04-16-2022, 12:52 AM | #1 |
Drives: Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 193
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Firehawk Indy 500 - best size options for SS - road and track use
OK, so I am done done with the Goodyear Eagle F1 run-flats on this car (been through 4 sets already) and I want to get a non run-flat tire that is quieter on the road but mainly with a bit more bite on the track. I am running the track wheel alignment year round. In stock form and with the stock Goodyear Eagle F1 tires the car understeers like crazy on the track, it doesn't have enough grip on the front. My goal with the new tire setup is to reduce the understeer and also have a bit more overall grip than what I currently have with the Eagle F1 ... The Indy 500 seems like a good upgrade that also doesn't break the bank.
I am a bit stuck and I don't know what is the best size tire moving forward: either all stock or wider tires. The size options available for the Indy 500 tire are: 245/40/R20 (front stock), 255/35/R20 on 8.5" wide factory rim 275/35/R20 (rear stock), 285/35/R20, 285/30/R20 on 9.5" wide factory rim How should I best mix and match the tires so that it actually feels better on the track and the road? Next year I plan on getting 18" or 19" wheels for the track only and I'll have better tires available then, but for now, I need to stick with something that will fit on the factory SS 20" wheels and be good on the road and also on the occasional track day. My car has Mag-Ride in case it matters. Thank you.
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2017 2SS stock
Last edited by Corbu; 04-16-2022 at 01:13 AM. |
04-17-2022, 04:29 PM | #2 |
Drives: '16 Garnet Red 1SS Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: College Station, TX
Posts: 3,450
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I'd get stock sizes. Chevy actually did a good job following the rule of having the tread width be up to 1/2in narrower than the wheel width.
https://motoiq.com/how-to-properly-s...r-performance/
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'16 Camaro 1SS
'18 Miata GT Gone: '01 Camaro, '14 Camaro, '90 Miata |
04-18-2022, 12:41 PM | #3 |
Drives: 23 ZL1 A10 Rapid Blue Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: MO
Posts: 1,992
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Id stay stock that 10mm of width isn't giving you much of anything at all. Good tires though great for hard street use but there's better out there in that category albeit at a higher price point. I had them on my Mustang GT/PP1 car.
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04-19-2022, 03:37 PM | #4 |
Drives: Chevrolet SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: St. Charles, MO
Posts: 1,446
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I agree with sticking with stock sizes. However, I would suggest two better do-it-all tires for your consideration:
Both of these are fantastic dry-weather tires and will hold up for track use. They are also the two best street-legal rain tires that you can get (even better than any all-season). They are easily good to below freezing temps, too. I consider them more of a "three season" tire.
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Matt Miller
2020 SS 1LE |
04-19-2022, 03:43 PM | #5 |
Drives: Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 193
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These are about $1000 more in Canada compared to the Indy 500, almost 3/4 more than a set of Indy 500. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S would have been my top choice, but it too expensive, I'd rather get almost 2 sets of Indys and have rubber to spare for the track.
I also have a set of winter tires, so this set will be used in the summer only. If I keep the stock 275/35R20 for the rear but go a tad more than stock on the front with 255/35/R20 rather than 245/40R20, would I gain a bit more front end grip on the track? I was not happy at all with the understeer I had with he Goodyear F1 in stock size; the back end I could manage with the throttle, but the weak front does not inspire confidence...
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2017 2SS stock
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04-20-2022, 06:41 AM | #6 |
Drives: 23 ZL1 A10 Rapid Blue Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: MO
Posts: 1,992
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I run the ECS and I don't recommend them, sidewall feels squishy and vague turn-in like it has to roll over before it bites, my 1LE feels like it has a hard push on the front end. Wear nice, ride nice, rain friendly, but you push it hard and it gives up really easy. I'm about to put them back on my car when I swap my winters off and I'm going to try a different alignment shop and see if that makes anything better.
