Recommended wheel setup

[leewaring]

I'm after some stock sized 15" wheels at the mo as want to get back on track.

However...

Though i'd ask if there is a better setup out there for a set of track wheels? Or is stock setup the optimal?

Its a rev1 n/a with uprated suspension.

Cheers!
Lee.

[leewaring]

Hellloooooooooo!!!

Anybody out there?

[MartG]

Hellloooooooooo!!!

Anybody out there?

Yes mate, but we're all ignoring you

Not having tracked a Mk2 I can't advise you myself, but I'm surprised the usual suspects havn't jumped into this

I suspect a lot of it will be down to personal preference though. Personally I'd look at uprated brakes ( have you got Rev2+ brakes fitted ? ) and losing weight before messing around with wheels too much.

[leewaring]

Yes mate, but we're all ignoring you

How rude!!

Not having tracked a Mk2 I can't advise you myself, but I'm surprised the usual suspects havn't jumped into this

I suspect a lot of it will be down to personal preference though. Personally I'd look at uprated brakes ( have you got Rev2+ brakes fitted ? ) and losing weight before messing around with wheels too much.

No I'm still running the rev1 brakes but the upgrade is already on my shopping list.

Thing is i've got 17's with road tyres on at the mo so gonna buy some more fitting wheels first. So while i'm in the shop for a set, thought i'd ask what the best setup should be / See what everyone's running.

[tonigmr2]

Best handling MK2 I ever had was on 16s with (fairly old) Tein coilovers, and uprated ARBs. I put it down to the wheel/ARB combination.

And I mean best by far and away! (T'was my yellow turbo). You won't improve the handling from the 15s to the 17s, IMHO 17s probably make *most* MK2s more tailhappy. But I've seen many track orientated imported MK2s on 16s, so I figure someone knows something over there.

T

[skinthespin]

Ive run my track MR2 on just about every combo going, at the moment I have 8.5x17 fronts and 9.5x17 rears...

but for the best handling I found was on 7x16 front and 8x16 rear with 205/55 front tyres and 225/50 rears.

I know the profiles dont give me the correct rolling radius before anyone moans but I tried them with lower profile tyres and found this set-up to be far the best.

I think it was partly due to the nose being a little high, altering the roll axis (something I am trying to replicate with my 17's) and partly due to the higher tyre wall and good tyres (continental sprt contacts) giving good progressive breakaway.

HTH

[leewaring]

Interesting... So you think 16" is the way to go! Right...

What are the stock size tyre wall on the 16's? 45?

[MartG]

What are the stock size tyre wall on the 16's? 45?

Have a play with this http://www.alloywheels.com/tyrecalc.asp

If the wheels are only for track use, you may want to go for a smaller rolling radius to lower the gearing slightly, as there are very few tracks where you're going to be approaching top speed

[Andy-Runner]

I've run 205x45x16, and 225x45x16 front/rear combo - seems to be ok for me (and quite a popular choice with other people too).

I think jonb has run wider than that on the fronts before though

Take note of what Si says however - when it comes to tracking an Mr2 he's pretty good .......................trust me i've seen the state of his cars paintwork

(Soz Si )

[jonb-]

I've run 205x45x16, and 225x45x16 front/rear combo - seems to be ok for me (and quite a popular choice with other people too).

I think jonb has run wider than that on the fronts before though

Take note of what Si says however - when it comes to tracking an Mr2 he's pretty good .......................trust me i've seen the state of his cars paintwork

(Soz Si )

I always run 205/45 front, i've tried 245/45 rear but prefer the feel of the 225/45s.

I think on a hard sidewall tyre like the R888 the 15's would feel almost the same as the 16s on a hard sidewall tyre.

[Andy-Runner]

Sorry my mistake mate

[leewaring]

Humm... Looks like the R888's are hard to come by on 205/45/16 Cant seem to find any!

I will have a look at the tyre calculator. Also i'll see if I can find some with the larger sidewall as Si has suggested.

[jonb-]

Humm... Looks like the R888's are hard to come by on 205/45/16 Cant seem to find any!

I will have a look at the tyre calculator. Also i'll see if I can find some with the larger sidewall as Si has suggested.

I hate peoples obsession with the R888.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/au ... review.htm

just so happens the V70a comes in 205/45/16.

[skinthespin]

A 205/50 will open up some more posibilities I think, don't get too hung up on rolling radius, its not the be all and end all!!!

Oh, and thanks for pointing out the general condition of my motor Andy!

[Icsunonove]

I hate peoples obsession with the R888.

Ditto. And it's one (of many) bugbears I have with the organisation of the Toyota Sprint Series. Adrian did a deal with Toyo which meant that R888s could be bought at a significant discount for those registered with the championship.

Well what a stupid "control" tyre to pick! By all accounts the R888 is a grippy tyre but it is also very soft and doesn't have much longevity. It is also not much good in wet conditions as stated on Toyo's own website.

