alistairolsen

Two sizes available:

16/53-13 and 20/54-13

only rims available are 5.5j x 13

Would you be happy running the wider tyres on a rim that narrow?

I know plenty of people run 195 road tyres on 5.5j rims, but I have no experience of slicks.

Cheers

alistairolsen

bumpf

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

For what use ?

20's may be ok in a straight line but would feel horrible in corners.
You may need to increase the pressure in them to get them to feel better which leads to overheating.

16's would fit better corner better but offer slightly less grip on turn in but will be more positive.

IMHO

Dirty Harry

iTrader: (12)

both are too wide for a 5.5 inch rim you can get 15.53 tyre,personally I would increase your wheel width,but if the 16.53s is all you can get used them with a 6 inch rim min they really want to on a 7 inch to get the best out of them

alistairolsen

its for a one off track day, I have 13.5.5 rims and dont really want to spend out on new rims for a car Im not keeping.

Michelins site reckon the 16s will rit on a 5.5, but I understand that the wider the better within reason for proper support of the tyre.

its going on an 850kg fwd car with 110bhp...

Chip

iTrader: (3)

You definately dont need to worry about straight line traction then at least

alistairolsen

nope, not at all!

Does anyone know the going rate for new 15 inch slicks to suit a 6j rim?

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Ł180 ish (each) for anything decent

Chip

iTrader: (3)

What slicks do formula fords run?

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Used to be Avon Turbospeeds

Chip

iTrader: (3)

No I mean what size mate, sorry.

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Fronts were 160/530R13 as far as I remember.

Very little side wall strength as the weight ratio was a lot less

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Ah, fair enough, worth a try!

Thanks mate.

alistairolsen

Ouch on the price!!

I guess a lot of the secondhand stuff will be from various formula cars and hence your comment about the sidewall stiffess applies throughout. Ok for my locost project at 550kg but not suitable for fwd tintops.

Ah well!

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

I used to run them on a FWD tin top 15 years ago, they were fine if you knew what they were going to do !

Just had a look I still have 180/53R13 Avon Turbospeed wets sat on 13" Fiesta Pepperpot rims at the side of the shed Should be fit for the bin by now lol

The Ford Pepperpots were 6" and the 180's on tehm were pulled in slightly to fit. Would be worse on a 5.5" but I guess they would fit.

20/54's I'd say no chance !!

alistairolsen

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...g/P8260037.jpg

160s on 5.5j rims....

Dont look too great, but I guess it would be workable for one off

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Not the best pic but the Formula fronts 180's being used on my Fiesta Pepperpot's lol

alistairolsen

How did they feel/work on track?

marco polo

iTrader: (1)

as said 160-530-13" a min 6" required and the 200-540-13" min 7"

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Michelin S210's have a wider top profile so a 160 will have a tread width footprint similar to what you know as a 175.

They will fit on a 5.5" rim where as Avons would struggle a little.

Second hand they should be about Ł25 each.

Ex Formula Renault tyres from a while back

alistairolsen

marco: I know in an idela world if I was picking rim sizes I would go with 7s. question is whether 5.5s would work, or kill me :P

Nuts: I run 195 road tyres on a 6j rim, 180 slicks appear rare and 200s are far too wide for the rims. Id imagine even the 160s will offer a huge amount more grip than anything Im used to!

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Once up to temperature they work fine, before that like all competition tyres they were useless.

Drive hard on them and 20 minutes was just about enough before they would go off with the heat.

In the days when we were buying second hand tyres it was possible to go through about 8 in a single event

On race tracks and circuits I used to prefer Avons, anything else surface wise I would run the Michelins as they felt slightly stiffer in the corners.

All this is taking me back Stop it

Happy days

alistairolsen

so for a 4 hour open pit trackday done in 20-25 min sessions they would be fine?

reckon secondhand ones would last?

Looking at michelins with 3-4mm left on them?

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

As long as it isnt raining then they should be ok.

Those sound half worn, and wear rates depend on the compound and age of the rubber.

alistairolsen

cool!

Id just use my road tyres in the wet tbh, they dont get ripped up too badly

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

And IMHO competition slicks like that will be massive overkill too.

Always worth checking with the trackday organiser beforehand as sometimes they are banned.

alistairolsen

how do you mean? surely you cant ever have too much grip?

Knockhill are pretty much a free-for-all!

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

You can when its all transfered through to shafts, diff's gearboxes, rubber suspension bushes / engine mounts etc that are not designed or aged to cope with the added stresses.

With 110bhp its hardly going to rip itself to shreads, but there are times when the best available isn't necessarily the best available.

You state you have no experience of slicks, what experience do you already have with the options that are in between a road tyre and a full out competition slick ?

alistairolsen

none.

I have used road tyres on wet trackdays and Im aware that in the dry they wont survive well.

I have heard good things about R888s

I was curious about slicks and after looking, partwork slicks are considerably cheaper than a set of 888s so i figured if they would fit onto wheels I already have theyd be worth a try to see what they are like!

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Always worth a try at jumping in at the deepend, but to get the most out of them you really need to know what your doing with them.

Its sometimes not as easy as just a bolt on and away you go quick fix.

Many hundreds of people do trackdays week in week out on road tyres and have a great time with little problems or worries about wear.

But your correct the prices of second hand old rubber can be more attractive than brand new fresh items.

But if your wheels have tyres on them already go out on them and use them up first !! Thats more cost effective whilst your learning

alistairolsen

I might just go with road tyres in the end i guess. time will tell!

Out of interest, what do you have to do with slicks that isnt immediately obvious from other tyres?

Cheers for all the advice today!