Wheels & Tires Discuss rims and tires here.

My BBS Boss 302 rims just arrived! Now what tires?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-17-2010, 02:20 PM
  #1  
macmovieman
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
 
macmovieman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 164
Default My BBS Boss 302 rims just arrived! Now what tires?

I was really thinking about some R compound tires for these 18 inch rims but I am also using my car as a daily driver? I would like to order some tires today but I do not want to rush this either. What is the best bang for the buck and I do not mind spending more if the tires are going to perform. What rubber would you want to wrap these in?



macmovieman is offline  
Old 09-17-2010, 06:35 PM
  #2  
Jazzer The Cat
Retired Moderator
 
Jazzer The Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 9,235
Default

Don't ask me, I will send you straight out to the piggy-bank and smash that beast with a hammer

Tires are the #1 item in controlling your ride, next to the driver. I ask two questions when posts such as yours appear before me..

Tires should be chosen by the drivers needs and decided by his budget... what are they?

You are in California and actually the "to be" and I will be hitting up Disneyland for a 5 day pass coming up here on Oct. 1, so very cold temps will not be an issue. Are you planning on keeping the OEM wheels for Winter/rainy season driving? I want corner grip, so run R888's and love them, but would recommend an RA1 if you find the sizes you want.

What are your needs in terms of grip? 1/4 mile... launching..... twisties

Jazzer

PS. Hit up Choosing a new tire thread for TONS of things you need to consider PRIOR to purchasing tires!
Jazzer The Cat is offline  
Old 09-17-2010, 06:57 PM
  #3  
macmovieman
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
 
macmovieman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 164
Default

Thanks Jazzer and I think I am going to keep my 19s for any winter driving and keep my 18s for the track. I will check out the RA1 and to be honest I never really have a budget. I want the best tires for the money and would not mind if they were $350 each but $200 would be better. I am only interested making the car corner and 1/4 mile is not important to me. I want to go fast through the twisties.
macmovieman is offline  
Old 09-18-2010, 09:56 AM
  #4  
Jazzer The Cat
Retired Moderator
 
Jazzer The Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 9,235
Default

mac...... I love you!

Depending on how hard-core you want to go, you can get a set of Hoosiers that would be 100% off-road only, but figure they will cost you every cent of that $350 a tire. My R888's are DOT approved on the street and run them from April to October and swap to my PS2's in Winter/rain months.

Jazzer
Jazzer The Cat is offline  
Old 09-19-2010, 01:15 AM
  #5  
macmovieman
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
 
macmovieman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 164
Default Would you consider buying these used tires? Toyo R888s

I need to buy 4 275/35/18 tires and when I was looking around I found these for $145 each? LINK They state that they have 75% of the tread still remaining? What do you think?
macmovieman is offline  
Old 09-19-2010, 07:08 AM
  #6  
Jazzer The Cat
Retired Moderator
 
Jazzer The Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 9,235
Default

I would NOT buy them

An "R" compound has only soo many heat-cycles within them prior to them giving up their optimum grip. In some circumstances, this grip will last well past the warning bars. In other cases, they grip can be gone WAY before the tires even get to the warning bars, but is admittedly, not likely.

This link is full of many, many, many of the same such worn tires and can just about guarantee they are tires that were raced and heat-cycled out to the point where the grip has been substantially lost.

Just take a look at the "Additional information" section:
All tires have been used and have 3-5 heat cycles on them.
Tires were shaved to 3/32 then used


Jazzer
Jazzer The Cat is offline  
Old 09-19-2010, 08:32 AM
  #7  
macmovieman
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
 
macmovieman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 164
Default

Originally Posted by Jazzer The Cat
I would NOT buy them

An "R" compound has only soo many heat-cycles within them prior to them giving up their optimum grip. In some circumstances, this grip will last well past the warning bars. In other cases, they grip can be gone WAY before the tires even get to the warning bars, but is admittedly, not likely.

This link is full of many, many, many of the same such worn tires and can just about guarantee they are tires that were raced and heat-cycled out to the point where the grip has been substantially lost.

Just take a look at the "Additional information" section:
All tires have been used and have 3-5 heat cycles on them.
Tires were shaved to 3/32 then used


Jazzer
That is exactly what I needed to hear and thanks for straight talk. That brings me down to the RA1, and the NT01 or NT05.

Last edited by macmovieman; 09-19-2010 at 08:35 AM.
macmovieman is offline  
Old 09-19-2010, 01:02 PM
  #8  
Jazzer The Cat
Retired Moderator
 
Jazzer The Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 9,235
Default

If you can find the RA1's in your size.... hands down the BEST short of full-out race only tire

Jazzer
Jazzer The Cat is offline  
Old 09-19-2010, 02:38 PM
  #9  
macmovieman
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
 
macmovieman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 164
Default

Originally Posted by Jazzer The Cat
If you can find the RA1's in your size.... hands down the BEST short of full-out race only tire

Jazzer
In a perfect world I would want the RA1 in a 295/40ZR18 or 285/40ZR18 all the way around the car but they only come in a 275/35ZR18 and a 305/35ZR18! The Nitto NT-555 comes in a 285/40R18 and a 295/45R18. The NT05 comes in a 275/40R18 and a 295/45R18. The NT555RII will not work. The NT555R has a 285/40ZR18 and a 305/40ZR18! The NT01 has a 275/40ZR18. The NT05R has a 285/40R18 (LL) light load. The R888 really only has the 275/40ZR18 and that is not a bad way to go but I was hoping for a little wider tire.

As you can see I am trying to find the perfect tire but this seems like it is all about compromises? So do I get the RA1 in the 275/35ZR18 (I really would like to fill up the wheel well with a 40 and not a 35). On the Nitto side I have some options with the Nitto in the Nitto NT-555 285/40R18, or the NT555R has a 285/40ZR18 and a 305/40ZR18, or the NT05R with the 285/40R18?

I can open up my options if I decide to go with a 275 and can do the R888 with the 275/40ZR18 and the NT05. Man I would love the see the RA1 in a 285/40/18 or 295/40/18. This is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be?
macmovieman is offline  
Old 09-19-2010, 03:28 PM
  #10  
Jazzer The Cat
Retired Moderator
 
Jazzer The Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 9,235
Default

Several questions for you here...

What size wheels are you running, both front and back?
Unless you are running at least a 10" wheel, I would steer away (< pun intended ) from the 285's or 295's.

Why do you want a 40 series tire?
Are you trying to fill the wheel well via tire profile? I happen to think this is not the way to go, as you are only limiting your suspension travel at the expense of reduced turn-in response

The NT555's are nowhere near the tire you are looking at in the RA1's or R888's, so just flat drop them off your list.

The NT555"R" is really a combo street/strip tire and a compromise for the 1/4 mile and open track work, so the NT555"R"II would be a better choice, IMO.

The NT01 is a fine tire, but would go "R"II's instead

*just realized, you have two threads here and are related, I will merge them*

Jazzer
Jazzer The Cat is offline  


Quick Reply: My BBS Boss 302 rims just arrived! Now what tires?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:56 AM.