Racing Tires

1FASTC7 · 03-27-2014, 03:43 PM

The stock Michelin tires grip good. However, does anyone know if the cup tires or better are available for the stock z51 rims?

C7Driver · 04-05-2014, 05:02 PM

I doubt if you will find a better tire, for the track, that fit the stock Z51 rims than the Michelin Super Sport Summer tires that come with the car. Just have to remember they are Summer tires and don't like cold temps. There are several on-line tire reviews that give this tire very good marks.
Some folks have swapped them out for the Michelin All Season 3 tires but they have no plans to track their cars and wanted a tire with a better wear factor. The A/S 3 tires are NOT run flats so keep that in mind.
Hope this helps.

Searious · 04-07-2014, 07:38 AM

I've been looking around quite a bit - maybe the Proxes R888. 285/35ZR20 in rear, 245/35ZR19 in front. They're R-Comps and I would be fairly sure they would outperform the PSS. Doesn't look like the wider tires will fit on stock rims per Toyo's specs. No testing or concrete data on my part, just going off R-Comps normally outperforming anything else (despite how good the stock tires are). Not run-flats, of course.

kalimus · 04-07-2014, 08:00 AM

At what temperatures do the stock tires perform the best? I was driving the other day with temps in the mid-to-high 60's, and they still break loose a bit under WOT at around 5k RPM. Is that normal?

Searious · 04-07-2014, 10:56 AM

The real question is what the tire temp was. When autocrossing I normally want as much heat as possible in my tires (note: this is for the M Roadster I run while I break in the C7) and don't spray them down to cool until they're close to 120°F+. Some tires are best at even higher temps. Since the C7 just displays "warm", I would take a temp gun to them and see how it acts at different temps. Even at ideal temp, this car has enough torque to break any tire loose if you really push it!

GQ4Life · 05-05-2014, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searious

The real question is what the tire temp was. When autocrossing I normally want as much heat as possible in my tires (note: this is for the M Roadster I run while I break in the C7) and don't spray them down to cool until they're close to 120°F+. Some tires are best at even higher temps. Since the C7 just displays "warm", I would take a temp gun to them and see how it acts at different temps. Even at ideal temp, this car has enough torque to break any tire loose if you really push it!

PSS like heat. At track once warmed good. A lap or two they really grabbed. I forgot to take temp so only temp I have is after sitting in the put awhile. Was 110°
I'd call michelin for exact range but I'd guess one you get over 120° they start to get real sticky but keep under 200 I would think.. I'll Google

gthal · 05-06-2014, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalimus

At what temperatures do the stock tires perform the best? I was driving the other day with temps in the mid-to-high 60's, and they still break loose a bit under WOT at around 5k RPM. Is that normal?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GQ4Life

PSS like heat. At track once warmed good. A lap or two they really grabbed. I forgot to take temp so only temp I have is after sitting in the put awhile. Was 110°
I'd call michelin for exact range but I'd guess one you get over 120° they start to get real sticky but keep under 200 I would think.. I'll Google

Agreed... most high performance tires REALLY need a lot of heat to grip well. Driving to Walmart and back won't do it either

On a warm day, take the car for a 15 minute spirited drive to get the tires up to temp and they'll grip a ton then.

Keep in mind, however, that even the grippiest tires will break loose with 465 ft/lbs of torque. The tire can't overcome physics

Searious · 05-07-2014, 07:23 AM

Well, I suppose you could fill the back of the car with bags of concrete. F=µmg and all that...too bad it's also a=F/m. Darn physics keeps trying to slow us down!

GQ4Life · 06-12-2014, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gthal

Agreed... most high performance tires REALLY need a lot of heat to grip well. Driving to Walmart and back won't do it either

On a warm day, take the car for a 15 minute spirited drive to get the tires up to temp and they'll grip a ton then.

Keep in mind, however, that even the grippiest tires will break loose with 465 ft/lbs of torque. The tire can't overcome physics

wish they made a stickie tire like pilot cups, or r888 or a048 but with more tread for the rain

03-27-2014, 03:43 PM	#1
1FASTC7 Drives: 2014 Corvette Stingray Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 80	Racing Tires The stock Michelin tires grip good. However, does anyone know if the cup tires or better are available for the stock z51 rims?

04-07-2014, 07:38 AM	#3
Searious Drives: Crystal Red C7 2LT Z51 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 26	I've been looking around quite a bit - maybe the Proxes R888. 285/35ZR20 in rear, 245/35ZR19 in front. They're R-Comps and I would be fairly sure they would outperform the PSS. Doesn't look like the wider tires will fit on stock rims per Toyo's specs. No testing or concrete data on my part, just going off R-Comps normally outperforming anything else (despite how good the stock tires are). Not run-flats, of course. __________________ C7 Status: 1100 - 2/10/14 3000 - 2/12/14 TPW - 3/17/14 Born - 3/20/14 R8C - Pickup on 4/3/14!

04-07-2014, 08:00 AM	#4
kalimus Drives: '14 Z51 3LT Stingray and '13 Cruze Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: US of A Posts: 1,346	At what temperatures do the stock tires perform the best? I was driving the other day with temps in the mid-to-high 60's, and they still break loose a bit under WOT at around 5k RPM. Is that normal? __________________ "We have a mental health problem disguised as a gun problem, and a tyranny problem disguised as a security problem." "What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?" -Antonin Scalia

04-07-2014, 10:56 AM	#5
Searious Drives: Crystal Red C7 2LT Z51 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 26	The real question is what the tire temp was. When autocrossing I normally want as much heat as possible in my tires (note: this is for the M Roadster I run while I break in the C7) and don't spray them down to cool until they're close to 120°F+. Some tires are best at even higher temps. Since the C7 just displays "warm", I would take a temp gun to them and see how it acts at different temps. Even at ideal temp, this car has enough torque to break any tire loose if you really push it! __________________ C7 Status: 1100 - 2/10/14 3000 - 2/12/14 TPW - 3/17/14 Born - 3/20/14 R8C - Pickup on 4/3/14!

05-07-2014, 07:23 AM	#8
Searious Drives: Crystal Red C7 2LT Z51 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 26	Well, I suppose you could fill the back of the car with bags of concrete. F=µmg and all that...too bad it's also a=F/m. Darn physics keeps trying to slow us down! __________________ C7 Status: 1100 - 2/10/14 3000 - 2/12/14 TPW - 3/17/14 Born - 3/20/14 R8C - Pickup on 4/3/14!

04-05-2014, 05:02 PM	#2
C7Driver Drives: 2014 Z51 Lime Rock Green Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New England Posts: 148	I doubt if you will find a better tire, for the track, that fit the stock Z51 rims than the Michelin Super Sport Summer tires that come with the car. Just have to remember they are Summer tires and don't like cold temps. There are several on-line tire reviews that give this tire very good marks. Some folks have swapped them out for the Michelin All Season 3 tires but they have no plans to track their cars and wanted a tire with a better wear factor. The A/S 3 tires are NOT run flats so keep that in mind. Hope this helps.