track tires

danl · 01-05-2006, 10:06 PM

I have 15" cookie cutters and 16" Fuch alloys. Will I be able to swap them with impunity (no suspension mods) for an occasional blast around the track?

I can guess that identical sizes would be best, but I thought I would solicit the voice of experience.

thanks in advance for the commentary,

jorian · 01-05-2006, 10:28 PM

16's on your SC are fine. More grip than your 15's and IMHO they look better too. Fuchs 16" x 7 in front and 8 or 9 inch width in the rear are the best. I switched from 16 x 6's and 7's to 7's and 8's and was amazed at the difference in traction.

danl · 01-05-2006, 10:39 PM

Yeah, the Fuchs look hot (I had them refinished) They are 6 and 7s. I always felt the cookie cutters made the car look dated.

The Fuch alloys with the black center paddles have that timeless look, they were the first thing I got after purchasing the car last spring.

I'm really wondering if it's worth keeping the old cookie cutters for the track...or sell them and get some more Fuchs...

....I feel a bad habit creeping up on me.....

aigel · aigel's Garage

You can switch between 15 and 16 inch wheels no problem.

I run 16 inch 6 and 7 fuchs on the street and 15 inch 7 and 8 fuchs on the track. I like 15s on the track. Only problem is that you can't get an 245 tires for the back on the 8x15, but I can live with that.

George

PS: Never run different sized wheels on the rear at the same time if you have a limited slip. One wheel will turn faster than the other and at highway speeds, you can burn up your LSD.

danl · 01-05-2006, 10:49 PM

George,

Do you like the 15s just because they are fatter - or for another reason?

aigel · aigel's Garage

Their smaller radius lowers the car a bit and they also result in the car running at slightly higher rpm at any given speed. This gets me out of the turns better at my favorite track - Thunderhill. If I could get 245s for this (besides Hoosiers), I'd keep them forever. You see, the rear tends to leave marks.

George

edit: miresabel spelign

danl · 01-05-2006, 11:17 PM

Tricycle George,

Cool shot - that's what I'm talking about!

Do the 7s up front make the steering soggy?

Also, I noticed you don't have a rear wing - any problems with the back end "getting light" on the track?

I don't like the look of the whale tails but I have read some compelling articles about the 300 lbs of lift that the back end of a 911 produces at speed.

Unfortunately, I do like the look of the chin spoiler but I hear that you should have none or both.

thoughts?

aigel · aigel's Garage

Hi Danno:

If anything, the tail is a bit happier with 225/225 front and back. But for the hobby track driver, you can adjust things a bit with tire pressure.

In my opinion, for hobby track driving you definitely do not need a wing. I also do not care for the look. There are some turns where it may help, but it's not like you are going to miss it if you don't have it. Do a search on the board. There is a graph where the three spoilers (duck, carrera and turbo) are compared at different speeds. No 300 pounds for sure. I remember >100 pounds at very high speed on the biggers spoiler.

That said, you can use the C2 (964) rear decklid if you modify the hinges or use the C2 hinges. That lid has the retractable spoiler and will not interfere with the lines until you flip the switch and the spoiler comes out. I was thinking about installing that, but then I could not find a lid for much under 1k and decided that there were more important things to upgrade.

There is always more than you can do, and 225/225 may not be ideal. However, if you have a mortgage and a life ouside of racing, it makes a decent compromise. You could also run 205/225 if you rather have a bias. I have guys in the club that do great with that combo, also on 15x7 and 8.

George