Toyota / Subaru / Scion · 2013–2020 · track setup

86 / BRZ / FR-S First

A low, light, rear-drive coupe built around balance rather than power, with a low-mounted boxer engine and modest factory tires that let it slide early and progressively. It is a superb car for learning weight transfer and rotation, and SCCA even built an autocross class around it. Its weak spots on track are the midrange torque dip, oil pressure in long high-g corners and a stock camber range that runs out quickly.
Engine
2.0 L flat-four (FA20)
Power
200 hp (205 hp with the manual from 2017)
Weight
≈2,760–2,775 lb (2017 86 manual; earlier and automatic cars differ)
Layout
Front-engine
Drive
RWD
Performance planner ↓

These are starting points gathered from the sources listed at the bottom, not a guarantee. Cars, tires and parts vary: have a reputable alignment shop set your car, check factory specs for road use, and change one thing at a time.

01On track

Strengths
  • +Low center of gravity and excellent balance; very adjustable on throttle and brake
  • +Precise steering and good factory seats and driving position
  • +Big aftermarket and a dedicated SCCA spec class for 2013–16 cars
  • +Cheap to run: modest weight and power are easy on consumables
Watch out for
  • −Pronounced midrange torque dip that blunts corner exits
  • −Oil pressure drops in long, fast right-hand corners on sticky tires
  • −Limited factory front camber without bolts, plates or arms
  • −Low power for its weight on long straights

02Alignment

Where to start the alignment.

Alignment · starting points
VIEWED FROM BEHIND · CAMBER EXAGGERATED ×3-3.0°FRONT L-3.0°FRONT R-1.8°REAR L-1.8°REAR R
FrontRear
Camber-2.5° to -3.5°-1.0° to -2.5°
Toe0 to slight out0 to slight in
CasterStock ≈5°; up to 7°+ with longer front lower arms—

Battle Garage's grip setting is -2.0° to -3.5° front; SPL recommends -2.5° to -4.0° front with its longer front lower arm, which also adds caster. Rear camber is adjusted at the lower arm's inner eccentric; more needs adjustable arms.

Sources [1,2]

Hot pressure target
≈36–40 psi hot on Hoosier R-compound (2,600–3,000 lb bracket)

Hoosier's table, from 26–30 psi cold. Never bleed hot tires down to cold numbers; run more pressure if camber is limited. No platform-specific hot target for 200TW tires was verified, so use the tire maker's guidance and adjust from tread temperatures. [12] Work out your cold pressure →

03Tires & brakes

Tires and brakes

  • 200TW endurance
    • Falken Azenis RT660+ (SCCA Solo Spec Coupe spec tire)
    • Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ (successor to the RE-71RS)
    • Yokohama Advan A052
    225/45R17 on 17x8 (Solo Spec Coupe spec); 255/40R17 on 17x9.5 +40 with plenty of front camber
    Sources [3,9,13,14]
  • R-compound / slick
    • Hoosier A7 / R7
    17" sizes as above
    Sources [12]
Brake pads

Commonly listed track compounds for this platform include Ferodo DS2500 (street/track hybrid), Hawk DTC-60 rear paired with DTC-70 front, and Carbotech XP10 (track only, not for the street). These come from retailer fitment listings rather than independent tests.

Brake fluid

High-boiling DOT 4, chosen on dry and wet boiling points and changed more often than the street interval. Specific brands were not verified for this guide.

Sources [10,11,15,16]

04Known issues on track

Fix these before they find you.

  • Valve spring recall (2013 cars)

    NHTSA campaign 18V-772 covered 2013 Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ (along with some other Subaru models) for valve springs that could fracture and stall the engine; dealers replace the springs. About 25,000 US FR-S built between March 2012 and July 2013 were affected. Check that the recall was done on any 2013 car. [4,5]

  • Oil pressure in sustained high-g corners

    Logged data on a FA20 car showed oil pressure falling to around 18 psi in long right-hand corners at 5,000–7,200 rpm. An accumulator kept it above 30 psi in the same test; the author saw a well-baffled pan as the better long-term fix. Keep the oil level at the top of the stick, and consider a baffle or accumulator once you run sticky tires. [6]

  • Midrange torque dip

    The FA20's midrange dip is the car's best-known flaw and was a key target of the second-generation engine. On track it means choosing gears that keep the engine above the dip on corner exit. [7]

  • Know your stability-control modes

    The car offers Normal, a reduced-intervention sport/Track setting, TRC-off (which re-enables above about 57 km/h) and full VSC-off by holding the button for three seconds. On 2017-on manuals, full-off also disables the brake-based limited-slip function, so a reduced mode can be quicker. [8]

05Modification roadmap

In the order that pays off.

