Racing wheel and tyre advice

[Barts]

GDay Racers,

Just wondering if anyone could offer some advice on sticky tyres and lightweight wheels. Having difficulty finding much in Toowoomba and with RS suspension the car is now severely tyre (and driver ) limited at QR

GTV6 is on 16 x 7 DTM wheels which I can't find anywhere. I wanted get some light 16 x 7 wheels and I was thinking 225/45 16 sticky tyres.

Does anyone have any advice on tyre / wheel size? Would I be better off with 205/50 16 or a bigger or smaller wheel?
Could anyone recommend a good tyre or wheel?
Could anyone suggest a vendor?

Thanks in advance.

Dan

[geh458]

Dan,

Try these folks for the wheels, they're in your part of the world: Performance Wheels

[gtv27]

I've been having the same dilemma with mine.

I've been running on 195/60 14 Yokohama Advan A048 or 205/55 14 Toyo RA1 (on 14x6.5 twinspark steel wheels - they may be ugly, but they were the RIGHT PRICE!). I can get some 225/50 14 Toyos or Kumhos and might go with those next because I feel the car to be a bit undertyred at the moment. Twinspark wheels are pretty common.

Another option is 205/50 15, which will work on the standard 15x6 rims (which are also easy to find), but again, might be a bit too narrow.

I think the best alternative is to go 15x7 and 225/50 tyres - for which there is a wide choice available. The trouble is finding wheels in that size with the right PCD (5x98) and offset (30 to 35mm).

I've love to run race tyres on my road wheels (17x7.5 DTM Fin) but the only size that is close is 215/45 17 and it is just a bit too tall to fit (at least without some mods to the guard and spoiler at the front) - and of course, if you have to ask the price for 17 inch race tyres...

[maxludo]

I have performance wheels on my 105 and they're not veyr light!

[Rookie ROX]

I've wanted to get a set of Team Dynamics ProRace1s for my 75, but even the 'supposed' Australian distributor (read: sort've has them on their site) didn't want anything to do with me. They're a really nice wheel though, ~7kg each.

Having said that - If anyone DOES find new wheels and feels the urge to offload the old ones, send me a PM

ROCK ON
R~R

[Barts]

Thanks for your advice gents,

Jason, I have DTM finn on my car too but in 16 X 7. I only drive the car to and from the track, perhaps I should just buy Sticky tyres for them. It is nearly 80Kms each way though and I don't know what they weigh. I can't find much on them anywhere anymore.

I think I will go for 225/45 16 stickies on the DTMs and try and find some cheap 16" wheels for the drive home (already have newish 16" tyres).

Anybody got some 16" wheels they don't need?

Can anyone recommend a brand of tyre as representing good value?

I love the RS racing suspension but still coming to terms with it, I am just starting to get used to the car moving around a bit at the new much higher limit. Seems to still be very communicative, and progressive but still a bit scary at the moment due to much higher speeds. Previous best at QR on clubman was 1:14.78. I have only run the Sprint Cct since but did a 106.77. Brent said I should be about 4 secs faster on sprint Cct so I reckon RS kit makes about 4 secs a lap difference (over std with koni reds), probably 5 secs with a bit more practice and who knows with someone with a bit more experience.

I am hoping sticky tyres will have me down to the 65s on sprint and 69s on Clubman, fingers crossed.

Will let you know how I go.

Dan

[gtv27]

I haven't run my v6 at QR so don't have a good idea on benchmark times. I gained a couple of secs a laps at MP from stiffer springs, so 4 sec is not out of the question. Tyres will get you about that much as well.

[Rookie ROX]

A dead stock V6 75 will usually run between 70-73s on the Sprint circuit.

With a set of semi slicks you should be able to pull off 67s without a problem. I don't think getting 65s with the RS kit and semis will be hard at all - I know Brent has been running 64s (63s?) in his Twinspark that has 29mm torsion bars, lowered springs, 24mm front sway bar, Koni yellows, poly bushings and DZ03G semi's, and obviously a full cage and stripped, all on the stock engine.

In fact I'm certain you can go even better than that with a bit more track time under your belt.

A tribute to the brilliant design of the car IMO - I know guys in turbocharged Skylines struggling to run similar times.

ROCK ON
R~R

[gtv27]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie ROX A tribute to the brilliant design of the car IMO - I know guys in turbocharged Skylines struggling to run similar times. ROCK ON R~R

[raff_gta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie ROX A dead stock V6 75 will usually run between 70-73s on the Sprint circuit. With a set of semi slicks you should be able to pull off 67s without a problem. I don't think getting 65s with the RS kit and semis will be hard at all - I know Brent has been running 64s (63s?) in his Twinspark that has 29mm torsion bars, lowered springs, 24mm front sway bar, Koni yellows, poly bushings and DZ03G semi's, and obviously a full cage and stripped, all on the stock engine. In fact I'm certain you can go even better than that with a bit more track time under your belt. A tribute to the brilliant design of the car IMO - I know guys in turbocharged Skylines struggling to run similar times. ROCK ON R~R

[gtv27]

A gtv6 with the right suspension should spank a twinspark - so my vote is for quicker.

Also, re tyres - if you don't have to drive to the track, Toyo do a nice line in slicks...{insert evil laugh in here}

[Rookie ROX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raff_gta Do you feel that this same car, V6 would go quicker or slower?

[Barts]

Maybe one day, but not anytime soon, I can asure you. I find most of my fastest laps are chasing somone, because I get to follow their lines and watch their braking points. I haven't been able to follow Brent and learn but at the moment I wouldn't be able to keep up long enough to pick much up.

Maybe with the stickies...

Dan

[gtv27]

Hey Dan - Alfas are racing at Morgan Park this weekend (final round for the B Series Sprints), so is a good opportunity to come and kick some tyres.

[Brent Hampstead]

Dan,

This is a very important discussion to have as the wheel and tyre package is key to decent lap times. Bob Whiteshouse always drives home the concept that you have to maintain the correct rolling diameter for your engine and final drive ratio. Your GTV6 really shouldn't be using a wheel/tyre combo that puts the rolling diameter above 600mm.

This really does limit your choices of R tyres for 16 inch rims, as a 16 inch has its own diameter of 406.4mm to start with. That's why the 15X7 is a great size to aim at further down the track.

Kuhmo make a perfect size tyre for the 16 inch rim with their V70A in a 205/45 R16. This has a rolling diameter of 590.8mm, which is spot on for your car. Not sure about the handling and wear of the tyre but the size is right.

Toyo make an R888 which is a decent tyre, in a 225/45 16. This would have a rolling diameter of 608.8mm with a good slab of rubber on the road with that 225 width. They also make a 195/50 16, which rolls at 601.4mm. That is going to be marginally better for gearing but 30mm less width on the track.

I run Dunlop DZ03Gs which are a great tyre, but there is no decent size for a 16 inch rim to keep that diameter within the Alfa range.

Have a hunt on all the manufactures websites and check it out for yourself but I would say that Kuhmo is worth looking at. Craig Hornibrook in Brisbane stocks them and I think he still advertises in the club mag.

By the way, Mitch is being a little kind to my lap times. I am strictly a 65 second man in the Twinnie. My little bro has clocked 64s, but alas I am old and soft. Although I have done a 62 in my Guilietta and I plan to crack that magic 60 next year!

Cheers,

Brent