Help with some wheel/tire decisions

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:24 am

KendtEklund wrote:

Jeb Brookshire wrote:

I have access to Rota, Team Dynamics and others as well.

That's good news (especially on the TDs) - I know everyone is limited on what Rota makes in the 4x108. How's the access to the Team Dynamics wheels? If I bent one of them how likely will they have a replacement? What's the price like vs. the Rotas?
I did find another 16in wheel option - Motegi Tracklites (at $300/wheel :shock:

)
I'll give you a call before I buy anything. Hey - are you guys going to carry the new Toyo R1-Rs? Any word on pricing yet?

Rota will always be the cheaper option. For TD, they haven't seemed to introduce any new styles in a while (and I didn't see any when I stopped by thier booth at SEMA). Most special order stuff Rota, Team Dynamics, etc can take roughly a week to get shipped in.

As for Toyo, I doubt that we will ever carry them. I will always have acess to them, but at the same time, since we have to go through a middle man for them, it is hard to be competetive with the pricing.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:56 am

Mark would be your Toyo guy Kendt.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

If the 15" wheels are for autocross (make sure the rim doesn't hit the front suspension at full lock), and you're not (yet) intending to do competitive track driving, how about a set of take-off 16" Cougar V6 wheels? I assume they're 16x6, but that is still in the allowable rim width for a 225/50-16 Toyo Proxes RA-1. If I read the tables right, the Toyo is slightly smaller in diameter than your stock tire size. You can use the stock wheels for daily driving.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Thanks for all the info - I'm actually formulating a long-term plan:

- Definitely go with the 15in wheels for AX next season.

- For track duty, stick with the 17in wheels, and get the new Toyo R888 in 215/45-17. Why? Because Spec Focus will be running them in 2008+. My long-term goal for next year is drive my car in as many HPDE's as I can manage, and maybe look at doing a race weekend rental of one of the Leo Capaldi Spec Focus cars at VIR in early 2009.

Details on the R888's in SF testing:

Quote:

Effective June 1, 2008, the Toyo R888 will become the mandatory tire for the Spec Focus class. Size will be 215/45 17. Until that time, either the Toyo RA1's in the current 205/40 17 size, or the R888 can be run. No mixing and matching of tires is allowed.

The change is due to Toyo phasing out the RA1 during 2008.

As a result, LC Racing in conjunction with Ford, NASA, and Toyo undertook a week of comparitive tire testing. The R888 was chosen as

1) Overall performance of the car was improved
2) the tire showed significantly improved wear characteristics - especially in the shoulders of the tire
3) Enhanced overall appearance of the car (it fills out the wheel wells MUCH better :thumbup:)
4) Minimal cost increase (about $5 per tire here in the DC area)

"Enhanced overall appearance"?!

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:20 pm

KendtEklund wrote:

Thanks for all the info - I'm actually formulating a long-term plan:
- For track duty, stick with the 17in wheels, and get the new Toyo R888 in 215/45-17. Why? Because Spec Focus will be running them in 2008+. My long-term goal for next year is drive my car in as many HPDE's as I can manage, and maybe look at doing a race weekend rental of one of the Leo Capaldi Spec Focus cars at VIR in early 2009.

The issue I have with this plan is, your Focus is not set up any where near the spec Focus. Why waste money right now on wheels and tires that really will not help you?

When your instructor(s) tell you that you are getting everything out of the high-performance street tires, then upgrade to a r-compound tire.

I still think running a car with r-compounds and not the proper safety equipment is foolish. The minimum you should have is for the THSCC TT program.

If you plan on doing a NASA race weekend, you will need to start with the NASA HPDE and work your way up through those. I do not remember seeing any Spec Focus cars at the NASA Mid-Atlantic events. If they are there, hang out with them.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:34 pm

jimpastorius wrote:

I do not remember seeing any Spec Focus cars at the NASA Mid-Atlantic events. If they are there, hang out with them.

There was one late last year - Matt Marks. He moved from 944 Super Cup to Spec Focus to knock costs down. I figure we'll see 2-3 more this year in MA.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

jimpastorius wrote:

KendtEklund wrote:

Thanks for all the info - I'm actually formulating a long-term plan:
- For track duty, stick with the 17in wheels, and get the new Toyo R888 in 215/45-17. Why? Because Spec Focus will be running them in 2008+. My long-term goal for next year is drive my car in as many HPDE's as I can manage, and maybe look at doing a race weekend rental of one of the Leo Capaldi Spec Focus cars at VIR in early 2009.

The issue I have with this plan is, your Focus is not set up any where near the spec Focus. Why waste money right now on wheels and tires that really will not help you?

When your instructor(s) tell you that you are getting everything out of the high-performance street tires, then upgrade to a r-compound tire.

I still think running a car with r-compounds and not the proper safety equipment is foolish. The minimum you should have is for the THSCC TT program.

If you plan on doing a NASA race weekend, you will need to start with the NASA HPDE and work your way up through those. I do not remember seeing any Spec Focus cars at the NASA Mid-Atlantic events. If they are there, hang out with them.

Thanks - this winter I'll be ordering an Autopower bar, and I've got race seats and 5-point harnesses waiting to go in when I get the bar.

I'll stick with stock wheels and street tires for track duty for the time being, then.

Talk about going around my ass to get to my elbow :lol:

...

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:51 pm

KendtEklund wrote:

Talk about going around my ass to get to my elbow :lol:

...

It is easier and cheaper to learn from other's mistakes :lol:

That tire money will buy you a lot of seat time.

Plus there is a huge difference between the SCCA Rockingham DE and the NASA VIR event you will probably be at in February. There are a lot of people that really dislike the NASA events.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:56 pm

TomFreeman wrote:

There was one late last year - Matt Marks. He moved from 944 Super Cup to Spec Focus to knock costs down. I figure we'll see 2-3 more this year in MA.

Well, one way to cut costs in wheel to wheel racing is to move to a class where you aren't actually *racing* against anybody else...

:ducking:

THSCC Forums

Help with some wheel/tire decisions

Who is online