Tyres you recommend for circuit racing

[StevieD]

After searching to no avail, I'd like to find out what tyres those of you who do regular circuit racing use on their LS1's.

I have been using my standard 17's with OEM tyres on my VY SS ute but I'm looking at buying some 18's but need to decide what tyres will be best.

Thanks in advance

[XR8Chic]

Are you talking about Road Tyres, Semi Slicks, or Slicks?

I run 18" road tyres on my car at the track, Currently have a set of Pirelli P7000's. Highly recommended.

Tried Bridgstone S02's a few years back - and kept fracturing the sidewalls.

Had Dunlop FM901's too - OK, but NOTHING compared to the Pirelli's.

Avoid Sava Intesa. Very cheap and nasty!

[clubzls2]

Toyo Proxes RA-1's are a good street legal motorsport tyre 245/40/18 about 500 a pop.They are designed for cicuit/drags i used them on my previous ride at the drags and cut 1.86 60ft,with no experience,1st time out.

[cheffy]

Get a set of the khumo's there about half the price of anything else and their qite good if your after a bit better handling without breaking the budget. bear in mind though that tyres have heat cycles and you will only get about a year out of a set.

[2001 ITR]

I really like my Bridgestone RE55s (better than my old RE540s) they really seem to grip very well when hot. I can get stupid angles out of them without falling off the track. I spun once at Calder partly seeing how far I could provoke the things before I spun – they gripped far harder than I thought they would. The RE540s seemed roughly equivalent to the Dunlops (DJ01?) and Yokohamas of the time.

Get the tyres that suit your needs. Check what is available in 18inch.

Treaded semi-slicks are far better than any road tyre at circuit work but have poor tread life, poor wet weather drainage and they are very noisy – so I wouldn’t use them for everyday tyres. Get yourself a spare set of wheels and just swap over when you are going from road to track.

If you are running at a CAMS-run event you need to have a roll cage fitted to run proper slicks.

[cheffy]

You don't need a rollcage just yet.. The Dj01 I prefer to the re55 as they seem to be slightly better under brakes and a little more durable.

[Justice R8]

You don't need a rollcage just yet.. The Dj01 I prefer to the re55 as they seem to be slightly better under brakes and a little more durable.

Dunlops eat the bridgestones, in handling and wear. Bridgestones win on price only $360 vs $480

[2001 ITR]

Dunlops eat the bridgestones, in handling and wear. Bridgestones win on price only $360 vs $480

Can anyone back this up with lap times or is it just “feel”?

I have heard that Hoosiers are a bit better again (can anyone back this up with lap times as well).

[BLACK1]

--The first track tyres I tried were Dunlop DJO1's-Felt good but wore very quickly..

--Next I tried Bridgestone RE540's-Thought these were a better tyre and did not wear out as quickly as the Dunlops..

--Then tried the Bridgestone RE55's-Much better tyre than the RE540's and wear rate was good as well..

--Had to buy 2 Dunlop DJO2's when there was no Bridgestones in the country earlier this year-Using these on these on the front at the moment with the last of the RE540's on the rear-The car feels really stable but had to make some severe shock settings to make the car work..

Times with the different tyres are hard to equate as over the years different track conditions, more experience, more conservative approach after a fair track accident etc etc..

--Choice may come down to dollars as the Bridgestones are available heavily discounted through some dealers, while the Dunlops supplies are a closed shop with full retail price required..

My gut feeling is that the Dunlops are a slightly better tyre than the RE55's(but make sure you get the right compound for your weight of car) but as I already said you have to pay full retail..

HOPE THIS HELPS

[cheffy]

Ive driven on just about all the tyres mentioned. personally, it depends on the result your after. I prefer the dunlop's over the bridgestones but thats me. I think the Khumo's are a good tyre to drive on and are good value for money..

[StevieD]

Thanks Guys that's all excellent information and reviews. That helps me make a decision.

:cool:

[R34]

Another vote for the RE55's. They are awesome. I dropped 3 seconds off my pb at Wakefield just by changing from street tyres to RE55's.

There are two compounds of these so make sure you don't get the soft one or you will wear them out in a day.

Donnellans in Box Hill (melbourne) does a great price. Cheaper to get them to ship them to me in Sydney than to buy them here.

