Polo GTI 9n3 - APR chip - Effect on Car balance?

[kaanage]

I will be upgrading my tyres, likely to a semi slick once I can commit to more regular track days.

Get 2nd set of rims (16" is just fine - if you can get 15" over your brakes, even better as the tyres are cheaper) for your semi-slicks as they are harsh and FRIGGIN' LOUD

[seangti]

Get 2nd set of rims (16" is just fine - if you can get 15" over your brakes, even better as the tyres are cheaper) for your semi-slicks as they are harsh and FRIGGIN' LOUD

I was thinking more like a KU36 semi for street use too. Would love the cut slick yoko or similar that you have but am pretty lazy to be changing em over.
Going off topic, but would you drive to the track on the semi's, cos the tracks around brisbane are ~60kms away. Any concerns in ruining a heat cycle by doing so?

[instigator]

if i am right there is no semi slick that we can use on our 16" stock wheel.
semi slick is something like a Toyo R888 etc.. and the tire height is 50 or 55, and we need 45.
you can fit 15" wheels over the stock brakes, no problem with that, it's like fitting a 16" wheel over the TT225 brakes.
and if you do can get a hold on 15" wheels you can put a semi slick on it with a 50 wall.

i now have Yokohama Advan neova AD08,
it's not quit a semi slick but it comes verry close to it.
probably not as grippy as a semi slick in dry, but it does give VERRY good grip.
i'm suprised about how much grip they can produce.
before i drove Dunlop SP sportmaxx, not a bad tyre at all but comes nowhere close to the AD08's.
they will give more grip in wet condition and they do last alot longer + they are cheaper as semi's as well.
might be handy if you still use the car for daily use and such.
my opinion, it's the best street tyre available with alot of grip in all conditions (exept snow i guess :p)
try it and you'll love it, 100% sure of this!

[kaanage]

You can go slightly oversize with a 205/50R16 or even 215/45R16 - the difference in gearing is not going to make much difference and may help on some tracks (your road ratios won't be perfect for any track).

I've driven on very good road tyres and I can tell you that the difference with semi-slicks is not small. Plus semi-slicks won't tear up or chunk like a road tyre when pushed.

Driving to/from the track won't be too bad in terms of heat cycling as it is only 2 extra cycles added to the sessions for the day. The biggest issue (aside from NVH) is that the semi-slicks aren't as puncture resistant as a road tyre - I almost certainly picked up something when I drove to the track last time, to break them in gently, which resulted in a slow leak (see the Advan I killed earlier)

But if a 15" wheel fits over your brakes, then that's the primo option - I'm pissed off that Enkei don't make the 15" RPF1 in 5/100 (4.5kg) . Changing tyres at the track is no big deal - you spend a LOT of time waiting around