Wheel/Tyre size selection for trackdays?

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Tsporter
Posts: 125
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:58 am
Location: Mk1 Supercharger

Wheel/Tyre size selection for trackdays?

Post by Tsporter »

Can someone explain to me what the difference will be with different wheel and tyre sizes on a track.

I have two sets of alloys, one standard 15" set and the other 17".

The standard 15" set are:
Front 195/50/15
Rear 215/60/15

The 17" set are:
205/40/17 front and rear


Lets say the tyre's are the same brand, what difference would you experience in handling, etc?

Thanks :thumleft:
glimited
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:31 pm
Location: Greater Manchester

Re: Wheel/Tyre size selection for trackdays?

Post by glimited »

You'd be better with the 15'' staggered setup. Car will feel and handle alot better. Plus tyres will also be cheaper and more selection of. You'd need the staggered setup due to mid-engine.
John145
Posts: 283
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:48 pm

Re: Wheel/Tyre size selection for trackdays?

Post by John145 »

Search tyres...

My advice stick to stock sizes which are:

195/55/R15
225/50/R15

Get decent/good tyres.

In my opinion, feel free to go for 195/50/R15 tyres, they're cheaper.
MR2O12
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Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:43 am
Location: London

Re: Wheel/Tyre size selection for trackdays?

Post by MR2O12 »

going from 18 to 17 to 15 i agree 15s are definatly the best for speed and agility.
but the 17s will have low profile stiffer sidewalls. so you have alot more feel for the car, and how much grip you have in the corners
synXero
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Re: Wheel/Tyre size selection for trackdays?

Post by synXero »

15" Rev 5 alloys (standard) are very light which is a bonus for 15" wheels.

Staggered set up is, as mentioned, very important. 30mm stagger is the most common set up.

Ideally I suppose you want 16" alloys, 8J front and 9J rear, 245s rear and 215s front. Grip monster.
Al-sw20
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Re: Wheel/Tyre size selection for trackdays?

Post by Al-sw20 »

synXero wrote:
Ideally I suppose you want 16" alloys, 8J front and 9J rear, 245s rear and 215s front. Grip monster.


Go 16" on the front, and 17" on the rear. Much better tyre selection for 17s. There is enough of a selection for the narrow fronts, but you really need a 17" rim to get something decent for the rear.
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