The Toyota Sprint Series has five rounds I believe. And they get 7 runs at each event. Let's assume that each track is 1 mile long. So that's 35 competitive miles, then what???

A lot of the competitors are not trackday regulars. What a waste of money to buy a set of tyres for 35 competitive miles!

I ran on cheapo Yokohama A539s in wet and dry conditions and they were absolutely fine

[Simarshy]

Ditto. And it's one (of many) bugbears I have with the organisation of the Toyota Sprint Series. Adrian did a deal with Toyo which meant that R888s could be bought at a significant discount for those registered with the championship.

Well what a stupid "control" tyre to pick! [Shocked] By all accounts the R888 is a grippy tyre but it is also very soft and doesn't have much longevity. It is also not much good in wet conditions as stated on Toyo's own website.

The Toyota Sprint Series has five rounds I believe. And they get 7 runs at each event. Let's assume that each track is 1 mile long. So that's 35 competitive miles, then what??? [Confused]

A lot of the competitors are not trackday regulars. What a waste of money to buy a set of tyres for 35 competitive miles! [Evil or Very Mad]

I ran on cheapo Yokohama A539s in wet and dry conditions and they were absolutely fine [thumleft]

Personally I don't have a problem with R888's, they are soft but I've had a set last good 7K miles on the rear, which isn't massively less then I'd get from a normal set of road tyres.

The tyre choose for the series is up to the person competing, there are no restrictions other then making it road legal. What the tyre deal has allowed access to are these high performance tyres at a reduced price which in reality helps level the playing field (Some people would buy them regardless of cost anyway).

I've used the R888's all the day everyday in the wet and even snow. I've don't fine them significantly worse in these conditions then normal tyres expect when it comes to standing water.

Therefore can't see why people can't use R888's as an everyday tyres I have for the past few years and I've certainly found I enjoy them more then when I used road tyres. OK I am a little more extreme and don't mind compromises but if they are a must there's no reason why they can't be put on a spare set of OEM alloys (which can be brought for very little) and used for special events.

In all honestly I'm much happier a deal was reached with Toyo to give us access to their high performance tyre selection, giving people the chance to enjoy somthing they might not otherwise be able to afford.

You set a very good time in the sprint Tom which I think shows the quality of your driving and ability to setup your vehicle. However you may have been even faster with R888's or some other similar road legal slicks

Si

[leewaring]

Humm... Looks like the R888's are hard to come by on 205/45/16 Cant seem to find any!

I will have a look at the tyre calculator. Also i'll see if I can find some with the larger sidewall as Si has suggested.

I hate peoples obsession with the R888.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/au ... review.htm

just so happens the V70a comes in 205/45/16.

Well I dont have too much money to get started and the R888's seem the cheepest i've seen so far (though i've only been looking at tyres for a few days during work hours so far ). I am open to suggestions if you want to post any? I'll take on board all the advice given.

[jonb-]

Humm... Looks like the R888's are hard to come by on 205/45/16 Cant seem to find any!

I will have a look at the tyre calculator. Also i'll see if I can find some with the larger sidewall as Si has suggested.

I hate peoples obsession with the R888.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/au ... review.htm

just so happens the V70a comes in 205/45/16.

Well I dont have too much money to get started and the R888's seem the cheepest i've seen so far (though i've only been looking at tyres for a few days during work hours so far ). I am open to suggestions if you want to post any? I'll take on board all the advice given.

Perhaps i wasn't clear. Buy the V70a. Same price last time i checked, better supply and according to the above test, faster.

[skinthespin]

I would go for the v70's too, heard good things about them, don't think they fall apart in the cold weather either.....

Just another thought, I agree that a good track tyre will be faster than a road tyre, but I tend to use part worn road tyres, not Nankangs but PS2's REO55's etc, as a road tyre thats virtually worn out (ie 2-4mm of tread) has more grip than a new road tyre and is more progressive than a tyre with high tread blocks.

Which means you can slide the car much more easily than sticky rubber or new road rubber, so theres fun to be had, and after all thats why we do trackdays isn't it?

There also dirt cheap as no one wants them, just be careful when buying to make sure there not damaged, just worn, for what its worth I shod my car with 225/35x17 Michelins up front and 255/40x17 Bridgestones on the rear for £45 all in, something to think about.....

Oh, and another thing, its great talking to drivers of slick shod Porsches and explaining to them you had second hand road tyres on your car as you went past them......

[Tomiam]

R888's - Ive never had a problem with them and I use them as an everyday tyre too. Snow, rain, wind, etc.. Had them for 7 - 8 months now I think and they are still looking very good - done 1 track day and 1 sprint series + a fair amount of miles.

Having said that, I dont doubt that there are people out there who have tried other tyres and think they are better tyres for their own driving style, and there are more than likely better tyres too. Each to their own, I have no problem with that. I simply used R888s as they were recommended to me and I found them very good.

Its no more complicated than this flowchart.
1) Get info on tyres - Jonb has a good website & when Ive talked to him, he knows his stuff.
2) Pick tyres you want.
3) Buy them.