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Track experiences with a 295/40 tire?

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Anyone here ever track on a 295/40 tire? My R-S3's are done and I was going to replace them with the same size in the new R-S4 version (285/35 18) but I see Hankook offers a 295/40 18 as well. I have the stock 3.73 gears so the extra height would probably be good (they're almost the same as the stock diameter whereas my current 285/35 18's are an inch shorter than stock) - but they have considerably more sidewall and I'm concerned that they might not be as responsive or might wallow around a little. Would be going on a 18X10 rim.
 
Are these track only tires? I ran NT01's in 275/40/18 on the front of my Boss and they weren't bad but a 35 series tire is probably going to be sharper on turn in especially if you drive aggressively.
 
Other than commuting to and from the track they'll be track only. I'm concerned about exactly what you mentioned - that I'll give up more in loss of response than what I'll gain by running a taller tire.
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
Don't see any issue, stock 19" fronts were 40's so so using a 40 on an 18" should be no different. Adj air pressure as required

That's not correct. The 295/40-18 in question mounted on an 18x10 rim would have a lot of slop and significantly more sidewall than the stock Pirelli 255/40-19 on a 19x9 rim.

The OP's concerns are valid. I wouldn't run *any* tire on the narrowest rim allowed by the manufacturer except for straight line applications.
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
5,237
4,227
Santiago, Chile
Well, maybe not quite so....I have seen lots of successful cars at the track with tires at the limit of the manufacturers specs.... One ran 295/30-19 R7's on a 19x9.5 inch rim. they wore well and he was the fastest rwd car for a while (was with Hoosiers blessing). I run 275/35-19 and the stock rims with my street tires ( and rain tires) with no odd wear. But always with some kind of logic!! ..... You do see the odd ding bat with 295 tires on a 8 inch wide rim......
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
I agree that one can easily run the widest tire possible and have higher grip limits. Under the OP's terms, "I'm concerned that they might not be as responsive or might wallow around a little", I think he has valid concerns. I run 305/645 & 680 Pirellis on 18x10, but they certainly are not very responsive and do wallow around. Way different feel than running 275/35-18 (R-s3) on the same rims. There are big compromises for pinching wide tires on narrow rims.

If that didn't matter for feel and response, I wouldn't have bothered getting 18x11 rims. Next set of slicks for my 18x10s are likely to be 285 or smaller.
 
369
146
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
Waco, TX
Sadly, very few 200tw DOT tires come in that size.

I'm likely going to stick with the 285's - I think the trade-off is not the worth the small gain of having a slightly taller tire.

Very true..I'm waiting for a track review of new Continental sports although it's a 340tw.
 

steveespo

Lord knows I'm a Voodoo Child
Moderator
4,008
1,924
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Cookeville TN
I run 295/40-18 R7s on my cars and they are fine on a 10" wheel. They will be even better on an 11" wheel. Like you said the height is about the same as a stock tire (27") which softens the 3.73 gearing vs a 26' tall tire. It is a matter of preference with taller vs shorter sidewalls. Different feel when you transition and hit curbing but they don't "roll under on the sidewall" on the 10" wheel.
 
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38
I have 285/40/19 PSS on the rear.
No noticeable difference from 285/35/19.
Including at the track.
Helps fill the rear wheel opening too.
 

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