[jenny]

Iafter some Nitto Drag radial tyres size 275/50/15 model of tyre is 555R can you help or do you know anyone that might be able to.
Cheers jenny ;) :booty:

email me drujen@optusnet.com.au

[Beej]

1) You can't buy DO1Js anymore - they now sell the D02Js new - which by all accounts are not as good.

2) I ran D01Js (GPS compound) for half this year, then switched to RE55s (SR compound) and found that the RE55s were FAR superior to the GPS DO1Js in every respect - and I backed this up by shaving close to 2 seconds off my previous best lap time at Oran Park GP (best lap 1"21.95 - Type 2 class N/A road registered full weight LS1 Commodore, backed up by many many laps in the very low 1"22s).

So I would think that the harder compound DO1Js may probably be about on par with the equivelant RE55s for our cars, but you can't get them any more, so personally I am sticking with the RE55s for now - they rock big time and won me the Type 2 NSW State Supersprint Championship this year :D So I will stick with what wins!

Cheers,

Beej

[Tonner]

Congratulations, :cool:

[cheffy]

1) You can't buy DO1Js anymore - they now sell the D02Js new - which by all accounts are not as good.

2) I ran D01Js (GPS compound) for half this year, then switched to RE55s (SR compound) and found that the RE55s were FAR superior to the GPS DO1Js in every respect - and I backed this up by shaving close to 2 seconds off my previous best lap time at Oran Park GP (best lap 1"21.95 - Type 2 class N/A road registered full weight LS1 Commodore, backed up by many many laps in the very low 1"22s).

So I would think that the harder compound DO1Js may probably be about on par with the equivelant RE55s for our cars, but you can't get them any more, so personally I am sticking with the RE55s for now - they rock big time and won me the Type 2 NSW State Supersprint Championship this year :D So I will stick with what wins!

Cheers,

Beej

Sorry forgot about the d02J's, my dunlop dealer still has some d01j's in stock... Th drama I've found with the re55 is the commodore front end geometry doesn't suit the tyre and they go off quickly at the front and are prone to lock ups...

Good result on the supersprint champoinship by the way, a 1:22 isn't to be sneezed at in a road car.....

[Justice R8]

Th drama I've found with the re55 is the commodore front end geometry doesn't suit the tyre and they go off quickly at the front and are prone to lock ups...

Good result on the supersprint champoinship by the way, a 1:22 isn't to be sneezed at in a road car.....

Same here CHeffy. found they go off real quick. I can usualy make a rally (3 days) with Dunlops. When I ran the Bridgestones I delaminated both back tyres by the end of the second day. And I mean really delaminated to the point that they were throwing rubber strips off them smacking the inner guard. Probably from overheating them with some spirited driving but the driving was no different to that I did on the dunlops without 1 failure

[Beej]

Same here CHeffy. found they go off real quick. I can usualy make a rally (3 days) with Dunlops. When I ran the Bridgestones I delaminated both back tyres by the end of the second day. And I mean really delaminated to the point that they were throwing rubber strips off them smacking the inner guard. Probably from overheating them with some spirited driving but the driving was no different to that I did on the dunlops without 1 failure

Hey Justice - what compound were you running with the Dunlops? Because the delamination you talk about - including the strips hitting the inner guard noisely etc - is exactly what I experienced with the D01Js at Eastern Creek in particular after a couple of goes through turn 1! Whereas I have found the RE55s (SR compound) to hold up quite well under the same circumstances.

Mind you my fronts always wear more than the backs - so car set-up and driving style may be quite different between us :D

Cheers,

Beej

[cheffy]

it depends on the castor and toe out your running on the front beej. Some track's too work better with some tyres....

[CSV Strada SiR]

Beej,
are you running 17 or 18's RE55?

[Beej]

Beej,
are you running 17 or 18's RE55?

I'm running 17s - 235/45/17s.

Cheffy - yes you are right - the front end set-up set-up can certainly make a big difference to both tyre wear/performance and also outright cornering dynamics.

Cheers,

Beej

[scalpa]

hi guys have anyone tried the yokohama a048? they run them on the v8utes and the production car series as well they are breaking lap records everywhere they race i got a set from traction tyres in melb s/hand for only $100.00 ea
there phone number is 03 9764 2811. ask for tony
cheers scalpa