Optional 305/19/30 P-ZERO'S

[gazza1]

Anyone out there got or had the optional 305/19/30 tyres fitted on there R8.

Interested to get any thoughts on a improvement of grip and or harsher ride etc compared to the 295/30.

Any photos?

[willyjp]

I just posted in "2010 Order Guide" that I have read a couple of places that some testers have opined that the 305 rear tire is "a little too much tire" for the 4.2 R8, making her a slight bit of a "pusher" (under steerer, like most other awd cars), where she is very neutral with the 295's. Clearly the 305 is likely needed on the v10, and I believe it is standard there.

I haven't noticed any owners making such a comment on this forum, but I would wager that few have driven their cars with both 295's and 305's to compare the handling at the limit for qualitative difference.

[desperado]

The comment about oversteer came from a professional instructor at the Jim Russell Racing School who instructs weekly in the Audi R8 Experience at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

I believe this is the post that you are refering to: (You can click the little caret next to my name to see the entire thread.)

We were sitting on the pit wall (while the Lola FJR50's went around) and looking at and talking about the R8. Someone asked about tires, and we were reading the sidewalls. I happened to mention that the 2009 R8 is available with 305 rear tires as an option vs the "stock" 295.

The instructor felt that the 305s were a mistake, purely from a track standpoint. His comment was that the car already had excess grip in the rear, and additional grip in the front would be more helpful.

I just wanted to pass this along for those of you who are specifying your cars or buying replacement rubber.

[harrison]

Thanks DESPERADO. R84ME has the 305's. His car wasn't broken in yet or we would have raced each other a little bit ! I would like to try an R8 that had ,maybe a 295? in the front and the 305 in the rear.A widening would be necessary on the front I think.

[R84ME]

The instructor felt that the 305s were a mistake, purely from a track standpoint. His comment was that the car already had excess grip in the rear, and additional grip in the front would be more helpful.

Lightening the rear with that Stasis exhaust should help!

[R8 England]

I just posted in "2010 Order Guide" that I have read a couple of places that some testers have opined that the 305 rear tire is "a little too much tire" for the 4.2 R8, making her a slight bit of a "pusher" (under steerer, like most other awd cars), where she is very neutral with the 295's. Clearly the 305 is likely needed on the v10, and I believe it is standard there.

No. V10 has 295 as standard with the "Y" type wheels. 305 is NOT available as an option on V10

For V8, 305 on the rear is available as a cost option with the five double spoke wheels at GBP £426

[SteveR]

Hmm. I "ordered" my V10 with the titanium finish wheels and 305mm rear wheels. Perhaps something has changed with the final order sheet in the UK, but here the 305 tires are available as an option on our sans pricing order sheet.

[harrison]

Hey R84ME: Having the lighter exhaust helps understeer? Is understeer more pronounced mainly because of all wheel drive? Would understeer be less with ESP off?

[911/Q45]

Heavier rear makes for more oversteer, so lighter exhaust would make for more understeer. Remember how tail happy Porsches are.

[R84ME]

Heavier rear makes for more oversteer, so lighter exhaust would make for more understeer. Remember how tail happy Porsches are.

911s are pretty poor examples at ~40%F/60%R, they don't have a choice!
Boxsters & Caymans are better at ~45%F/55%R
914s were monsters at 47%F/53%R
R8s, at 44%F/56%R, can use some help & quattro bias tuning.

An ideal 50/50 can be configured to oversteer or understeer but at the end of the day, it's all about weight distribution & #/hp.