Advan A052s in 265-295/35/18 or RS4 in 265-295/40/18

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Kev608

I've got 295/30ZR18 R888R up front and 315/30ZR18 NT01 in the rear. I haven't actually tried the 275/35ZR18 NT01. I feel like it'll throw the geometry off too much. I'd have to move to the 305/35ZR18 rears. I may grab a set for science.

Hows the stock fitment for 315/30?

[Kev608]

Originally Posted by NYG

Hows the stock fitment for 315/30?

Not sure yet. I have to get camber added for sure. I'll post the setup once it's on the car and not rubbing, but that won't be til WI decides it's spring.

Both front and rear are exactly 1.3" shorter than stock. Also cutting more weight compared to the 35 aspect tire combo. Along with the MP HAS kit, this will drastically lower the center of gravity and shouldn't require corner balancing the car to compensate. If I need to pull out the heat gun to make some plastic fit these tires that's fine. My only concern is the suspension rubbing.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Kev608

Not sure yet. I have to get camber added for sure. I'll post the setup once it's on the car and not rubbing, but that won't be til WI decides it's spring.

Both front and rear are exactly 1.3" shorter than stock. Also cutting more weight compared to the 35 aspect tire combo. Along with the MP HAS kit, this will drastically lower the center of gravity and shouldn't require corner balancing the car to compensate. If I need to pull out the heat gun to make some plastic fit these tires that's fine. My only concern is the suspension rubbing.

Please let me know!

[Kung Fu English]

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

After lowering my car with Nitron coilovers, I don’t see a lot of room to go much wider without using spacers or custom wheels. The tires, when cold, have a tendency to flex quite a lot at the sidewalls, and I actually knocked one of my camera mounts off just backing out of the garage due to insufficient clearance. My coilover sway bar mounting point is already really close to the front wheel. Wider is nice for grip, but it starts to get a little hairy on OEM 513Ms, and shorter has the effect of shortening the overall gearing. I go to really fast tracks like Monza, so I don’t want shorter gearing limiting my top speed or making the car any lower than it already is, which risks damaging my brake cooling scoops.

I’m more risk-averse since my crash last year, so I’m sticking with the OEM sizes.

This is some of my concern about going shorter as well. I'm running 275/35/18 square RS4 right now and I really dislike the shorter gearing and lower clearance.

That said, going down to a 255 front from 275 doesn't seem great, either.

On the other hand, going from 275/35/18 front to 265/35/18 fronts that are EVEN SHORTER than what I have now, which is already -1.2 cm shorter than stock, is also not inticing. Sure the rears at 295/35/18 are taller than what I have now, but still shorter than stock.

That's where the OEM AD052 sizes sound good, even though they aren't as wide. And it's also why the 265-295/40/18 RS4s are compelling (or 275/40/18 fronts but I know those are a real tight squeeze).

FWIW I'm running on Apex 10" F and 11" R wide wheels.

[nicknaz]

Can you roll the fenders and knock out the fender liner to run a 305 square setup on f8x?

[z3papa]

I tried the 265/295 Yokohama A052 setup and hated it. The tremendous rear grip far out paced the front grip and I found myself waiting, waiting.....waiting for the front to take a full set to track power out. Came away wondering what I could do to utilize the rear grip and opted to sell the fronts and get Bridgestone RE71R 285/30-18's. Worked like a charm except driver wasn't up to snuff at the SCCA Nat's. Sold the car, sold the wheels and tires and on to something else. Word of advice is these tires run really wide. If you can get the 295's up front and run that square, that's the ticket.

[FlyingLow78]

Hindsight is 20/20 (in 2020) and front camber is the name of the game for the A052s. I have -2.2 degrees now and I’m wishing I had opted for -3.0. I am replacing my fronts due to outer shoulder wear before the rest of the tire has worn out. Otherwise, these are outstanding sticky tires.

[Kung Fu English]

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

Hindsight is 20/20 (in 2020) and front camber is the name of the game for the A052s. I have -2.2 degrees now and I’m wishing I had opted for -3.0. I am replacing my fronts due to outer shoulder wear before the rest of the tire has worn out. Otherwise, these are outstanding sticky tires.

OEM sizes you think are best still?

That's where I'm leaning, with camber plates.

[jfritz27]

Hey NYG, not to derail this thread, but curious as to what you feel are optimal hot pressures on your NT01's? I'll be switching to your exact setup for 2020
Thank you kindly...

