Tracking on the stock 18" wheels?

Shotta

Im going to be doing some track events and plan on using the stock 18"s for the track.

I know its been mentioned here but I cant find the thread at the moment but what size tires are you running on the stock 18"s and do you feel the grip is good enough without going to a wider wheel?

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MightyBobo

Have you ever tracked before? Or will this be your first time?

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Shotta

It will be my first time in this car so I know I wont be pushing the limits of the car but I want to make sure lack of traction wont be a limiting factor at all or contribute to a dangerous situation.

I have waited for a year of getting the feeling for the car before I decided to track it.

I have a BMW that I have had on the track a handful of times over the last 10 years.

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MightyBobo

It wont matter what tires you go out on. You can go out on all-seasons if you wanted. "The Limit" is an always-changing variable depending on every component of your car, be it brakes, tires, suspension, motor, or otherwise. So when you go out with a lower "limit" due to the tires you are on, it doesn't matter - you are still learning at the same level, relatively.

In fact, if you go out with crappier tires, you'll learn to drive fast, faster, because you'll be pushing the limit more often.

Cliffs: you will be just fine, and if you enter a dangerous situation, it's because you put yourself there, or your instructor let you go there (which is a big no-no in their world).

Go out and drive to your tires, not a set amount of what you THINK your car can do.

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MightyBobo

Interesting, I'd expect if you have track experience, you'd have known what I just typed above already...

Regardless, we have people on the board who track with stock sport wheels and OEM tires, and they do just dandy.

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Shotta

Ive never been seriously into tracking and Ive had my BMW for 15 years. I simply paid the money and drove around the track a few times with friends.

My BMW did fine with the stock 245 width tires and when it gets into a slide I feel 1000% comfortable knowing when it will drift and when its going to regain traction.

For some reason in the 370 I don't have that comfortable feeling but I know its due to 15 yrs vs. 1.5 yrs behind the wheel

Im at a point where I need a new hobby and tracking the 370z is going to be it for me.

Thanks for your input, I will stick with stock tire sizes and go from there if I stay interested in the sport long enough.

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MightyBobo

So, some cars just lack that "confidence inspiring feeling" that others have. Older BMW's (assuming you had something like an E36?) were very, very good at having that. It helps they weren't grossly overpowered, too. The Z's feeling is likely not quite as good to you (probably due to being heavier and seat time as you said, I'd bet), but it is there none the less. You just need to hone your skills a bit more, and you will find it once more.

This all being said, learning to drive on a track is a skill that increases dramatically the more often you do it, obviously. However, a handful of times over 15 years, while it gave you "something", wouldn't be as efficient as if you'd have done the same handful over a month or so. I recommend you do a full weekend event, or at minimum, a full day event, to maximize your learning. A full weekend allows you to learn dramatically on day 1, and relax through the night. Day 2 forces you to recall your lessons, and it really sticks with you far better in the future. Waiting a year or more in between going out causes you to lose quite a bit of skill in between, and the next time out, you waste 20-30% of your time just shaking rust off.

Now, this is where I give my schpiel about being set up properly to learn most effectively: if you don't have an oil cooler, track brake pads, and track brake fluid, I do not recommend going out. Not doing the brakes can potentially wreck your car. Not doing the oil cooler isn't a game changer, but it WILL limit your sessions DRAMATICALLY (10-15 minutes max, versus a full session). After that, I say you shouldn't get anything else you don't already have for mods. No intake, exhaust, suspension - nothing. Learn the car you've got, upgrade from there.

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MightyBobo

Also, I just noticed - Niagara, huh? I'm from North Tonawanda...I was JUST there last weekend, actually.

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Shotta

Thanks for the info, its very helpful. I raced RC cars for approx. 10 years as well so that gave me some of the basics of car setup although at a 1/10th scale, lol, but the principals are still the same.


Im based in Niagara but travel all over North America on a regular basis, I like to stay in the Niagara area at least while the weather is good.

So I guess you have heard about the new Track they are opening in Ft. Erie? Canadian Motor Speedway It should be opening in 2015 and I plan on getting some experience under my belt before then.

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MightyBobo

Many principles are the same, indeed.

I'm based down in Baltimore, at Fort Meade, right now. Still Air Force, though.

I have NOT heard about a track opening up there! That sounds exciting, and maybe a reason to bring my car home with me sometime! Other than that, there aren't many tracks nearby for you to go to, I believe. Mid-Ohio or something? Watkins Glen?

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MightyBobo

Yup, looks like Watkins Glen is a great pick. Only 2.5 hours away, which isnt bad at all.

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Eighties Meta

I'm another that tracks on the 18s. not stock size though, 245/45/18 on front and 275/40/18 on the rear. Hell, I even run ALL SEASONS at this point. only been to the track twice so far but racking up 1 a month for the next several months I'm sure. So far both times I've gone to NJMP (new jersey motorsports park) and done thunderbolt twice, or next week will be my second time there. wee.....

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Shotta

On your setup, does the rear tire appear wider than the wheel or is the sidewall still square with the wheel? a 275 should be about 10.8 inches wide so a lot wider then the stock 18" wheel.

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Eighties Meta

looks completely normal just like the stock 245 that was on there EXCEPT wider. doesn't stick out or anything. except for it being wider I don't notice it any different at all. Well, one thing, when they (pep boys) put the tires on did scratch up my rear rims a bit but since they were already rubbed a bit I didn't complain about it.

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2009 370z Touring 7AT/AAM 2.5 true dual exhaust/AAM DE test pipes/z1 vqde35 headers/AAM cold air intake (R-line)/Motordyne M370/Quaife LSD/z1 brake upgd pkg/Swift Spec-R springs/WhiteLine Front&Rear sway bars with endlinks