Street tires/Open track use

[Mobil1Mach]

I'm currently running BFG KDW 275/40/18s on all four corners. However, I believe one of my tires is defective and is causing the car to pull left under deceleration. The car has been realigned over and over and each time I've been told "its the tires." I picked up the tires used with my 00R wheels but they appeared to be in excellent condition with lots of tread left.

So my issue is this - I need new tires that I can drive to and from the track on but that are going to give me decent performance once I'm there. Recommendations?

 

[99COBRA2881]

What spring setup is on the car? Has the car been bumpsteered?

 

[Mobil1Mach]

What spring setup is on the car? Has the car been bumpsteered?

Yes, it is bumpsteered.

H&R race springs w/ Bilstein HDs.

 

[99COBRA2881]

Flip the tires side to side to see if the problem follows?

 

[wheelhopper]

BFG KDWs are terrible combination tires. I would go with something like Falken 615s or Nitto NT05s.

 

[WutApex]

I like my NT05s....but they are the only intermediate that I've tried.

 

[Mobil1Mach]

Flipped them, the problem flipped with them.

The KDWs came with my wheels. My plan has been to use them up but the pulling left has changed that plan.

 

[99COBRA2881]

Looks like you've done the work. Lots of folks just want to throw money at a problem and then when that doesn't fix it, then they ask the necessary questions.

 

[DocB]

Street tires are for the street.
Track tires are for the track.

However, you might want to consider the R888 as a good all around compromise, if you must.

 

[Mobil1Mach]

Street tires are for the street.
Track tires are for the track.

However, you might want to consider the R888 as a good all around compromise, if you must.

Agreed but I am not in a position to store multiple sets of wheels/tires.

 

[Mobil1Mach]

Looks like you've done the work. Lots of folks just want to throw money at a problem and then when that doesn't fix it, then they ask the necessary questions.

Believe me, I'd rather spend very little money on an easy fix than put up $1000+ for new tires.

 

[MFE]

The Hankook RS-3 is widely viewed as a virtual R-compound with real tread. A friend of mine, fellow instructor, drives a 2011 Mustang GT, and I'm usually able to make it hard for him keep up. This last time I was on track with him, I was running NT01 R-comps and I could not keep up with him. I figured he'd also swapped to R-comps. No, he hadn't...he was running Hankook RS-3's. A lot of the local autocrossers are running them too, instead of R-comps, and I'm talking Nationals contenders, not joe schmoe out on a Sunday afternoon.

Here's video of me trying to keep up with the Mustang I mentioned. Even when traffic cleared, I couldn't catch him, and that's not usually the case. NASA FIR West night event Warner.wmv - YouTube

 

[KILRSVT]

Street tires are for the street.
Track tires are for the track.

However, you might want to consider the R888 as a good all around compromise, if you must.

I have R888 can't stand how delicate they are with tire pressure they like running lower tire pressures thinking of selling them and getting NT-05 cant find the tire size I want with NT-01

 

[a1yola]

I used to have bridgstone RE11's on my 18" saleens and now run RE01R's (older version) on my cobra R's. Both tires are great and don't really require too much fire pressure adjustment. I usually set them around 32-33psi cold and run them like that all day. On e these wear down I plan to try out the RS3's.

 

[STAMPEDE3]

Flipped them, the problem flipped with them.

The KDWs came with my wheels. My plan has been to use them up but the pulling left has changed that plan.

Since they are all the same size did you move them front to back?

If it is on the front moving it to the rear should not affect it pulling.

In all my years fooling with tires/alignments I never came across one causing pulling only on decel.
Not saying it can't but just strange.


What are your alignment specs?

 

[gcassidy]

Agree. Next time you're at the track, if you have four sessions, try it on all four corners.

Might even have the tire flipped on the wheel. Maybe they'll see in not beaded in properly.