I have only done one proper track day so far in my car and I didn't really give it loads through the corners because of a fear of coming off the track. I thought it handled ok on 17's but Andy(ex)RST thinks that if I fitted 16's I would notice an improvement in the handling.

Is that true?

Reason I ask is I want to buy another set of wheels for track days and I don't know if I should get 16's or 17's. 16's would probably have the same 205 width of my 17's now.

I am also thinking about fitting 215/40 17's to use on the road. Would this be a bad idea?


Thanks awfully x

 

Tony you daft cunt. Why do you want 215/40/17's?? The 10mm difference in width will make no noticeable difference to the amount of grip, but will just increase the chances of the tyres catching the arches and also will the car more prone to tram-lining and torque-steer.

Go for 16's for the track. That way you can put either a 195 or 205 width tyre on and also have an easier prospect of finding slicks in a sensible size.

Fitting them over your brakes will be the next challenge though.

Mine do I know, but I had to modify my calipers, before I got them repainted and they are still really close to the wheels.

 

15's are the daddies Tone


(only cos that's what i've got lol )

 

don't forget your slicks for Central Day 2007 Mahoney.. you already owe me the Krispy Kremes from this year

 

The wheel and tyre size changes the cars centre of graverty.

205 45 16 are smaller than the std 195 50 15 so if you really wanted your car to handle then fit 195 45 15. But remember the smaller the wheel the lower geared the car becomes.
Simon.

 

Dream on sweetheart!



Mr C - Mike says he can get me some 16's to fit, but that means spending over Ł600 on a set of wheels. That's half a turbo

And who are you calling a cunt?! I have plenty more helium ya know


Simon - Thanks for that. I will have to stick with 16's to fit over my brakes, the hard part is finding a set of wheels for the right money. I mean for the amount of track days I do I might just aswell stick with the 17's. Gearing isn't a problem as they would only be used on the track, not for top speed.

 

15's aren't even an option for Tony, because, like me, he has 330mm brakes.

 

I bet that's for 'Chunky Monkey' Mo's too, right??

LOL about the helium. You knob.

 

Ive done a lot of trackdays on 205/45/16's with a 7.5" rim, and they grip very well and dont cause too much torque steer...

I have never had my car on 17's though so i cant compare them.

I did run back on the standard 15's with 195/50/15 for a while last year and lost all confidence in the handling of the car! It seemed to have no grip, spun the wheels too easily and i couldnt brake as hard... Couldnt wait to get back on the 16's. (Although 15's fitted with good trackday tyres would be different)

I would fit 205/45/16, and make sure you get wheels with ET35 offset.
There is much more choice of decent track day rubber in 195/50/15 though!

 

Yeah, jealous?

 

MO'S In 15's may fit 330's carnt remember 16 's do for deffo, 15's much better on track tbh 16's are the limit imo and ive done loads on both.
205 45 16's drive much better than 17's do much better ride also not as harsh.
are we all gonna get together fro a bash on track some time? would be interestin

 

In the 205 45 16. I ran the Yokohama Parada spec 2 tyre which was very grippy at Brands, it bobbled up (grained) just like a race tyre. But it is only a VR rated tyre.
I now have Avons ZZ3, ZR rated but they have quite a lot less grip.

But defo rate the Parada spec 2.

S.

 

can't remember either, but am sure we tried my 15 inch MO's on the naut's skip to check how big i could go
will try and find the thread on it

 

Put some 15's on and then get some proper brakes that will work rather than just look good

I would never go over 16's on a track escort personally, it just dosn't work unless you have adjustable geometery

 

Apparently 15 inch MO's will only go over 315mm ones max - and they are the absolute limit

am having the 305mm's on mine partly for tony's reason so i'm not stuck in an emergency and partly cos mine doesn't warrant the big ones

 

go for 16's

 

THE ZZ3'S must have been the worst tyre i every had they were dangerous,read on the bmw forums about them lol

but as tony nuts said some good 285 or 300mm brakes and 15's are best.

 

damm it



this has got me thinking again now, as currently have 17's (do have the full mef kit thou so bit of adjustability there)



o well cold always more sets of wheels i guess

 

Tony - u going to upset them and tell everyone what size brakes you run

I run ET41 wheels, 7x16 with 215/40 on front, 195/45 on rear. I've tried every size/combo possible and this works very well. The 215 gives noticeaby more grip than the 195 or 205. The balance is spot on now. They never catch, even with 5 people in the car, and the ride is nice too.

 

no, but I used to run on 13" wheels and the same brakes and that made it handle even better

 

My RST defo handled better on 15's than on the 17's but loved the look of 17" super T's, so kept the 15's just for track use

Stick a set of FRS springs and shocks and a set of FRS wheels on it tony and hope it handles as well as a FRS on track, its the only way

Oh and FPMSL @ helium, i'll bet theres not plenty more left

 

i heard he was having a helium tank installed permanently Andy

 

Noooooooooo, im switching my phone off before i get a call

 

my mark 3 tramlined to death on 17's, was a horrible car to drive. put 15's on and its transformed the car, well happy with it now.

16's are a good option too according to loads of people i've spoke to, on 195's

 

i recentley changed to 16's and it eliminated all torque steer and the car feels far more stable at speed now

 

wouldnt the 215s help transmit the power onto the road better though?

bassboy

 

Yes they would, if you did not run a lot of negative camber, but also consider more grip = bigger loading into the gearbox/clutch.

Simon.