Track Tire Suggestions

[Nickshu]

I've been shopping for a 2nd set of Fuchs for awhile, but to no avail yet.

I just got a trailer to pull the car on, so I'm thinking....I don't drive the car much on the street...why not just put track tires on my stock fuchs (16x6/7) for this year?

I have decided to wait to get larger wheels until I can do larger torsion bars (still have stock), swayaway plates, adj. sway bars, etc...probably next winter.

Can any of you make a recommendation on a good track tire for me to use this season?? DE primarily and some Autocross.
I'm still in the learning stages of track driving, so don't need something super aggressive, but more sticky than my SP8000 Dunlop's would be excellent.

Thanks in advance for replies!

Nick.

[GeorgeM]

I've been using the Yoko AO32Rs for two and a half years now and have been happy. They have the sizes you need for a 911 and they do well in the rain. You can find a better performing tire, but it's a good compromise for wet and dry.

They're not too awful expensive either. Not the smoothest ride due to the tread design, but you get used to it. If I remember right, they typically last me 8-10 events.

Get them full depth and don't waste money heat cycling, just do it yourself.

[don911]

I've been looking into this as well. I think the choices are Hoosiers, yokohama A032R, Kuhmo victor racers and toyo proxes. I'm going with A032Rs up here in the northwest. I've heard they are good overall....rain etc... Plus you can drive to the track with them. I've also heard the Toyo proxes are great tho too spendy for my budget. Hoosiers I've heard are the best on the track but are spendy as well.
Not many choices in the 16" range.

[Jack Olsen]

Yokohama A032R is a good starter R-compound tire, I think. You can also drive it on the street without worrying that every time you warm it up you're paying for a $200 heat cycle.

Other guys will suggest Toyos, Kumhos and Hoosiers, but I'd say that those are overkill if you're still in the learning stages. You want your track driving skills to catch up with your tires, in my opinion, not for the sticky tires to serve as a crutch.

[Randy W]

Lots of "R" tire choices for a trailer towed track car, Nick. You have to decide between stick and wear: Hoosiers are stickiest but don't last that long and are easy to flat spot. Next stickiest are Kumho Victoracers, longer wear but heavier than Hoosiers. The less sticky Toyo RA1s are a good track tire, are even longer lasting and have some tread for those rainy days. Yokohama AO32Rs are probably more for driving to the track, since they have deeper tread, are a harder compound R tire, and are not as sticky as the others. Other R tires exist, but they are not all available in 16" sizes. Check out www.tirerack.com for options/photos/specs.

Randy Wells

[andyu911]

I'm with Jack on this one. Yoks is a good starter. I feel it's more progressive. Let you slide around a bit. Great for street/track car.
Andy

[Bob Benson]

I agree with GeorgeM.
I switched to Yokohama advans two years ago and because my SC is not a daily driver, I have kept them on the car. Whether I'm driving up to Whistler or to Seattle for a D/E, half the time it is raining and the wet performance of this tire is outstanding.
I have also found the Advans quick to heat up for autocross. Good all around tire, way better than my Pirelli's were.

[Nickshu]

Thanks guys...this has spawned another question...

It looks like the Yoko A032R's are a good way for me to go here, but according to their website, my options are pretty limited on sizing.

The stock sidewall height on the 6 and 7's are 60 rear and 65 front. Width 195 front and 225 rear.

Do you think I could go to a 225/50 rear and 205/55 front safely? Yoko rates the 205 front for 6.5" rims, so its close. Anyone running this?

Thanks!
Nick.

[Randy W]

No problem.

[Nickshu]

What about bumping the rears up to a 245/45/16?

Seems like it might be pushing it a little on a 7" rim, but just thought I'd throw it out there!

Thanks again,
Nick.

[J P Stein]

Tire Rack has the "new improoved" Kumho Victawhatever in 16 inch sizes. I use the Victor Racers oldies and love em'. Very "catchable" on my 914. I don't mind driving them on the street for short runs.....to Portland AX & back.

I have bought a trailer for longer hauls ( I hope to do Bremerton this summer). It may be that Hoosiers are in my future when these wear out.....or maybe the new Kuhmos. I have heard no
empirical info on the new Kumhos.

Ultimate performance is not all that important to me as I am uncompetitive against "real" opposition in my class (SCCA, FP).
It looks like I'd be slotted in GTO at the PCA AX in Bremerton.....fresh meat for Randy.

[Randy W]

Nick, I think 225s will work better on your 7's - that's pushing it anyway. JP, I'm sure you will be close in time - there is another 914-6 2.7 that runs in GTO and is competitive. Something about a mid-engined car for autocrossing that just works. Hope to see you this summer!

Randy Wells

[304065]

I concur with the above re: Yoko A032R. I went through two sets this summer, drove 8000 miles to 5 DE's and I have nothing but good stuff to say about them. A few specific points:

1. They are MUCH louder than Pirelli's and other tires with a more conventional tread design. At 65 mph you will hear a sound reminiscent of a jacked-up Ford Bronco. But as one colleague put it, 'the 911 is a loud car, it doesn't bother me.'

2. Rain performance is excellent: club racers use them as a rain racing tire.

3. Tread life is adequate: I had mine heat-cycled by Tire Rack and they have held up very well. Reisistance to road hazards is pretty good as well: I took a horse shoeing nail through the center of a rear, and a roofing nail through the center of a front during two separate autocross events, pulled them out, inserted a plug and continued to compete with no ill effects whatsoever. (I did, however, retire those patched tires from high speed DE's)

4. Sizes: on your 6x7's I'd adhere to the advice above re: width. If you can dig up a set of 9's (see elsewhere on the board for $$$) you can go to 225 & 245 and have an excellent chance that they will not rub. This is the setup I have and it works great.

5. Traction: Excellent when you get them hot, not as sticky as Kumho's or Hoosiers, but they have a nice progressive breakaway at the limit with plenty of noise to warn you. Slicks are great but they stick stick stick and then you spin with no warning.

6. Availability: Tire rack has the popular sizes, a few months ago they were out of 205/55ZR16 but they're a heck of a lot easier to locate than certain P-Zero and the long lost R1.

John

'71 E
'88 Carrera