Optimal Wheel size for HPDEs? Specifics inside

[aventari]

I have almost the exact same setup, and TRM 15x8 with 225 RS3's work incredible.

Video of me from the last track day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGOc3yCzyEU

I drive it on the street with the same tires too, no problems

[GrandRoyaL]

or do the same as i did... don´t shave but run the 1st event on the rain... hehehe

[JRKOUPE]

shave....or dont buy r tires...

unshaven r tire...is a RAIN tire.....

[phenryiv1]

I don't know why you're shaving tires for an hpde.

I'm not planning on it.

[Danny]

I don't know why you're shaving tires for an hpde.

[yeaseth]

trm's 15x8 with 225s work great

[JRKOUPE]

I found a new set for $400. Also had a shaved set available. Seemed fairly reasonable. Is shaving to 3/32" losing too much usable life?

I didnt read the whole thread..just skimmed it.....so IM sorry if I missed a detail...but...

I track my e30..for over 5 yrs...I run 7's on 225/50(RA1).....I just dont like the car's looks on 205's.....lol.....Id buy 8's now if I were looking....

car is nimble.....can place it any where.....and tires last me like 30-40 heat cycles...ez...Ive seen a shave extend tire life!...less heat/chunking

I shave them all the time!.....and I drive on them to events. Dont do 3/32..I do a FAT 4/32.....

not shaving can lead to chunking and just bad tire wear...and the squirm will be noticeable.

I love this forum.....but often some of the info given is just not correct......

all in all most didnt like the 888's...but for DE they are fine...

[unevolved]

Yeah, for an HPDE, shaving tires is almost literally throwing money away.

[kts]

I found a new set for $400. Also had a shaved set available. Seemed fairly reasonable. Is shaving to 3/32" losing too much usable life?

For HPDE I'd probably run them unshaved to get more use out of them. You're not fighting for those extra hundredths of a second like you would be in a competitive event like an autox/wheel to wheel/etc

[phenryiv1]

For track days, the 888's are fine. You can probably find quite a few little used 888's in that size for cheap since Spec Miata and Spec E30 have gone to the new Toyo RR for this year. The PRO3 guys are sunsetting the 888 as well (though ours are 225) since nobody likes them.

Ideally, look for a used set. When they are new and unshaven, 888's are kinda slippery IMHO. If you can find a set with a couple heat cycles, you should be able to get a full set for hella cheaper and they will probably feel better than a brand new set.

I found a new set for $400. Also had a shaved set available. Seemed fairly reasonable. Is shaving to 3/32" losing too much usable life?

[djjerme]

For track days, the 888's are fine. You can probably find quite a few little used 888's in that size for cheap since Spec Miata and Spec E30 have gone to the new Toyo RR for this year. The PRO3 guys are sunsetting the 888 as well (though ours are 225) since nobody likes them.

Ideally, look for a used set. When they are new and unshaven, 888's are kinda slippery IMHO. If you can find a set with a couple heat cycles, you should be able to get a full set for hella cheaper and they will probably feel better than a brand new set.

[phenryiv1]

Bumping this up to ask a followup question...what about the R888s? I have found some new R888s in a 205/50/15 and from the looks of wheelhop's pic it seems to fit well on a 15x8 while saving me about $150 on this first set of tires.

Dropping $1000+ on the initial investment is a bit steep. I was hoping ot get it around $800 but that isn't going to happen unless I get something like RT615Ks and Drag wheels in a 15x7.

I can get TRM C1s in 15x8 and R888s for about $850-ish.

[M-technik-3]

Nearly every E30 at lemons was running 15's as well.

[BenM]

+1 to everyone's recommendation about 205/50-15 or 225/45-15.

I've been running 235/40-17s for the past 3yrs (not by choice due to E36 5-lug) and even though they provide a great steering feeling, you loose some of the "nimble" feeling that the E30 is known for. I'm still on a set of Bridgestone RE01 that are almost done and then I'll be switching to 235/40-17 G-Force R1

[Bimmerman325i]

Is there not also a structural difference between an R888 and say an RS3?

just about everything.... R comps have stiffer sidewalls for starters.