15" track tire... is there a good one?

LeeH · 11-08-2006, 10:08 AM

My car is a narrow body '72 3.0L with 15" 6s and 7s. It's mostly a DE/AX car with some light street use.

I was thinking Toyo RA1, but looks like I'd have to go with a pretty low profile. The 205/50/15s seem to short. The Toyo T1R comes in a 205/55/15, but after reading the article below I'm a little hesitant. Suggestions?

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=10252

SandyI · 11-08-2006, 10:25 AM

The RA1's are extremely popular here in So Cal with the POC events at Streets of Willow. Long life. Great grip. And most important for Willow, works well with high track temps. I ran them on my '69 911E with 15x7 cookie cutters. The lower profile shortened my gears a bit but that was okay.

Kumho's are also very popular.

Why don't you want a low profile tire?

Spud · 11-08-2006, 10:28 AM

Lee,

The Toyo track tire is the RA1, the street tire (T1R) is what was rated in the article. Ask this track tire question in the racing forum and you'll get lots of positive responses for the RA1 Toyo. I've been running them for a few years (first on a light longhood, currently on a bloated 993) and love them. If you plan to run in the wet use them full tread, if dry only get them shaved and hold on, fantastic grip right out of the box when shaved.

my $.o2, YMMV!

masraum · 11-08-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LeeH
My car is a narrow body '72 3.0L with 15" 6s and 7s. It's mostly a DE/AX car with some light street use.

I was thinking Toyo RA1, but looks like I'd have to go with a pretty low profile. The 205/50/15s seem to short. The Toyo T1R comes in a 205/55/15, but after reading the article below I'm a little hesitant. Suggestions?

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=10252

The Toyo RA1 would be the best choice for you if your car is mostly a track/autox car. If it's mostly a street car then the T1R's would be good.

I read that article as well. I've used a set of T1S tires and a set of the T1S replacements, T1Rs. They grip like mad. I tried some ES100s and they had a fraction of the grip that only seemed to get worse, but my car is only an aggressively driven street car. I've heard that the T1Rs don't hold up well to track work. T1Rs have a somewhat soft sidewall. Not enough to cause me problems with my 195 50 15, but on my old 195 55 14s they felt odd (but still gripped like mad).

masraum · 11-08-2006, 10:44 AM

This is another good track tire Falken Azenis Rt615

LeeH · 11-08-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SandyI
I ran them on my '69 911E with 15x7 cookie cutters. The lower profile shortened my gears a bit but that was okay.

Why don't you want a low profile tire?

What size did you run? I was thinking the 205/50/15s would be too low resulting in that empty wheel well look,

SandyI · 11-08-2006, 10:57 AM

I was running the 205/50's. But the extra space in the wheel well never bothered me. Especially when I saw my lap times drop.

LeeH · 11-08-2006, 11:01 AM

Any pics?

racemor · 11-08-2006, 11:18 AM

I've started using the Avon Tech R in 205/50-15 on 6 inch Fuchs. I've done a few autocrosses with good results. Can't say how they are on track yet, but I'll be using them at VIR in a few weeks. I don't think I'd use them on the street though, I have a separate set with 205/60 BFG for street use. As said in an earlier post, check over on the Autocross board. Probably more info there. Here's a pic and a link to the tire on Tire Rack.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp?make=Avon&model=Tech+R-A