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by Kung Fu English

OEM sizes you think are best still?

That's where I'm leaning, with camber plates.

I don’t know if OEM sizes are best, but I don’t have any reservations about sticking with them.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Kev608

Ok, will the 295/30 R888R will still have more grip than the 275/35 NT01?

I've tried both. I used a set of R888R when my provider ran out of NT01. My experience is that when fresh, the R888R offer very decent grip that is quite superior to fresh NT01. However, the R888R heat cycle out very fast and the grip falls off significantly to below the NT01 levels after only a few heat cycles. The NT01 is much more consistent throughout it's life and continues to offer decent grip down to the cord. I find the NT01 to be one of the better compromises for HPDE/lapping days for the cost conscious track rat. The R888R, when new, is great for competitive time arrack events.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by jfritz27

Hey NYG, not to derail this thread, but curious as to what you feel are optimal hot pressures on your NT01's? I'll be switching to your exact setup for 2020
Thank you kindly...

Hey bud, sorry this reply comes so late.

Anything less than 35 degrees is what works for me. 35 and up gets greasy for me but some of the fastest times I've seen have been claimed at 36-38 psi. I can push the limit at under 35 but I did deal with a LOT of heat last season from the brakes which will change things this season.

[fanatic1]

Tires now have eight sessions or roughly 2 track days. Not at all unhappy with the wear and really happy with the performance. Benefit of camber set for slicks on the last three sessions, saving outer shoulder (-3.7)

[F80Speed77]

That means they have some grip!!! Looks like you can go higher on camber or maybe more tire pressure?

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by F80Speed77

That means they have some grip!!! Looks like you can go higher on camber or maybe more tire pressure?

Really good grip, 1:26 at streets of Willow is only 1.3 seconds off of slicks. Outer shoulder wear was from running -2.6° “street“ setting on the first few sessions.

[OhioRiderAaron]

Wear looks good!

[jfritz27]

Originally Posted by NYG

Hey bud, sorry this reply comes so late.

Anything less than 35 degrees is what works for me. 35 and up gets greasy for me but some of the fastest times I've seen have been claimed at 36-38 psi. I can push the limit at under 35 but I did deal with a LOT of heat last season from the brakes which will change things this season.

No worries -- thanks! I've read canaut's analysis about going quite high for the fronts (40+), so may try shooting for ~37 and go from there.

[jfritz27]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

Tires now have eight sessions or roughly 2 track days. Not at all unhappy with the wear and really happy with the performance. Benefit of camber set for slicks on the last three sessions, saving outer shoulder (-3.7)

Nice.... what sizes? (sorry if I missed that somewhere)

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by jfritz27

Nice.... what sizes? (sorry if I missed that somewhere)

265/295 on 10/11" wheels

[NYG]

Originally Posted by jfritz27

No worries -- thanks! I've read canaut's analysis about going quite high for the fronts (40+), so may try shooting for ~37 and go from there.

40 is very atypical to what you see between Porsche/BMW/Corvette drivers on the NT01 but that doesn't mean it doesn't work for other drivers. You can google "NT01 hot tire pressures" to see what the general consensus is. Lots of threads out there.

I go higher in the front as well to counter a little bit of understeer. I'm at 35 psi front/32 psi rear on warm days in the NE (Limerock/Glen). NJMP gets really hot so I use pyro to figure out where the pressures are right.

[jfritz27]

Originally Posted by NYG

40 is very atypical to what you see between Porsche/BMW/Corvette drivers on the NT01 but that doesn't mean it doesn't work for other drivers. You can google "NT01 hot tire pressures" to see what the general consensus is. Lots of threads out there.

I go higher in the front as well to counter a little bit of understeer. I'm at 35 psi front/32 psi rear on warm days in the NE (Limerock/Glen). NJMP gets really hot so I use pyro to figure out where the pressures are right.

Thanks.... do you have NJMP or Limerock on your calendar over next couple months? Plan to do my first day at Limerock with SCDA on 8/17

[NYG]

Originally Posted by jfritz27

Thanks.... do you have NJMP or Limerock on your calendar over next couple months? Plan to do my first day at Limerock with SCDA on 8/17

I'll be at Thompson Speedway on June 27th with SCDA.

Only other event I have scheduled right now is August 28th, 29th, 30th @ Watkins Glen with NASA. I'm trying to fit as much of LRP/Glen as possible this season.