smaller tire size would be less weight and quicker "gearing".

I'm just not sure the extra 'grip' is necessary in my Elise....this is for the track setting as opposed to autox.

 

[tireshoppe]

You risk overloading the tire on hard turns and depending how long the straights are you can run out of revs.

 

[apk919]

As you probably know, grip is worth more than HP on the track. BTW, I would think RA1's and R888's should be classed the same as they are in the same class of tire..

They are. Eddie's worried about losing competitiveness with the RA1s vs. the R888s

Yes Joe but the advantage of the smaller tire size would be less weight and quicker "gearing".

I'm just not sure the extra 'grip' is necessary in my Elise....this is for the track setting as opposed to autox.

Also, smaller diameter means lower center of gravity... it's effectively lowering your car without changing the suspension geometry.