Bought track tires. I have 17" enkie wheels for the winter and decided to buy a set of R compounds to swap with the winter Alpin's. I chose the 245/45WR-17 Kumho ECSTA V710. They seemed to have good reviews and the money was right.

I intended to install a BBK but no set will fit under the OE 18" wheels. So to have a BBK, I would need three new sets of wheels (two minimum). Maybe next year. For now, I'm excited about the r compounds. Maybe the pigs under the car won't squeal this next track event.

My only concern is that the Kumho recommends 17.5" wheel. My RPM2's are 7" wide. I don't think this will matter much. Or should I say, "hope"?

See you guys at RA October 15/16!

Congrats and have fun with your new r-comps! Did you get the tires heat cycled? If not, you will want to heat cycle them a couple days before your first auto-x.

If you want a BBK, you could probably buy the Nismo longer wheel studs and a spacer for your wheels to give more clearance to the brakes.

Great! Are you driving on the Kuhmos to the event or will you be bringing them up in a second car or inside? The 710's are an excellent tire in the dry - but you do NOT want to run them in the rain - if it rains, you're screwed unless you have another pair.

I am going to (hopefully) be bringing up my Yoko race rubber on another trailer while I drive up in GS-D3 max performance rubber (which is great in the rain.)

As to wheel size - you're looking at some 'pinch' there with the tires. I would go out there a bit gingerly the first few laps and see how the car reacts.

As to heat-cycling - that's a benefit especially if you've never driven on them before. If you don't have them heat-cycled, just use the first two laps of each session as 'warm-ups' - which you should be doing at the least anyway since you're a noob to RA! I would treat Saturday morning as a sort of 'warm-up' every lap if I were you. Just go out and start getting a sense of things - take some rides with 6MT4Me (an instructor with NASA) or me (not as good as him but I do have an AT like your X so you can get an idea of how to drive either full auto or manumatic around the course since 6MT4Me has a stick.) Also try to get a ride with one of the 'lead' drivers - I particularly recommend Bob in the red Cobra - he's a great guy and has a super track car - he knows RA very well and is a good teacher.

- Riff

I believe DaveO from SportZ Magazine is running a BBK from Racingbrake.com. (check for a GB)

The kit utilizes the OEM calipers, relocated with a bracket to go over the larger rotors. Best of all, THEY FIT BEHIND OEM WHEELS!

This is the route I will be taking when I upgrade the braking system.

W

According to Kumho, heat cycling should be done days in advance of your first intended usage, because you are supposed to let the tires sit for 24-48 hours to 'cure' or whatever.

The best way to heat cycle them would probably be to do lots of figure 8's in a big parking lot. Just bring a barf bag in case you get dizzy.

Several speciality tire resellers will carry heat-cycled versions of r-compound rubber, usually at a premium, of course.

Hey my response to Riffster never got posted. And I spent so much time on it!

Basically:

I am buying a trailer to bring along all necessary items and keep the car clean (inside atleast).

I am a little concerned about the pinch from the 7" wheel, but I would rather not spend the money on new wheels until I figure out the BBK.

Heat cycling is some what of an issue. Although Kumho recommends this for longevity and performance, I have read several reviews that the owners did not and experienced no appreciable issues. I will see in October.

As for the BBK. Very irritating thing for me. The sedan gets no love from Nissan/Infiniti. The wheel offsets are wrong for upgrades. But, my 05 brakes are very similar in size to Brembos. The problem is no one makes pads or rotors for them, other than OE. If I keep tracking, a used 350Z is in order. I had been looking into the Miata Spec racing, but have now chose to go an other route. The Miatas are just too damn slow. I'm sure they are fun, initially. But after a few track days I am sure I would end up slapping a Flying Miata Turbo on there. I think a 2003 Z for $20,000 is doable. And it is justa tad better looking than the Miata! Maybe a smidgen! LOL!