Track day tyres for 16" wheels?

Technical discussions
Gsi_Joe
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:12 pm
Location: North Lancashire

Post by Gsi_Joe »

Ok, many thanks for the reply :D I'll send them an email to ask about the compound...

Joe :)

Shaker
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 1:26 pm

Post by Shaker »

Ok cant help you on choice of tyre as its down to presonal preference and budget. One tyre might be great for one but not so good for another it really is trial and error as reviously stated. But keep to the recommended manufacturers size. Going for a larger width tyre on stock rims will im in no doubt be detramental to the cars handeling, this is because your wheel J size will not accomadate the wider tyre although it may phsically fit on the wheel rim it will have less support on the sidewall and during cornering the tyre sidewall will try and roll under the wheel rim causeing severe understeer. The hotter the tyre gets the more the sidewall will try and roll under itself. So stick to the manufactures recommended size as this will be the best size for the width of your wheel rims and there fore have the most support on the sidewalls keeping understeer from flexing sidewalls to a minimum.
Hope this is of some help to you.

Gsi_Joe
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:12 pm
Location: North Lancashire

Post by Gsi_Joe »

Yeah thanks Shaker, so what would be your opinion on changing the profile from the factory standard, i.e 205/55/16 as opposed to the standard 205/50/16?

Joe :)

P.S I've asked these questions to the chap at 'Ears' and am awaiting a reply, just thought i'd get some more info in the meantime!

Shaker
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 1:26 pm

Post by Shaker »

Hi mate well from what your saying your looking at 55's instead of 50's this is the percentage of the width given to make up the sidewall. So a 205x55 means you will have a sidewall height of 112.75 as opposed to the standard 205x50 which would have 102.5mm so your gaining sidewall height of over 10mm which adding top and bottom will give you over 20mm in extra sidewall height. If the tyres were like for like then you will get more understeer but if your going for a better quality tyre this may not be to noticable.
However a better option in my opinion would be going up to a 215x50 instead of a 225 as this from my calcs would only be 107.5 height and closer to the stock sidewall height than going up in profile. Although I've already said gaining width is not good on a stocker rim neither is gaining height in sidewall due to the amount of flex so maybe a 215 would be a good compromise!
Depends on what tyre choice you opt for as they all respond in different ways. But your choice is going to be rather limited no matter what you choose in 16 inch.
Best of luck in whatever you decide and be sure to post results as i have the same prob as you running 16's so maybe a case of blind leading the blind :lol:
BTW this is only my opinion as im no expert on tyres but hope it steers you in the right direction.......................
excuse the pun :roll:

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