Aiming to get some track time in next season atleast a few times in my 2011 Si. I want to run a 17x9 wheel either RPF1 or some FNOR1Cs in about a +35-40 offset, and hopefully some 245/40 or 45 tires. I have HFP suspension and Progress rear sway. Wondering what clearance will be like if I want to use a 9" wide wheel and 245s. I remember reading anything above +40 offset or so will rub the struts or anything below +35 will require some negative camber and fender work?

So basically can I use 17x9 +35 245/40 wheel/tire combo on my vehicle with HFP suspension on track days with no issues?

 

Fender rolling will come into play eventually here.
Sounds like your experience level is limited if you are going to do track days with a 2011 SI.
Use the search, and better yet google using honda-tech in the search string.
There are some people out there that run 06-civics as street cars.
Hmmm check out the race cars for sale thread, there is a skullcandy civic being offered and Jason has seen this car from inception through two seasons of GA.
He would know more about your
chassis.

 

Yea this will be my first track time. Have a friend who's been doing it and even raced for a small team over the past decade. He going to be my instructor through 10/10ths motorsports and will more than likely be going to Putnam Park.

 

i put 17x9 +35 Enkei RPF1's on a friends car with 235/40-17 tires. With HFP suspension there were no rubbing issues (it didnt sit that low). We eventually lowered it more with Koni/GC and had to add camber kits to make the rear clear. We also rolled the fenders. We run -2.5 deg front and -3 deg rear.

 

That looks real nice Graham.
The stance looks close to our 25 hour car.
Fender rolling etc.

I dont know what size wheels, we used god knows I should remember.. I carried enough of them around.
Im betting they were 17's.....

 

We ran the 17x9 35mm offset with a 15mm spacer in the front and a 17x8 35mm in the rear. We only used the spacer because most of the time we would run -3 degree's camber in the front (GA regulated). We did not use a spacer in the rear and kept the rear camber at around -1. With a 225.45-17 Continental slick (which were not DOT and measure more like 240mm contact patch) the setup sat pretty flush under rolled fenders. We usually would rub the yellow "continental" off the side of the tire. Only use the spacer as you add camber and start to setup your suspension for track use.

 

 

I think from the info given, he can now make a logical decision.

 

Since I'm not really "competing" against anyone and my first few events will just be learning the car and riding with an instructor should I just go with 17x8s all around? I would just get some stickier tires for the stock wheels but don't want to have to dismount the current tires, mount the stickies. Then when I'm done dismount again and remount the daily tires. So will just go ahead and get some light track wheels mounted with good tires and just swap on and off. I've never been in a vehicle on a track but I have driven carts before and always caught on real quick so I'm hoping that will be the same for me in my car...

Definitely considering all suggestions and opinions so feel free. Want to make sure I get it right first time and won't need a different size or something the following year. Don't plan on ever ditching the HFP suspension. Maybe put in some Konis one day but not anytime soon.

 

Also I planned on Hawk HP+ pads. Any other better suggestion?

 

For real hard track use, you will need to upgrade to a minimum of TSX calipers and rotors. For light use, when your just getting started, DTC-70 might be ok on stock rotors and calipers, but I melted a brand new set of HT-10's to the metal backing during just one day in my car.

In short HP+ is a good street pad and is what I run on the street but I wouldnt try to use them on the track.

 

The 15mm spacer is needed to compensate for the retarded amount of track width difference between the front and rear (27mm narrower in the front). Also removing the fender liner is a good idea when dealing with wider wheels/tires and additional negative travel.

When I had my Prelude I was running 17x8 +45 with 245/40R17 and that car had small fenders. That having been said you could surely run that size on an 06+ Civic.

 

I definitely won't be seeing real hard track use for atleast a few years since I'm still a novice. So I don't think upgrading brakes right away is necessary IMO. The stock brakes with race pads and fluid should do me well enough.

 

Yeah I mean the only thing you can do is try it and see. I would definitely use something more aggressive then the Hp+ though

 

Yea I'll definitely search around. Now that I think about it HP+ isn't a race pad is it?

Also I had always wondered about the front because the rear is visually wider. Good info.

 

It's a street/autox pad. I would go with the DTC-60 from hawk or a different brands track pad

 

For track use upgrading the brakes is the FIRST thing you should be focusing on. If you go out on the track with stock pads you will be overheating the pads even if you aren't overheating the fuild. Brake pads have a very specific operating range and if you go beyond that the friction coefficient drops off significantly.

Stock pads will not work on the track, I would recommend a minimum of Hawk HP+ or comparable pad. I ran Hawk HPS on my Miata at a local track and they would overheat during braking for 3 corners on the track and they are designed to be a sporty pad. I've been to the track without suitable brake pads and it really puts a hindrance on your day.

 

Assuming that your Si is pretty much stock, do you really think you will see much improvement running a 245 width tire? With your stock 215/45-17 size you can still get the Dunlop Star Spec or the Potenza RE-11, which are top notch tires. The tires will be a good chunk more expensive, and heavier. Unless you are going for the "super wide race tire" look, I don't see a huge benefit if you are just starting out with track events.

Any thoughts???

 

Tires have specific operating temperature, the harder the tire is driven the hotter it gets and the more load the tire is forced to corner the hotter it gets. If a tire is pushed too hard (because of excessively aggressive cornering or too much load) it will become too hot and will not react the way it was intended in terms of grip, life span, etc. A 215mm is pretty narrow for a car that weighs 2850 without a driver in, 245mm tire would provide more grip and allow the heat to be distributed over a larger area. If a 245mm tire was in the possible plans I would go with it on this application because of the above mentioned benefits.

 

lol I've said a few times I will be upgrading pads and fluid. I was implying to the above post about TSX brakes that I don't need that kindof upgrade right now. Car will have full bolt ons and flashpro as well as the HFP suspension and Progress rear sway bar.

 

My bad man, I didn't see the pad part of that. The stock brakes on the Si with some good brake pads would be fine. If you were to upgrade the brakes I would go with the TL Type S Brembo 4 pot calipers, minimal modification required to bolt those up, mill 2.5mm off the caliper from what I heard. I will be fitting some on my buddies 08 Si in a few weeks and I'll be posting up a DYI for it.