How do you determine the ideal wheel-and-tire setup for your car? Sometimes you need to do a little testing.
As we prepped for this year’s One Lap of America, we needed to make one key decision as early as possible: What tires should we run on our Honda CRX?
In the end it seems that the driver would make a bigger difference than the tires?🤷♂️
"Get the widest one" :)
Keith Tanner said:"Get the widest one" :)
I was surprised, but apparently there are exceptions. :) IIRC 949 did some testing of low-powered Miatas at big tracks and it was possible to go too wide on on the tires/wheels and slow down. I think the hypothesis was that diminishing returns on extra grip didn't make up for the increase in drag.
This subject is perfect timing for me....big decession.
First yea yea not the first or even fifth choice for a CAM T car. 1964 Mercury Comet.
Ive got an OK fit with 17 x8 with 5.5" BS 255/40 tire. My "hard limit" is the inside 5.5BS is maximum.
My plan is a square set up.
Both front and rear will require some outer fender minor work for that set up,but with more work(cutting) ..... well you know.
From reading GRM my 255 should work better on a 9.5 to 10" wheel , now if I have to do the work do I stop at a 275 with an 11" wheel or jump to a 3xx on an 18"?
My other limit is 26" tall.
All limits are structural .
Goal is minimum CAMT weight.
So biggest tire or am I killing myself with a 275 on a17"?
Keith Tanner said:"Get the widest one" :)
Keith while I respect your accomplishments and input here you are so wrong on this one.
You want skinny tires so you can do glorious 4 wheel drifts everywhere.
Your big mistake here is thinking faster lap times are an actual goal........like anyway cares about that.
codrus (Forum Supporter) said:Keith Tanner said:"Get the widest one" :)
I was surprised, but apparently there are exceptions. :) IIRC 949 did some testing of low-powered Miatas at big tracks and it was possible to go too wide on on the tires/wheels and slow down. I think the hypothesis was that diminishing returns on extra grip didn't make up for the increase in drag.
I'm not sure that was 949, I think it was done before they really came on the scene. Iirc it was with Spec Miatas and 205/50 vs 225/45 - and since SM uses 15x7 wheels, the 225s were not well supported. Could have been drag, could have been that the fatter rubber just wasn't being used well. I'm pretty sure that the SuperMiata race series ran 225s on 15x9 wheels, and that was before 245/40s were really available.
I just found it funny that Andy did all this testing and ended up with "the widest that fit" :)
My arm-chair thinking on this comes up with "the widest tire that maintains proper temperature."
Budget plays a large part in the setup of my track car so the 16 x 8 E38 Style 5 wheels that no one really wants work great (I have 10 at an average price of $40 CAD/wheel) along with 225/50R16 Hankook RS4 at $180 CAD/tire that never seem to die means I actually get to be on a race track pushing as hard as I want.
Would a lightweight 17 x 9 with around a 245 new hottness tire be faster? Of course but that's well over $2500. That buys me two full sets of RS4's (which should last 4+ years) and leaves $900 for entry fees, gas, etc.
kb58 said:My arm-chair thinking on this comes up with "the widest tire that maintains proper temperature."
Yes, this.
Not too hot, not too cold – just right. Kinda like porridge but black and really chewy.
adam525i said:Budget plays a large part in the setup of my track car so the 16 x 8 E38 Style 5 wheels that no one really wants work great (I have 10 at an average price of $40 CAD/wheel) along with 225/50R16 Hankook RS4 at $180 CAD/tire that never seem to die means I actually get to be on a race track pushing as hard as I want.
I'm jealous of that width. My car wears CLK Lightweights in 16x7 so my 225/50R16 race rubber is way ballooned out. I'm looking at moving up to 17x8s so I can get a 235 tire that fits well. But like you were mentioning, it's a $20 difference per tire.
In reply to adam525i :
$180 CDN including the GST? I should start buying my tires there and sneaking them back to Michigan. I've been considering trying autocross again and doing it with a group in London anyway.
All the stuff I would run are rules limited. Whether that's a 26x8.5 slick, 275 radial, 28x10.5 slick, or a 315/60 radial... 😉
I don't like the big floppy tire bs....
TIRE RACK, for example, lists rim with ranges for tires, say 5.5 - 7". So, I suppose you should always opt for the widest rim that will fit in your fenderwells.
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