Due to a mishap at NTB I suddenly have to decide which set of rims to make my track rims, the 16s or the 18s.

I have not kept up with R rubber sizes (I am guessing RA1s) so I don't know which size would be my best choices to keep the front to rear balance.

I am presuming that actual sizes of the R rubber varies as much as it does for street rubber (I found as much as a 2" difference in actual width of tires rated as 265/35 x 18) so I am hoping that some of you have already some combos that work well. My car is a 2002 and I am running JIC coilovers. No front sway bar since I much prefer a little oversteer to plowing. Obviously since I will have track and street rims the car is dual duty.

I really like the look of the 18s on the street, but I can put much more rubber on the road with them so I guess they would be my first choice for the track.

How much meat are some of you stuffing on the 16s?

I really must make a choice by Monday or Tuesday at the latest or else park my car for a while which would be a great inconvenience at the moment.

I guess I should say that the tires will be used for autocross and DE track days.

Any great words of wisdom? Anyone tried both sizes and have a preference?

 

If you track and autocross a lot and want to always run good tires, the 16" options will be a lot cheaper. That would be my choice right there.

 

Rim size will also have a lot to do with it.

 

If the 16" are OEM, run them. The wheels will get thrashed throughly on the track from brake dust, debris, and concrete walls , and they will be much easier and cheaper to replace. The 16" tires will also be much less expensive to run, which is always a plus.

 

Trashing expensive 18" rims = not good!

I have been trying to find actual tire widths and have had trouble finding RA1 real sizes. On the other hand the Yokohama A048s seem to have tires that are very, very close to optimum front/rear balance in the 225/245 sizes.

I thought the A048s were more a street tire but the write ups seem to indicate they are comparable to the RA1s. Is that true?

 

A048s are better than RA1s, but they are more expensive.

 

That surprises me, but it doesn't matter to me the brand, only the results.

Either will let me drive the car to the track which is good since I don't have a car trailer.

 

Guess your definition of optimal is up to you.

RA1s are available in 245/45R16, 205/55R16, and 225/50R16.

Personally I run 205/245.

 

What 18" wheels are they?

 

Actually optimal, in the sense I was speaking, isn't up to me. I was referring to the stock front/rear rubber ratios.

Actual tire sizes vary so much that a discussion based upon rated tire sizes is useless. How can you make an educated guess as to the tire size to buy if you don't know what you are buying?

Not to pick on you, but you quoted some rated sizes available, but that wasn't actual size. When I bought my 18" tires I found as much as 2" different in width in the same rated size.

When I bought my first set of stock tires, even tho I went up 2 sizes in the rear I still ended up with tires that were about 1/2" narrower than stock. Since the fronts were the same ACTUAL size as stock I had terminal oversteer.

I have been unable to locate a chart that shows me actual sizes for the RA1 which is usually a sign that they are narrower than the rated size would indicate. I want to be sure I don't buy another set with a bias different than what I think I am getting.

Once I can locate REAL sizes then I can compare different brands &/or buy to fine tune to the handling bias I prefer.

It appears that my track rims will become the stock rims. Now all I have to do is to determine which brand of rubber to buy.

Since I don't have a car hauler I will need to drive to the track which means a tire like the RA1 (or A048?). Is the A048 as good as the RA1? I thought it was mostly a street tire.

Other than the Nitto is there another track tire that doesn't heat cycle so much so that you can drive to the track? I live about 30-45 minutes from 3 different venues.