Low vs High Profile Tires at the Track

[Mark911]

Got a question for you racers. I'm shopping for wheels and want to get the best track set-up. I know the 17/18, 18/19 combos look cool, but they require such low profile tires (40s and 35s if you don't want to really mess up your gearing). I've always been told that everything being equal, a slighty smaller wheel (16/17s) with a higher profile tire (50s & 45s) will be much more forgiving with a minimum loss in grip (compared to 40s & 35s) due to better compliance. I'm planning on running Hoosier R3S02s 225s and 275s. What's been your experience regarding wheel size and tire profile?

 

[docjohn]

You can scratch 19 in track tires off the list,so with the nsx its 15/16 16/17 17/18 17/17 or 18/18.within these parameters your fronts cant be larger than 235 width.and really you want the lightest setup that has a rolling diameter = stock + - 3%.Because there really isnt a lot of tire choices in our sizes the selection is easier because of the limitations.aspect ratio for r tires wont be less than 40 series ,there are some 18/35 however.I think there is a subtle feel of sidewall flex on 50 series but overall performance will be similar for non competitive lapping days.good luck.

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[cojones]

Originally posted by Mark911:
want to get the best track set-up

what does "BEST" mean to you?
- maximum grip
- maximum cornering
- crispest turn-in feeling
- light weight
- mechanical efficiency (effective gearing)
- treadlife
- handling in the wet
- brake caliper/rotor clearance
- replacement cost
- looks and 'coolness'
- etc, etc

Granted, some of these are TIRE factors that are independent of WHEEL, but since your tire choices are often constrained by wheel diameter/width, then you need to factor these in as well.

Based on this, I think 16/17 or 17/17 is probably the best choice, considering currently available R-compound rubber. 17/18 is just more $$, and anything larger is more "show" than "go".

 

[nsxtasy]

Don't be afraid to stick with the 15"/16" wheels (assuming you're not planning to get a big brake package some day) - also you can pick up a set of used 15"/16" OEM five-spoke wheels dirt cheap ($100-300 for the set). The OEM sizes 205/50ZR15 and 225/50ZR16 have a huge selection of R compound tires available, and you can fit the four track tires in the car with you while you drive to the track on your street tires. Go wider and you can't do that.

The alleged benefits of bigger wheels and wider tires are often ofterstated and sometimes misstated. For example, they don't have any more rubber on the road than narrower tires (the size of the contact patch depends only on the weight of the car and the inflation in the tires). Furthermore, smaller wheels have generally lighter weight for the entire wheel/tire combo, and there are a lot more R compound tires available for the smaller sizes.