Dedicated Track Tires

Nikon FM

How does the traction control system like the 265/295 ratio? I am at the point where I'm going to turn the "baby sitter" off during track days, but have heard some cars have difficulty with different ratios than the OEM setup.

__________________

Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

JoeD

Tire-width has nothing to do with the operation of traction-control. So long as the tires are properly sized in terms of diameter (as close to stock as possible), there is no reason for anything to malfunction.

Nikon FM

Pretty much holding up the track newby sign here. Thanks!

__________________

Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

ChrisSlicks

Because you are using these as track tires with the VDC turned off I wouldn't worry about it too much. The size differential is really only a problem for the traction control, with it disabled it doesn't intervene until the speed difference between front and rear is huge.

For daily driver tires you want the size differential as close as possible, within 2% front to rear.

With the R888 sizes listed your differential front to rear will be 2.3%.

rbratton

The isn't exactly true. The tire diameter difference effects your ABS which cannot be turned off. The computer might turn it off if it detects an issue; then again, it could just damage your abs system. You are correct tat 2% difference in diameter front to rear should be acceptable for the ABS system.

ChrisSlicks

The ABS should be handle even more than 2% theoretically, perhaps 4 or 5%. Unfortunately discovering it's true thresholds would require insider knowledge of it's workings or lots of empirical testing.

370sed

If you want R-comps and still want to drive to the track with them, then the Nitto NT-01 can't be beat. They don't stick quite as well as the (100 wear rating vs ~40 for stickier R-comps) best, but they come close, are cheaper, wear nearly as well as a 'normal UHP' tire...and can be driven to track. I've had two sets and overall would give their performance a B+ compared to an A for my current BFG R1s capabilities. An experienced track junkie can certainly tell the difference on track plumbing the limits of adhesion, but someone new to R-comps will be suitably impressed.

The bigger jump by far is from ANY UHP tire to the R-comp, in this case the NT-01 being the case in point. These simply have different and generally better grip, breakaway, and recovery characteristics. You won't be disappointed coming from a street tire!

I've done as much as 400 miles highway on them at a go with no problems...they actually have a decent comfy ride and (of course) handle amazingly! At first I was worried about using them on the highway and such, but have no such worry, they're fine... and talk about serious street grip!

The only thing to watch out for is in the second half of their useful life there is no tread, and you need to be careful in the rain. First half they have decent tread and are fine, not a rain tire, but the 6/32 of tread will keep you out of trouble. Once you're down to 3/32 (the 'racing slick' half of their life), all rain bets are off. I did have to drive them in slick mode once a few hundred miles in the rain and it wasn't too bad as long you keep speed <60mph and you're really really careful, and it's just not really a downpour. But that's nothing I would want to do if I had a choice.