In the near future I will take my first steps into track events. My boss has a few sets of used 235/40-17 slicks (from our DC race car) with some life left, and will let me use them to get started. I asked him if it would be too big for my DA Integra, and he said it would fit okay.

My initial idea when he mentioned track events was to get 16x7.5" wheels and fit 205 or 215 tires on them. Free tires and free tires, however, and I don't want to spend a lot on my own car, as it will just be used for a year or so. Should I just get cheap 17's and run the free tires, or would it be too awkward?

My specific concerns at the moment are ride height and rubbing fender liners in hairpin turns. Pictures to go with wheel and tire size would be greatly appreciated.

 

15x8 is always nice

 

15's

 

Has anyone had good results with 16x8 and a good offset? 16's were originally my prime choice, but if I get 17's it pretty much rules out tire cost.

I really just want to know if anyone has used 235/40-17 before, and what they thought. I know this is on the rather large side of tire options, but it's the cheapest route to get started. Plus, this will be just to get started. If I decide to go to more events with my own car I'll likely get 16's.

 

you should be on street tires for your first FEW track days. if i were your instructor i'd make you take the race tires off.
as for the size, 15" is optimal. but at your level it doesnt matter. if your planning on persuing some roadracing in the future with this particular car, figure out a class and what the max allowable wheel width is. if you just wanna go have fun, learn on streets first. then get some wide wheels and sticky tires.

 

I'd go with 15s.


Modified by JDMxDB8 at 3:15 PM 9/12/2008

 

You do know what forum you are in dont you?

I side with lo buck on his ruling.

 

*Edited.

My bad.

 

i run 16x8s 33 offet track use. with rs2s on them. 205s its not bad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hayabusa160 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i run 16x8s 33 offet track use. with rs2s on them. 205s its not bad.

</TD></TR></TABLE>do you have a pic of that setup?

 

busa, thanks for the detailed info

lo buck, my boss suggested using this size, and he's the one that will be instructing me. I think he just wants me to see as much potential in my own car without blowing money on wheels and tires

If they don't work out well, I'll just have to buy wheels AND tires in a smaller size. Arguing about the best size isn't my point. The point is that I can buy wheels real cheap and have free tires to get started on, and to really feel the difference that competition tires make. It will just make it that much easier when I transition to higher powered cars.

 

I'm running 15x7 +35 wrapped around 205/50/15 RT-615.

 

Just go with 15's on streets. Not going to learn much with something other than streets. Your cars potential means jack diddly right now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 650teg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and to really feel the difference that competition tires make. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You won't feel any difference if you never used street tires to begin with. The reason we're telling you to start with street tires is that race tires are less forgiving. Their limit is very abrupt, so that if you start to slide/spin, you're done. Street tires allow you to recover. Also, you keep mentioning size, and...none of us are. Whether they're 17" slicks or 15" slicks, they're still slicks, and you still shouldn't use them. Cost is not the only thing to consider here (and if a set of tires will make or break your trip to the track, you need to SERIOUSLY reconsider going at all).


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 650teg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It will just make it that much easier when I transition to higher powered cars.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Absolutely not. If anything, it'll screw you up more. You need to learn basic car control that's difficult to obtain starting out on R-comps/slicks. That whole statement in itself is a little scary. What are you expecting to drive in the future?

 

^^ Thats good advice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2fast4u831 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you have a pic of that setup? </TD></TR></TABLE>



i also ran 15x7s 35 offset. with the falken rt615 even tho the azenis had more grip the car felt better planted with the 16s.

but theres way too many factors to put in to account to say it was the wheels alone that made the car feel better on the track.

 

I understand the linear predictability of street tires, and I agree it would be better. The route I'm choosing is FNO1R-C 15x7 with RT-615's. As for the 17's, I'll take my time and try them out after I have some experience on the Azenis and find dirt cheap wheels. That's also provided that it doesn't rub on the chassis the first day I put them on.

The free tires are from our DC2 race car, which will probably be the next step, but not until the other drivers feel I can handle it. I just got excited when the future possibilities were told to me.

 

using r-comp or slick is going give you bad driving habits because of the amount of grip its going to give you. You'll end up de-learning your bad habits (which i hard) and relearning driving all over again.

 

Check your favorite 3 tires to make sure they have good sizes for whichever wheel you pick. I'm going to guess that 15 and 17 have the best choices.