nickj718

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys! Im taking the F to the track a couple times this year and would like to set up my stock rims to be my track tires. Question is what size should i run? I have searched all over the forum and have come up with multiple answers.

The car has Swift springs in the front stock in the rear


Thanks for the help!

flowrider

iTrader: (9)

What year are your wheels?

Lou

nickj718

iTrader: (1)

Sorry its a 2008

Piston1047

245 fronts and 275 rears seem to be the common go-to set-up for 08 wheels. That's what I run. I have heard of guys running 255 up front. If it is your first time out just run what you got, as long as the tires are in good condition and are a summer tire.

mikersoft

iTrader: (1)

This car needs a lot more tire on the front end to dial out understeer... So, I recommend the widest tire you can fit on the stock wheels that also stays close to the OEM O.D. of 26.1". For a 2008 with 8" wheels, I believe 245/35 is the most popular size people upgrade to (I run 255/35 on the front of my 2012 8.5" wheels).

As far as the brand, I highly recommend the Michelin PSS for all-around performance.. It's very good in the dry, but more importantly it's great in the rain so you don't need to worry about inclement weather. If you were located in the southwest or SoCal, it wouldn't matter much.. However, in the midwest, it's something to consider.. I just did a track day two weekends ago that was a total washout, but I still had a great time because my PSS turned so well in the wet.

-Mike

nickj718

iTrader: (1)

Ok so 245/35/19 in the front and 275/35/19 in the rear?

mikersoft

iTrader: (1)

275/35 is a bit too tall if paired with 245/35 (IMHO).. 275/30 would be my choice.

-Mike

nickj718

iTrader: (1)

Thats what i was thinking

nickj718

iTrader: (1)

I found another member running the following

235/35/19 and 265/30/19 no good?

lexicon72

Agree with Mike. I'm running 245/35 and 275/30 on my 08 both as a DD and on the track.

mikersoft

iTrader: (1)

They're both very close in O.D., but I personally wouldn't want to run tires with such short sidewalls.

-Mike

flowrider

iTrader: (9)

^^^^True, but they are .5" and .8" off (smaller) respectively from the stock OD.

Lou

Fsport2UR

Keep in mind also, not all tire manufactures are sized exactly the same. A 245/30 from one manufacture can actually be thicker than a 245/30 from another manufacture. I've seen some 30s look more like a 35.
Squeezing a 275 on the rear of a 08 rim will also make the side wall thicker as well.

I8ABMR

If you are going stock wheels then you are stuck with the 245/275. Just gonwith the best rubber you can. Don't go cheap

Piston1047

Like Fsport2UR said, it is good to take a look at actual width. Sites like tire rack will show the actual tread width in the specifications section. It will also show you the rim width. 275 on a 9 inch rim is the ideal width for a track application. IIRC, in the chassis tuning book I read a while back, the author said you want to run the widest tire the rim will accept safely. Ideally this would be the tire doesn't bulge to far outside the rim and doesn't stretch. He went on to say that stretching is the worst of the two options for track use since it actually deforms the contact patch of the tire. He said some racers would even run too wide of a tire in special cases based upon compound and sidewall stiffness..