Track tires? Other wheels that fit our cars?

[skyRLatl]

I want to track my Sky. I don't like the tires. Frankly they inspire no confidence when being pushed at all.

So I'd like to have a second set of wheels and tires I can use just for the track.

I was hoping the honda s2000 wheels (with s02s) would fit, but they are 5x114.3. According to this excellent post by Denette: Wheels and Tires Our tires are 5x110, so that wouldn't work.

Any tips?

(I ask for other wheels that fit our cars because I'd like to buy a used set of wheels and tires off ebay, to save some $$$ vs. buying everything new)

Also will the stock brake pads/fluid hold up for a track day? Not autocross, but a real track, with solid braking from 120 mph. What else is needed to prepare the car?

Thanks!

[snaponbob]

Originally Posted by skyRLatl

I want to track my Sky. I don't like the tires. Frankly they inspire no confidence when being pushed at all.

So I'd like to have a second set of wheels and tires I can use just for the track.

I was hoping the honda s2000 wheels (with s02s) would fit, but they are 5x114.3. According to this excellent post by Denette: Wheels and Tires Our tires are 5x110, so that wouldn't work.

Any tips?

(I ask for other wheels that fit our cars because I'd like to buy a used set of wheels and tires off ebay, to save some $$$ vs. buying everything new)

Also will the stock brake pads/fluid hold up for a track day? Not autocross, but a real track, with solid braking from 120 mph. What else is needed to prepare the car?

Thanks!

Before you worry about track days with your Sky you need to check the sanctioning body for applicable rules about roll bars. Most require them , and there are no roll bars available for the Kappas. Next, the bolt pattern and offset are unique to the Solstice/Sky family. Ebay has lots of sets available or you can buy some aftermarket wheels from TireRack. Solstice and Sky wheels are interchangeable. Although the stock brakes and pads are pretty much up to the task of street and autocross use, they are certainly not for serious track use. You will need more aggressive pads and DOT4 or 5 brake fluid or you will have serious fade. HTH.

[xmicro_Redline]

I can't give you "track" info. But these are awesome and I have them on my SKY. Wet traction is #1 :

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Eagle+F1+GS-D3

[ForceFed]

Originally Posted by xmicro_Redline

I can't give you "track" info. But these are awesome and I have them on my SKY. Wet traction is #1 :

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Eagle+F1+GS-D3

As far as a track or autocross tire, they leave a lot to be desired. I bought a set for my ION Red Line and am disappointed in them for compeptition on dry surfaces. As far as a rain tire goes, they are fantastic and a lot of the Miata drivers that I race with use them as their rain tire for autocrossing. I found that the sidewalls will still roll over at 50+ psi where my OEM Dunlops held at 42-44 psi. I only use them now as my DD street tires and use FALKEN AZENIS for autocrossing/track days but soon to be changing to DUNLOP Direzze Sport Z1. We had a tire distributor bring them to an autocross event for testing and they will be the tire to have in 2008. Link

[Blue04RedLine]

Originally Posted by ForceFed

As far as a track or autocross tire, they leave a lot to be desired. I bought a set for my ION Red Line and am disappointed in them for compeptition on dry surfaces. As far as a rain tire goes, they are fantastic and a lot of the Miata drivers that I race with use them as their rain tire for autocrossing. I found that the sidewalls will still roll over at 50+ psi where my OEM Dunlops held at 42-44 psi. I only use them now as my DD street tires and use FALKEN AZENIS for autocrossing/track days but soon to be changing to DUNLOP Direzze Sport Z1. We had a tire distributor bring them to an autocross event for testing and they will be the tire to have in 2008. Link

Were you on redlineforums with the IRL? As far as the Falken Azenis, I assume you were running the RT-615's? That was the tire I was going to suggest. For lightweight wheels, try and check out Centerline wheels. I know in 17' they are about 15lbs, but I don't know if the offset will fit the sky's, or if spacers would correct that even. I know they fit the Ion RL's, which have the same bolt pattern, but different offset. You could always call the company and see. A local friend of mine has a set and loves them, and combined with the Azenis Rt-615 or the new Dunlop tire, they would be a very formidable track day setup.

[Mandi]

Falken Azenis RT-615 (could be in more sizes) or Bridgestone RE-01R (big $$$)or the Dunlop Direzze Sport Z1 (not many reviews yet)....to bad the Falken isn't in the factory Sky size....like the 01R and Z1 are.

Z1 'THE' tire to have in '08....nah......there are a TON of sticky tires out....a lot of them being compared to R-compounds.....it mostly depends on your budget and size needed.

[tomvan72]

A rad tire to try is the Falken Azenis Rt 615. I f you get it in the 275/35/18 size you can width and a shorter tire. You will be an inch or so shorter. this will quicken up the car and make you pwer more usable in an auto X event and I can only see positves for the track aswell. We run 295/30's with the Hoosier A6 and it is awesome!!

[denette]

We have a High Performance Driving School here in Phoenix. We had two Redlines and my Sol out there. We've been about 4 times. This is a 1.6 mile 12 turn roadcourse using a dragstrip as the front straight. The tires on the redline are very good (he uses them for track and puts the nexens on for show). The key is to reduce unsprung weight...that's tires, wheels, rotors, arms etc. The best mod I made was the 18.4lb wheels. I run a N/A so getting reduced weight is important. I run Toyo Proxes T1R tires. These have held up for 30K miles of highway, twisties and 5.3 hours of track time. There is some degredation at the very outside edges of the tires from the track. It is very hard on tires. The wheels need to be strong and light. That's just a function of $$. The stock rims are a good compromise on weight and strength. If you can afford a track setup you may want to put good tires on stock rims and a set of nexens on the show rims. HTH.