I've been very happy with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport as a street tire, but they've been a huge disappointment on the track. Grip is mediocre and wear is pitiful. I've just destroyed my second set, both after just one track day. In both cases, the outside edge of the front right was totally shredded. I can accept that high wear is to be expected with a heavy car and a not-all-that-good driver, but one track day is unreasonable. When I complained to Michelin they just wagged their finger at me and said that these are not track tires.

They suggested the Sport Cup or Sport Cup 2 but neither looks like a good choice. The Cup 2 doesn't have an 18" that'll fit the rears. The Sport Cup that'll fit the front is only rated for a 91 load (spec is 95, almost 200# heavier). I'm not smart enough to assess the risks but that doesn't seem like a wise choice when your *** is on the line.

What track tires are others running and what sort of life are you getting out of them?

 

According to my info, you only need a 91 load index (that what my 507 came with). For an 18 inch track tire, you may want to check out the Toyo Proxes R888.


I also expect to get several track days out of a set of tires. I have tried Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R and will try Michelin Sport Cup 2 next (on 19 inch).

 

I also find the PSS to be a horrible track tire. Too much roll, not nearly enough grip, just awful. As soon as I kill these off I'm moving to a Nitto NT01, possibly the NT05. Have heard great things about them. Loved the R888's I had on my 996TT for track time, but unfortunately they're not made in a compatible size for the C63 in 19".

 

R888's are a complete joke once they fall off. I will never own another set, they are horrible after their peak life. I made the mistake once in my e46 and quickly got rid of them for RA1's much better tread pattern and much more reliable and confident grip (can also buy them shaved).

The NT01s are a good option too, but not sure of sizing for the C63 as I don't plan on tracking mine.... I actually have a set of et40 OZ ultraleggeras 18x9's with RA1 275/35 sitting in my garage waiting on someone to take them off my hands...

 

I used to track the PSS's too. They would roll and squirm. I switched to the Toyo Proxes R888's and haven't looked back. A lot more grip and much more predictable. They seem to be more durable at the same time. I'm on set 7 for the year.

I've been interested in what others are running seriously on these cars as well. I'm always open for something better!

Blkrokt- let me know your thoughts on the NT01's.

 

NT01 is by far a better tire.

 

Yeah I loved the R888s. As for the NT01's, their 19" sizing is very limited. Not sure if I can get a 305 tire on the 10" rim out back (that's the only thing close)..... plus might have to go with a BS conversion...
http://www.nittotire.com/race-tires/...d-course-tire/

The NT05 look like a good choice too, and I'm sure they will fit with max rubber on the car as-is.
http://www.nittotire.com/passenger-t...formance-tire/

 

The NT05 is a drag racing tire, while the NT01 is intended for road courses.

Never mind, just realized there is a NT05 and NT05R and they are completely different. The NT05 is a max performance summer tire with 200 tread wear index. Not the same category as the NT01.

 

The Dunlop Direzza ZII is pretty decent.

http://www.onehotlap.com/2012/11/dun...i-tire-as.html



Quite a few of the Black Series W204 C63s came with Dunlops. Not sure which model off the top of my head.

As an aside, the new Dunlop Sport Maxx RT is a pretty darn good max performance summer tire, too (Note: this is more of a street-focused tire).

 

The original tire on the C63 BS was the Dunlop Sport Maxx Race. Tread wear index 80 and 600$ a piece....
It is available in the sizes needed for the C63 (non BS) as well as the BS, but only in 19 inch.

 

Right. But from what I can tell, these NT05 are similar to the Bridgestone RE-01R. Just a step below something like the NT01 or R888. Seem to like heat cycles better as well.

The only other option in my eyes would be to do the R888 in a 265 out back. Although I don't like that it's more narrow than my 275 PSS, I know they run a bit wide/square, and the grip will make it worthwhile. Unless there's a chance I can fit a 295 back there.....

I think I'm leaning towards the R888s. There's just nothing else in an R-compound 19" that fits.


Bigtickets - what size are you running F/R in the R888's?

