best 18" tire for hpde?

Just recently got myself back in the mustang game and everyone was high on running 18s. Seems that the tire market has left us out on this one now and there does not appear to be the selection there once was. im running 18x10 wheels so would like something that would fit proper on these wheels. Do not require the fastest tire as i am mainly just trying to "grind out" laps this coming 2018 season. thanks again!

Bridgestone RE-71R are awesome tires that are basically R-comps with treads. They're great for autoX (that's what I use them for), but they might wear out too fast for HPDE. For your wheel, you'd run the 275/35R18. (That 275 is very wide for its size.)

The BFG Rival S are another excellent choice. I think they're available in a 285.

Hard not to suggest Michelin's Pilot Super Sport tires for somebody who isn't chasing personal best laps right away. They work in the dry, they work in absolute downpours, they'll even work at 40°F if you take an easy out lap and give them an extra lap or so to warm up. And they'll last if you run up a few hundred progressively more enthusiastic street miles (starting with easy-ish normal driving) before taking them to the track.


Norm

Sky Render said:

Bridgestone RE-71R are awesome tires that are basically R-comps with treads. They're great for autoX (that's what I use them for), but they might wear out too fast for HPDE.

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Sky yeah this particular tire is the popular street tire choice for most of the guys running time attack in the street car class in the group that i run with. Good call on the BFG Rival though i will look into those.

Hankook offers the R-S4 in 275/40R18, 285/35R18, and 295/40R18. I have a friend running the 295s on his 16 GT PP on 10" wheels, but I guess that 10.5" or 11" would be better for that tire width. They stand up well to track day usage and have decent grip. Lots of the Chumpcar teams have gone to them since they seem to be the best wearing 200 TW tires currently available. The team I was driving with last year was using them on their Porsche 924, we did a lot of hours on them before they needed to be changed out. Different sizing and vehicle weight though obviously.

cheers
Ed

I absolutely love the Cooper RS3-S tires.

I'm going to try these out for my 18x10 square setup

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...8RT615KP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

I might have exactly what you're looking for. Used set of 275/35/18 BFG Rival with 4/32nd remaining (tapers to 3/32nd on the inside from camber wear but you can flip them without issues). $300 plus shipping. PM me if you're interested. I used them when I was starting track days and they're amazing. They never seem to give up grip and you can run them until cords are showing.

OP are you looking for a dedicated track tire or a dual use? I use the MPSS and got about 25K miles and 10-12 track days out of them, rotating a 275/40/18 square setup. So they held up well, although it should be mentioned most of those track days were TNIA (only 3 20 minute sessions per event) and my car is just basic P springs and shocks - so not hard core track use. Plus it rained a bunch of track days this year which obviously reduces wear. So I'd expect about half that mileage with more serious use.

Good tires and I'll probably get another set for their excellent livability on the street. RE71 are tempting though for the better ultimate grip.

They might get some street miles on them but for the most part will be a dedicated tire for track days as i still have the factory 19" wheels that i could put some street tires on.

fourdegrees11 said:

I'm going to try these out for my 18x10 square setup

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Falken&tireModel=Azenis+RT615K+&partnum=94WR8RT615KP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

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These tires worked very well in the street tire time attack class all last season. Had a set on my old Focus ST as well they were great! Wish they made a 285/35 and it would be a no brainer for me

I'm a little confused on the sizes you're talking about? You have 18" wheels right? A 285/35 tire is for a 19" wheel size on our cars, that makes it an inch undersized for 18". 285 is the "proper" width for a 10" wide wheel. People have no problem running a slightly undersized 275, what makes a slightly oversized 295 any worse?

I guess more info is needed for my particular car but i have a tr6060 trans in my car with a 4.10 rear gear. Trying to be around a 26" tall tire overall to get the overall gearing right where i want it. 295/40 tire would be fine on a 18x10 (especially the falkens they run a touch narrow) but that is a 27.2" tall tire i believe w

fourdegrees11 said:

I'm a little confused on the sizes you're talking about? You have 18" wheels right? A 285/35 tire is for a 19" wheel size on our cars, that makes it an inch undersized for 18". 285 is the "proper" width for a 10" wide wheel. People have no problem running a slightly undersized 275, what makes a slightly oversized 295 any worse?

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Response gets a bit softer and steering slightly less precise as tires get wider but the wheel stays the same width. If it's a 295/40 you're thinking about, overall "gearing" takes a hit and acceleration off the corners and up through the gears down the straight will not be quite as strong as with OE-diameter tires.

For HPDE, feel free to throw any need to run OE-diameter tires out the window. The only caveat is to avoid going so short that you find yourself running out of revs and needing to make upshifts at inconvenient times/places. Even for just street driving, 285/35-18's with 3.55's isn't a bad combination at all (about like 27" OE tires with 3.73's, which Ford has done at the OE level from time to time).

FWIW, my "daily-driving" tires are 265/40-18. Mostly because my "daily-driving" wheels are only 9.5" wide.


Norm

mrfatride said:

I guess more info is needed for my particular car but i have a tr6060 trans in my car with a 4.10 rear gear. Trying to be around a 26" tall tire overall to get the overall gearing right where i want it. 295/40 tire would be fine on a 18x10 (especially the falkens they run a touch narrow) but that is a 27.2" tall tire i believe w

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285/35-18 is just under (25.9-ish) and 295/35-18 would be just a bit over (26.1-ish). I doubt that a 1 mph difference in 130 is going to matter for HPDE. Pick either size depending on availability.


Norm

I run a 295/30-18 Toyo R888R on an 18x10 Forgeline on the front of the C6 ZR1 for dry track days. The rear sees 335 on an 18x12. For wet days I have Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, but on 19s, because they also double as street tires.

The R888R is a very, very good dual purpose tire, and I'm getting to 1.3+ Gs consistently and predictably at VIR without any kind of drama. They will wear out, but they won't heat cycle out, and so far the wear has been pretty limited.

I've also gotten a ton of good use out of Michelins. Run enough camber to avoid chunking, and they just keep going, and going, and going.

fourdegrees11 said:

I'm a little confused on the sizes you're talking about? You have 18" wheels right? A 285/35 tire is for a 19" wheel size on our cars, that makes it an inch undersized for 18". 285 is the "proper" width for a 10" wide wheel. People have no problem running a slightly undersized 275, what makes a slightly oversized 295 any worse?

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Quite a few people do it. It basically just raises the numeric value of your final drive gear a bit.

I'm quite partial to the Bridgestone RE-11 myself. I've had multiple people tell me that the RE-71r is an awesome tire but will not last, and even that it gets a bit greasy when very hot. But I do not speak from experience.

I do speak from experience when I say that the RE-11 does last and, better, seems to be at its best when very hot, based on my experience at Sonoma Raceway in 95 degree weather. Thus far I have never managed to get them "greasy" even at Thunderhill in August.

For HPDE, I think you'll find the RE-11 to be an excellent tire.

Tire Rack has them on "special/closeout". I hope they're not discontinuing them, because I don't know of any other street tire that will simultaneously take the heat that well and last as long without costing crazy money.


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An interesting choice: sacrificing a bit of absolute grip for longevity.

What size are you running? Might be a good choice for a mix street/race tire, also.

Per Tire Rack, the RE-11 has just two 18" sizes to choose between, and the wide one is only 275/40.

But I understand the reasoning.


Norm