I’m looking for suggestions for a second wheel/tire set-up for track use. Currently have 19” Sport’s now, but think I may want to switch to 18” for track use. I drive my car to the track, so I need a DOT and expect to do 8-10 track days/year. Also, would prefer to buy used wheels if anyone knows a source, though Tire Rack has some reasonably priced options and I’ve had good luck with them in the past. Thanks, Jr.

I think going to 18s for track and autocross is a good idea. One simple and relatively cheap solution is to buy a set of OEM 18" CS wheels for track and autocross, as I did. They already have the correct offsets, so no spacers are needed. Wider aftermarket wheels usually require spacers and longer lug bolts.

I also need to drive to and from events on my track/autocross tires, which are Michelin Cups (good on track; not so good for autocross). Toyo RA-1s or R888s can also be driven on to and from events.

If you want to buy forged wheels from TR, you might consider the BBS RS-GT at $3580 per set, and weights of 21# and 21.6# for 8.5 and 9.5" widths. A cheaper solution at TR is the Enkei Racing NT03-M for $1582 per set, and weights of 18.5# and 21# for 8.5 and 10" widths. Wheel Enhancement also offers forged wheels from Fikse, Champion, and Kinesis.

There were 11 Caymans at VIR for a DE last weekend, with quite a variety of aftermarket wheels. The tire widths I saw ranged from OE to 255 front and 295 rear.

+1 for Jim M.'s suggestions . . .

Suggest you keep an eye on the Classifieds here for people selling their wheels/tires.

WheelEnhancement.com also sells OEM take-offs as well as Porsche replica wheels (which may be a little heavier), as does Raderwerks (sponsor) - and they can frequently do a mounted tire package for you as well.

There are a lot of tire options depending on how much you want to spend, ranging from Kuhmos or Falken Azenis at the lower end, to Michelins (PSCs or PS2s - which are a pretty good track tire), etc. at the higher end. It's hard to find many in the stock rear size (265/40-18) but you can put 275s on the OEM rear wheels. I have Nitto NT01s for my track tires (very similar to R888s), but I personally wouldn't want to drive my R-compounds to and from the track (120+ miles each way for me), especially if it might rain.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

2006 CS Tip (Daily Driver & Part-time Track Toy)
2005 Ford Expedition (to haul the CS)
2006 Lexus RX400h (wifey's)
Gone, but not forgotten: 2002 WRX, 2004 MINI

I just purchased a new, leftover '07 Cayman S, and am thinking of doing a few "fun days" with her. Prices being what they are, I'm wondering if I can use 17" inch wheels on her, since tires that size are much more reasonably priced. But discussions of offsets and spacers leave me kind of glassy-eyed, so I need straight talk (no, I'm not blonde - I just like to get right to the point). So, does anyone have some thoughts? Since I bought her to drive on the highway, not the track, price and function are more important than looks. Thanks for welcoming me into the family.

Daddy's girl

Welcome and congrats on your purchase. Nice color combo. Have you had any track experience? If not, I strongly suggest you complete your 1st DE weekend using your normal street set-up.

At a 1st DE, you likely won't be driving hard enough to excessively wear the tires and you'll learn how your car handles with the same wheels and tires it will be wearing for most of your driving, i.e., on the street. It would be an added benefit if some of that track experience is in the rain, really.

__________________
Dan

Typically 17" wheels don't fit over the brake calipers on the "S" model, but that can depend upon the wheel, offset, etc. There are actually quite a few 18" wheels available and a variety of tires in 18" too, albeit sometimes more expensive than 17"s. Like STLPCA above, I would concur that you should drive your car in stock form first to see how it performs before making upgrades to wheels or tires. Once you are comfortable behind the wheel on the track, etc. then you can start looking at other possible choices.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

K-Man S
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I will be using the stock wheels & tires for my first track event, as it's in a couple of weeks. And I agree that the way she is now is the way she should be for my "first time". However, we ALL know that once is NEVER enough! So I do want to find another set to use on track, and possibly for autocrossing. Every time I get in that car, I feel my beloved father's spirit being channeled into my right foot ( he was a longtime autocrosser and road racer), and I'm afraid I just might overdo it! So that's why I want a set of track wheels - so I won't feel too bad if they get a little "agricultural"! Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

I ran the 17s for my first event, they handle "so so" IMO. Some like the 17's just fine, and I do agree that they did have good balance, no scary moments. It is kind of a good thing to find your cars limits at the lower end of the speed scale I suppose. Plenty of fun and learning to be had on 17s which I plan to run for my next event, unless I find a good deal on some 18s.

which event are you going to? EBR has a DE at Nelsons on the 18th.

That's the one. Only if the weather's good, since Nelson's is an ecosystem unto itself ;-) And I'll be taking it REAL easy 'cause she's still brand new (1600 miles).

Just a quick note here about driving R compound tires on the street. Some fare better than others. I've heard many poeple say that Michelin Sport Cups are awful in the wet. I've run my Toyo RA-1's a fair amount on the street with no problems. I had to drive through a heavy downpour last summer on my way back from a track event near Montreal to Boston. I slowed to 55MPH and I was fine. Those tires were quite new. The tendency is to use these R compound tires until they begin to show cord and I don't think I would have as happy in the rain if my tires were truly bald. Toyo R888's are supposed to be considerably worse in the rain than the RA-1's.

I'll see you out there. We have on 06 GR boxster.
I enjoy Nelsons as a fun track, not the most challenging but fast enough to have some fun.

I hope the repaving they've started the last few years has bee continued; parts of the track especially in the carousel and at turn 13 have taken a pounding over the years and can be pretty rough if not kept up.

BTW, the event has been opened up to the "fun Day" regulars-- drivers that frequent Nelsons open event for all drivers. I'm guessing our club didn't have enough members sign up and need to fill the ranks. NOR has has to do the same thing for their DE on 6/6-6/7.

Haven't gotten anything official yet from EBR (newsletter, welcome letter...) since I just joined in April. I didn't know anything about sign-ups. Just saw the info online. Do you use your stock wheels, or did you go to something different for track days?