 

How about the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R, that's OEM tire for the Z28 Camaro. I think though that's more of a road course tire than a quarter mile/drag strip tire.

 

In a 19" only available in 235/245 F and then steps up to 305 R. Won't work.
Plus people seem to hate them.

 

I see, I forgot about the lack of sizes. Will have to do some more reading, haven't seen many negative reviews on it.

 

Why even tell Michelin you tracked the car - PSS have a warranty don't incriminate yourself.

Now what to run on the track really depends on the size, and there are limited choices. The R888 seems to get good reviews. The ContiForceContact are available in some sizes that work for the C63 as well.

 

Its best to get a dedicated square setup for the track anyways. That will give you more tire options than factory sizing will give you.

 

Interesting idea, but I don't see 235's on all four corners being much fun. . .

Seriously, is this something you've had success with on the C63, or is it just theory? What sizes have you used?

 

I haven't tracked my C63 as it just isn't a great track car compared to other options.

I had s square setup with 275's all the way around on my e46 M3 and had no rubbing issues with camber set on 18's.

I honestly don't know how wide of rubber you would be able to fit on the front of a C63 with 18" wheels, but you would definitely have a more balanced car with a square setup.

 

Nobody is putting 235/245 rubber all the way around. Not relevant.

 

Perhaps a bad attempt at humor, but the intended point was that skinny rubber seems to be the only way we could get to a square setup on the C63, and I'm sure we all agree that's a bad idea. I've not seen anyone try to run anything much wider than a 245 on the front and gut feel is that there's not room for a 265/275 tire up there. Has anyone tried fat fronts?

 

I run the 245/40/18's up front starting at 32 psi cold. Out back they're 275/35/18's starting at 32 psi cold. Both on a warm track.

I'm thinking about trying a set of the same size NT01's. You guys that run these, what are you starting them off at? What's your warm running pressure as well?

 

I ran 255/35-19 PSS on a 9" wide front (with offset somewhere around ET 48) and a 275/30-19 on 9.5" rear. The interesting thing is that while there was no rubbing because of the width - I drive a Canadian APX coupe on OEM suspension, so 10 mm lower than US cars - the increase in HEIGHT of the sidewall made them occasionally rub on the tread portion on the fender liner during hard braking or trail braking into a corner (at the track - no rubbing whatsoever on the street). You could go 255 on the front if you reduce the aspect ratio further (so 255/30-19 - but that would be so little tire that it likely wouldn't support the load of the car. Agree that the PSS is definitely NOT a good "track-worthy" street tire - it's mediocre at best. Even the OEM Contis had considerably more grip.

For the track, OEM 18's with Toyo R888s (245/40-18 F & 265/35-18 R) seem to be the best option. They seem to like higher pressures than most (I was runnign them at over 40+ psi F and R hot -- IIRC ~44 F & ~42 R) and they are quite decent. As for their life, shaving them and properly heat-cycling them with 24 hours to cure prior to use actually prolongs their life considerably as they don't heat up nearly as much due to the shallower thread (this is from my experience with tracking the 928, but the difference in life is roughly double if you start with shaved to 4/32" and heat-cycled tires than with new ones with 6/32"). I know it sounds counter-intutuive, but it's true. The only caveat is - you don't want to get caught in the rain driving back home from the track with shaved R-comps... or as Jeremy Clarkson exquisitely put it in the last Top Gear episoide, "[you will] have many poos coming out of [your] anii".

P.S. And, shaved 265 R888s appear to have the same if not wider contact patch than 275 PSS - not to mention the MUCH stickier rubber and stiffer sidewalls.

 

Get this months issue of Grassroots Motorsports, they test extreme performance tires on the track, the BFG Rival and new Bridgstones came out on top. I would assume the C63 suffers from a lack of negative camber at the front. I am running -1.5 up front and have minimal wear issues on my C55. I am running 37 psi as well since the car is heavy.

 

“.....OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE FRONT TIRE WAS TOTALLY SHREDDED”



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Rear link bushes P/N 502226-2J $380