Figured I’d make a new thread on this, since I just signed up for the Audi event at the end of April at Grattan. Would highly recommend the event to anyone interested. I made a pretty detailed thread about this event last year: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/594129-HPDE-at-Grattan-Raceway-MI-with-Audi-Club
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/14990526491_b4c9f570d2_b.jpg
Wheels
For starters, I grabbed a set off V810 track wheels (look identical to BBS CH-R)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/11332549916_1ce597dfd1_b.jpg
My reasons for this were as follows (pretty much all credit here goes to Jran for helping with fitment):
- Run an 18" R-Comp tire for budgetary reasons, and my 355mm ST60 will fit under 18" wheels;
- Would like to be able to run wider tires (nothing under 9" wide);
- Stop killing my street PSS tires;
- Decent weight savings with not major compromise on strength;
- No rubbing possible with 265/35R18;
- Preferably no centering rings needed;
- Something decently mass produced so I could procure replacements if needed;
- Needs to clear BBK w/o spacers;
- Reasonably priced, did not want to spend 2.5k on BBS wheels that weren’t even optimal fitment;
- Ideally something that will sell in the 2nd hand market.
My first choice were enkei wheels, RPF1 or PF01, but the fitment was never ideal. And the main blow came from a vendor saying I would need 15 mm spacers to clear the BBK with 18x9 et45 PF01 wheels. Enkei’s seemed like the best compromise in cost/fitment/performance/reliability.
BBS wheels didn’t really have good 18" fitments, only could get 18x8.5 for about 2.3k, so not really worth it. I was pretty much choosing between TSW nurburgrings 18x9.5 et 40 or Neuspeed RSe52 18x9 et 40. But they both could have issues with rubbing…I think 18x9.5 et 45 was the sweet spot and I was able to find the VMR’s at 1140 shipped via mod bargains, so unless there are any complications, I’m pretty happy with this choice.
TIRES
Next up is tires, we’ve debated these here a lot (please no westwest derailment) and I had come to the conclusion that A048’s were the superior tire to R888’s on heavy cars. But there are quite a few people who really like the R888’s. The main advantage I remember was the Yoko’s last longer and do better at temperature, which is pretty much par for the course with this car. The other option is to stick with street tires (R-S3’s) which would be a smart choice, considering I’m just moving to the intermediate HPDE class, and only have 1 DE at each track. I could also go pilot cup or an expensive Perreli (which I think west mentioned). Key here is I want something that will last a long time, be relatively progressive and not require me to end early if it rains.
So my choices in 265/35R18 are
- Yoko A048 - $325/tire (might not be in stock at tirerack, so might be moot);
- Toyo R888 - $300/tire;
- Michelin Pilot Cup - $370/tire;
- Pirelli P Zero Trofeo - $375/tire;
- Hankook R-S3 - $233/tire;
Side note: have a friend who works at conti, really wish they made a decent tire because I can get a massive discount on them :-\
BRAKE PADS
Nothing interesting here, going with carbotech XP24’s. Ran XP20’s last year, and they held up really well. But the wear rate sucked at gingerman, believe it was due to not swapping pads during the event. I’ll double check how thin the xp20’s are, probably need to grab a micrometer.
In the rear, my xp8’s are fine with plenty of life left. Will also flush some fresh SRX in there.
ALIGNMENT
I will get a more aggressive alignment done. Probably will consult the westwest alignment achieved thread and do something slightly less aggressive, probably about 2.1 deg front camber and neutral on the toe. I forget the rear camber specs, but I’ll make mine more aggressive. Will either get this done with Ray in Windsor, or just go with Arbor motion here in Ann Arbor. Arbor motion is pricey, but they are close and I’d like to have a good local shop so I don’t have to drive to Canada every time I need something done. Steve’s european is also a possibility.
Misc
Will grab a cordless impact, a lightweight racing jack, and a set of impact sockets. Still debating grabbing a junk windows tablet so I can log with VCDS while running, but probably more for at the strip (which I’ll also do soon - Muneeb/jeff, want to go soon?). I’ll probably rotate tires front/back same side mid-way through. Do you guys who swap pads or cross rotate tires put the car on jackstands or use an extra wheel/tire to swap…seems like a PITA.
I’ll probably get the car safety inspected, I’m going to install the AMS CPS myself and the car has seen 2 winters now, I could see corrosion starting to be an issue.
So what is everyone else up to? I know some of you west coast and southerner’s never had any time off, but with the F1 season started, it’s time for the rest of us ;D