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04-20-2022, 05:22 PM | #7 | |
Drives: 2016 2SS Convertible Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 576
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Quote:
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2016 2SS Convertible
Hyper Blue/Ash Gray A8 Magnetic Ride Control Dual Mode Exhaust 2019+ version Split Spoke Silver Wheels Navigation Silver Rally Stripes |
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04-20-2022, 08:27 PM | #8 | |
Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 11,625
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Quote:
Their TireRack wet traction ratings are vastly different, too: 5.8 vs 9.1, not even in the same ballpark, which my personal experience confirms to one hundred percent. Wet traction with the PS4S is unreal, at the stock SS power level the wet and puddly road surface drove almost exactly the same as dry, with the wipers on full duty.
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2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6
735 rwhp | 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley | Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers | JRE smooth idle terminator cam | LT4 FS & injectors | TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX | DSX flex fuel kit | Roto-Fab CAI | Soler 95mm LT5 TB | 1LE wheels | 1LE brakes | BMR rear cradle lockout | JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 | 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 | 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 | 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 | 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 | 6000 - 3/19/18 |
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04-20-2022, 09:48 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 90
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I run the 500's in the 285 on the oem 9.5 rim for daily driving. It fits like it should and was in stock compared to the 275 at the time.
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2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Redline Edition
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04-20-2022, 09:53 PM | #10 |
Drives: Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 193
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What do you have on the front 8.5" rim ?
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2017 2SS stock
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04-20-2022, 10:33 PM | #11 | |
Drives: 2016 2SS Convertible Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 576
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Quote:
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2016 2SS Convertible
Hyper Blue/Ash Gray A8 Magnetic Ride Control Dual Mode Exhaust 2019+ version Split Spoke Silver Wheels Navigation Silver Rally Stripes |
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04-20-2022, 10:40 PM | #12 | |
Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 11,625
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Quote:
__________________
2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6
735 rwhp | 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley | Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers | JRE smooth idle terminator cam | LT4 FS & injectors | TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX | DSX flex fuel kit | Roto-Fab CAI | Soler 95mm LT5 TB | 1LE wheels | 1LE brakes | BMR rear cradle lockout | JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 | 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 | 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 | 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 | 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 | 6000 - 3/19/18 |
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04-21-2022, 12:35 PM | #13 | |
Drives: Chevrolet SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: St. Charles, MO
Posts: 1,446
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Quote:
A few weekends ago I did a track day in Joliet, IL. Because of the forecast, I left the PS4S s on the car. The first half of the day was dry but in the high 30s (F). They did quite well, gripping well after literally just a few turns, whereas guys on Goodyears took 2-3 laps to get enough heat to work at all. some on Falkens seemed closer to my Michelins in warmup time: those tires are pretty good without any heat in them. The Falkens definitely had more grip than the PS4Ss in the dry, but the Michelins were consistent and easy to manage. Their biggest shortcoming was in putting down power out of corners - the Falkens are champs at that. Then it rained and the temps "climbed" to about 42F. We had puddles on track at times. The guys with Goodyears were nowhere, no matter how many laps they spent trying to build heat. Falkens were tolerable when the surface was wet but without standing water, but they have a relatively fast breakaway and it was clear they were not getting "switched on" fully. IME they are okay on a damp surface but don't like lots of water, and on that day the rain would keep starting up again so that the puddles never completely went away. OTOH, I just kept going out in the rain and pounded in lap after lap. There were some spots where hydroplaning was inevitable, especially on one straight where the puddles collected right in the braking zone. But recovery was always fast and easy to manage. Elsewhere, the tires worked well, especially on lateral grip. They made it pretty easy to look like a hero. Then, to get ready for the 5-hour drive home that evening, I did...absolutely nothing. That was pretty nice!
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Matt Miller
2020 SS 1LE |
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04-21-2022, 01:30 PM | #14 |
Drives: 2016 2SS Convertible Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 576
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MM,
That's great info, thanks! I think I'll go with the PS4S's now. Don't ever "plan" to drive the car below 40, but if I "have" to, I'll be covered. Too bad you're too far away, I'd sell you my OEM GY's to use on the track for a good price!
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2016 2SS Convertible
Hyper Blue/Ash Gray A8 Magnetic Ride Control Dual Mode Exhaust 2019+ version Split Spoke Silver Wheels Navigation Silver Rally Stripes |
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