You can get away with a 275/40-17 on your stock wheels for track use. As long as you have enough camber out of the front, at least -2.0 degrees, toe at zero. Brad (Argo) used 255s and got great use out of his, so you wont need that much more tire. The Miller Cup guys run on a 255 but they are on an 18" rim. 17" wheels are a little cheaper budget wise for R-comps. 275/40-17 is about the best bargain tire you are going to get for its size.

 

Do those Camber & Toe specs apply to both 17" & 18 " ?

 

I run the Steeda Ultralites they are cheap on sale at the moment $159 a corner. These will fit any big brake kit. I had mine powder coated black so not to have to deal with dirty wheels from brake dust all the time.
www.steeda.com/products/ultra_lite_satin_05.php

Also if you want some cheap R comps you can get some used ones from these guys.
www.jbracingtires.net
Depending on the amount of tread left they go for between $75 - $90 a tire. The ones I have gotten from them for $90 have 90% + tread left. I run Toyo R888s they are DOT legal not saying I would want to drive in the rain with them but if you want you can drive them on the street. Very sticky.. I like them mucho...

I have been running 265/35 front and 305/35 rear on on the staggered Ultralites but could just run the 265/35 or 275/35 all the way around.

Here is some info on alignment from Steeda as well. Hope you have a shop that knows what they are doing. I had to look around for a while before I found a place that could do a really good performance alignment.
www.steeda.com/faq/?View=entry&EntryID=5

 

For now i plan to stay with the stock wheels which are 17 " x i believe 8 "?
What is the max width u guys are using for a road course situation - Watkins Glen?

- NOT a drag strip .
Thanks

 

My car is set up with 18 x 9.5 Steeda Ultralite wheels front and rear with BFG KDW2 285/40/18 tires F/R. It is a road course track car also used as a DD. My sig details the rest of the mods. I selected the tire size as it is the same OD as stock and is about the largest you can get on the front with the car lowered. Mine has a slight rub on the left hand side but only on full lock. To go to this wide a rim you need the correct offset and the Steeda's are 45 mm.

My brother and I were recently talking about bringing my car down for a track day at the Glen but maybe not until next year. If you check out this link you can see us at Mosport. He is the fast one

https://mustangforums.com/forum/s197...riences-8.html

and go to post #73