Tire for 458 Challenge

In my experiences in Porsche race cars, the Michelins are "better" - grip, durability, consistency over stints and construction.

Have not tried Michelins on the Ferrari (Pirelli is the spec tire).

Try 24/69-19 and 29/67-19 as sizes. I'd imagine your local tire distributor can confirm fitment and suggest pressures. (eg. Jackson in the US)

FWIW as with most race cars, the 458C is sensitive to pressures. Also Pirelli reworked the rear spec tire this year as they were taking a beating given the horsepower and loading, supposed to be a more durable construction.

to me, Michelins had more ultimate performance, but both have just a few "golden laps" and then they fall off progressively. literally disposable by design...

 

Please post the results of your test with the Michelin's. I would like to try another tire in the future.

 

Ok, well I guess I will be the guinea pig for the Michelins. I found a place in New York, Phil's tires that checked with Michelin and they say they now produce the proper tires for the 458 Challenge. The sizes are:

Front 24-65-19
Rear 28-69-19

I just ordered today and will report back once I have had a chance to get to the track.

Joe

 

Any thoughts on how the Michelin's perform on the 458 Challenge in comparison with the series spec. Pirelli tires?

Where do you guys buy your tires? (either Pirelli spec tires or Michelin tires)

 

JX 2 performance group supplies Pirellis racing slicks for the CCR series as well as Ferrari Challenge, PCA etc.

Pirelli Tires by JX2 Performance Group

 

Unless Joe Yung can offer some additional insights (since I know he's tried Michelins and enjoys trying different setups)....what I've learned from our team and engineers

1) generally speaking, Michelins are better race car tires than the Pirelli DH. Pirellis are not bad, the Michelins just tend to be "better" in most applications (grip, stability)

2) especially on a 458C, particularly on an Evo, the setup of the car to optimize the tire is critical to performance, car behavior and being able to maximize the tire's potential. The "sweet spot" differs by track, conditions and driver, but it's very narrow, and even tighter with the Evo. Said otherwise, if your setup is off, you might as well be running street tires (I exaggerate slightly)

3) building on point (2), HOW you drive the car will also matter. the 458 platform will push like a dog on any tire, and most setups, if you have klutzy footwork; the car is so pitch sensitive that brake release and power application (i.e. cornering) are key determinants in your speed and lap time. Ferrari built this car biased to understeer (small front tires, brake bias, etc etc) so you need to learn to work around that. Again, if you have great tires and a perfect setup, you can have a crap time and destroy your tires quickly with ham-fisted driving.

4) watch your pressures. Best practice for the Pirellis is 1-2 slow out laps, build temp and pressure, avoid curbs, then you have 2-3, maybe 4 great laps, then the tire goes off. Essentially one good heat cycle, then they stabilize. If you run aggressive camber, be very careful of wear. These tires are not built for durability, they are consumables. Expensive consumables.

5) Evan from JX2 can offer you great service and good advice if you're doing it DIY.

 

Awesome advice.. thanks a lot!!!

 

I didn't have any luck with the Michelins. The difference in circumference, front to back, seemed to interfere with the ABS. I am back to using Pirellis.

Joe

 

Good to know.. thanks for testing it out for the rest of us!!

 

I found out the hard way the different circumference interferes with ABS.

 

You are spot on!

 

I’ve ran the hankooks and didnt have any abs issues running them. Fast tire and size to size actually wider than the pirelli. However the front tire is a harder compound and only lasts a couple sessions before it really starts to understeer. Im thinking the fronts could be swapped out 2 times per rear set. I might even try the hankook rear and pirelli front for ****s and giggles. The car is fantastic and easy to drive at the absolute limit. So I am not afraid to try different brands and compounds to see what works well.

 

Good info in this thread. I was considering buying an extra set of wheels/tires for my 458 Challenge that came with a sticker set of Michelin slicks. Given the abs interference, I may see if the gentleman wants to sell without the tires.

So, does the abs just not work at all, or does it give a fault, or does the car somehow go into limp mode? What does “interferes with the abs” mean?

thanks!

 

Did you try the michelins? I am interested to see how they work. what sizes are they. maybe they are different than what was noted above.