[ZTWsquared]

(04-23-2012, 11:14 PM)reldridge Wrote: While I don't completely disagree, Ken, I agree with Luc in using the stock 16" rims for the track, and the 17" rims for the street.

From his sig, he has TSW Revos, which in 17" size are roughly 25 lbs a piece, vs. the 16"s at 19 lbs each. 6 lbs of unsprung weight per corner is a good chunk. Plus, in using the 16s, he'll have cheaper tires to replace when he inevitably burns through them on the track.

As for the street tires, I'd recommend against the Kumho Ecsta ASTs. I've been running them for a few years, and replaced them with the Yoko Envigors last summer. Night and day difference in tires, and not too much more money. If you need to go for a more 'cost effective' all season, go for the Falken ZE-912.

Good points, especially about the weight of the 17s - mine are 20 lbs each - still not a lightweight like a Rota, but not outrageously heavy either.

My experience has been that the wider tread and lower profile of the 17 will give more grip and more predictable handling at the limit, and that the best way to make full use of the grip of a track tire is to maximize the contact patch.

My thinking is if going to the expense of a second set of tires just for the track, then go for the maximum contact patch you can.

But truth be told either way for Luc 16s or 17s probably won't make much of a difference - at least not until experience and horsepower demands the utmost from the tires.

Having said that - perhaps Luc you could learn more by simply driving the track on your street tires.

Last year I "borrowed" a 2012 Focus with 18" rims and sport handling package for a track weekend at Mosport ... and aside from inflating the Continentals to 44 lbs it was stock. Could I have gone faster with track tires - probably - but the biggest impediment was horsepower. Nonetheless the grip provided by the street tires was quite remarkable.