Tire Recommendation for casual tracking on stock 18s

[F360C]

Originally Posted by VictorH

My understanding from track junkies is that you can swap directional tires side to side as it tends to affect mostly wet traction. Also, some people even dismount their tires and install them "inside out" to get more miles out of the set. There may be minor dry performance issues with these changes but at your and most of our skill levels I doubt you'll notice the difference.

I know this is true with the Toyo R888 r comp. I had a convo with Toyo Canada engineer and I was told by him that in the dry you can run the tread "backwards" in order to even out the wear. I have been doing it for years now and no ill effects or loss in grip.

I am currently running the AD08 and I am very impressed. I have run the RE-11, RE-01R, PS2 as my street tires over the past couple years. The AD08, RE-11 and RE-01R are on a different level compared to the PS2. I have taken all the tires on track at times instead of my R888s to try these at the limit performance. The AD08 has impressed me the most thus far followed by the RE-11. PS2s are a great street tire but if you are going to put any kind of stress on them they fall apart fast

[chili cheese]

Some excellent feedback here. Thank you. I think I have another 2 track days left on the PS2s then the switch!

[knifegun]

Any updates on people that switch to AD08? I also am about to buy tires for my stock 18" used just for track use (and driving to the track).

[rzm3]

After at least 2 track days per month since April 2010 my AD08 are finally worn to the bars. Thinking about getting them again or might just go full slicks.

[knifegun]

Originally Posted by rldzhao

After at least 2 track days per month since April 2010 my AD08 are finally worn to the bars. Thinking about getting them again or might just go full slicks.

Thanks! Is there a big difference in dry performance between the AD08 and the Michelin PS2s?

[rzm3]

If anything, the AD08 are better and more consistent. PS2 deliver great performance for a few laps, and then they start to get greasy. AD08 lasts much longer.

[008]

Originally Posted by LiM3y

I ran 265/35R18 Nitto NT05s at all corners. Swapping backwards and forwards to even wear.

Was this on the stock 18s?

[LiM3y]

No, these were mounted on D-Force LTW-5 18 x 9.5 ET 35 (from Bimmerworld, $275/pop) with 12mm/10mm F/R spacers.

I swap my wheels for track days - I'd prefer to crack a cheap rim on a curb The D-force wheels survived everything except poor New Jersey road construction - probably saving some expensive suspension element - on the way home from my last track day of 2010.

[008]

Thanks, I'm thinking of stuffing a 265/35/18 on the front stockers when I need a new set. I ran 265s on the E46 with 8" wheels, hopefully there's enough room in the wheel well.

[Richbot]

The 265/35-18's will fit on an 8.5" wheel, depending on the tire model it may be anywhere from slightly pinched to very pinched, but it'll fit. You can make just about anything fit with enough time, money, and help.

[008]

I figured I shouldn't have a problem especially now I've maxed the negative camber.

[wwjd15]

Hankook R-S3 is also good too

[dcstep]

You should consider going with a square setup and 18"x10" wheels with 25 offset, for clearance and to avoid spacers. Apex ARC-8s look good and are under 20-lbs. By having a setup that you can rotate, you'll get another 25% or so in life out of the tires and the turn-in will improve.

As an option, you can start with your staggerd set up, see how much tracking you do and go square later. The Apex wheels are an incredible deal at around 300-bucks each.

Dave

[Jeff_DML]

I decided to get the AD08's, there are sitting my garage waiting to be mounted, will try them out at chuckwalla in a few weeks

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by rldzhao

I have used ps2, re11, and now ad08. Dry performance wise, ad08 is my choice. I have been on the same set for 10 months now with at least 2 track days per month... and there is still tread left. Re11 has a weird tread which causes it to wear out unevenly very quickly. Ps2 is not suitable for extended periods of track duty as it gets greasy easily.

The PS2s do get greasy, but you have to work them pretty hard to get them there. I don't think an intermediate level driver should have any concern over that. I like the fact that you can arrive and drive on PS2s. But I'm a PS2 fanboy as well; quiet, smooth ride, OEM, etc. YMMV.

[Feffman]

I'm a big fan of the Bridgestone RE-11. Excellent grip and wear.

Feff

[MTROIS]

Guys,

What sizes do you find available in 18" for AD-08s?

TireRack does not seem to have 255-35-18 and 275-35-18... Or??

[chili cheese]

Since my old thread has gotten resurrected, I thought I'd chime in for an update.

My front PS2s were shot because of the soft sidewall and overdriving the tire, but the rears were still good. I then ran NT05s on the fronts and kept the PS2s in the rear. This worked, but still was not enough grip, I needed a wider, stickier tire.

Recently, I bit the bullet and ordered an 18x10 square set of Apex Arc-8s and mounted Nitto NT01s. I have 2 track days on them and am happy with the result.

[Radiation Joe]

I see I'm a day late and a dollar short, again. Well for anyone else driving as a novice and considering new tires ...

Stick with stock PS2s.

My logic is that they are just about the best street tire you can buy and will hold up very well on the track. They may not have the ultimate grip for all situations, will get a bit greasy if pushed too hard at too high a pressure and are expensive. But if you don't want to change out tires for occasional track days, they can't be beat for an all-around tire.

Keep a couple of things in mind. If you keep the hot pressures below 40 psi, as an amateur, they won't get greasy on you. They wear like iron at the track when tire pressures aren't allowed to get too low (<33 hot) or too high (>44 hot).

Have fun.

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by Feffman

I'm a big fan of the Bridgestone RE-11. Excellent grip and wear.

Feff

I like the RE-11 too. Has tremendous grip in the dry, haven't run them in the wet and the wear is excellent too. One thing that is evident though is they like/need a lot of negative camber, particularly up front.
I have -1.75 degrees negative in the back and this is just fine for the RE-11s, but on the front even -2.5 was not quite enough. Next time out I'm going to try -3.5 and I bet that should do the trick.

[skxf430]

Try the new Michelin Super Sports. They are supposed to be a step up from the PS2's, are cheaper and last longer. Seems like a really good alternative.

[MTROIS]

Guys, my question was not about a tire recommendation since I have already settled on the AD-08s.... It was about the sizes you are able to find to mount them on OEM 18" wheels.