  1. 0
    Safety & reliability first

    Safety and reliability first

    • Confirm the valve spring recall on 2013 carsA fractured spring can stall or damage the engine.
    • Oil kept at full, plus a baffle or accumulator once on sticky tiresOil pressure sags in long right-hand corners.
    • Track pads and fresh high-boiling fluidStock pads and old fluid are the first things to fade.
  2. 1
    Tires & alignment

    Tires and alignment

    • Front cam bolts or camber platesStock front camber barely reaches -0.75°.
    • 200TW tires (225/45R17 to 255/40R17)Much more grip than the low-grip factory tires.
  3. 2
    Suspension & brakes

    Suspension

    • Dampers and springs or coilovers, plus adjustable rear armsControls roll and unlocks rear camber and toe adjustment.
  4. 3
    Power & aero

    Power last

    • Header and tune, or forced inductionMostly to fill the torque dip, and only once oil control and cooling are handled.

Common classesSCCA Solo 2026: Solo Spec Coupe (2013–16 FR-S and BRZ with a specified parts kit); D Street (non-TRD FR-S 2013–16, BRZ 2013–20, 86 2017–20); C Street for TRD-equipped versions (FR-S Release Series, BRZ tS 2018, 86 with the TRD package); D Street Touring (FR-S, BRZ 2013–21 excluding tS, 86 2017–21).

06Performance planner

What each upgrade is worth on this car.

Pick upgrades and see the estimated lap-time change on a reference circuit, how much margin your brakes and engine have late in a session, and which changes buy durability rather than speed.

Performance planner · 86 / BRZ / FR-S First generation (ZN6 / ZC6)Model estimate
Tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid
Brake cooling
Brakes
Alignment
Suspension
Differential
Weight
Power
Cooling
Oil system
Aero
1:51.86stock 1:51.86−0.0%

Reference circuit (fictional, 3.5 km). Late lap includes brake fade and heat derating once the system runs out of margin.

T1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8SPEED · your plan vs stock · top 115 mph
Brake fade marginFades
Engine heat marginHolds
Oil starvation riskLow
Tire life (relative)100%
Sensitivity · each upgrade alone vs stock (late lap)
  • R-compound tires−5.29%load ↑
  • 200TW endurance tires−2.63%load ↑
  • Track alignment−0.84%
  • Street/track pads−0.71%durability ↑
  • Race pads−0.71%durability ↑
  • High-temp fluid−0.71%durability ↑
  • Brake cooling ducts−0.71%durability ↑
  • Coilovers + sway bars−0.70%
  • Big brake kit−0.68%durability ↑
  • Splitter + wing−0.66%
  • Lighter wheels + seat−0.29%
  • Limited-slip differential−0.13%
  • Oil cooler + radiator±0durability ↑
  • Oil system (baffles / accumulator)±0durability ↑
  • Intake, exhaust, tune±0load ↑
This car’s roadmap below starts with: Confirm the valve spring recall on 2013 cars · Oil kept at full, plus a baffle or accumulator once on sticky tires · Track pads and fresh high-boiling fluid · Front cam bolts or camber plates

Estimates from a simplified point-mass lap simulation of 86 / BRZ / FR-S First generation (ZN6 / ZC6) (2,761 lb, 200 hp) on a fictional circuit, with generic effects for each upgrade category. Good for comparing options on the same car, not for predicting your lap time. Real results depend on the driver, the exact parts, the track and the conditions. Durability starts lower on this car because of its known issues: oil starvation.

Free printable setup sheet →

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Summaries are TRACK’s own wording; follow the links for the original detail. Product and brand names belong to their owners.

  1. [1]BRZ & GR86 Alignment Guide: best specs for street, grip, track and driftBattle Garage RS (vendor guide) · accessed 2026-10
  2. [2]SPL Parts 2013+ Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86 front lower control armsSPL Parts (via SP Power) · accessed 2026-10
  3. [3]Scion FR-S on 17" EC-7R (owner build gallery)Apex Race Parts · accessed 2026-10
  4. [4]Recall acknowledgment 18V-772: valve springs (2013 FR-S, BRZ and others)NHTSA · accessed 2026-10
  5. [5]Subaru and Toyota recall over 400,000 vehicles for faulty valve springsThe Drive · accessed 2026-10
  6. [6]Testing the Canton Accusump: effectiveness at preventing starvationEngineLabs · accessed 2026-10
  7. [7]2022 Toyota GR86 road testAutoblog · accessed 2026-10
  8. [8]How the electronics in the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ workPractical Motoring · accessed 2026-10
  9. [9]2026 SCCA National Solo Rules (Appendix A car classifications)Sports Car Club of America · accessed 2026-10
  10. [10]Ferodo DS2500 brake pads, rear (BRZ / FR-S / 86)RallySport Direct · accessed 2026-10
  11. [11]Hawk Performance DTC-60 rear brake pads (BRZ / FR-S / 86)RallySport Direct · accessed 2026-10
  12. [12]A7/R7 Care and Safety Guidelines (Hoosier Racing Tire guidance)Hoosier Racing Tire (hosted by R & S Racing) · accessed 2026-10
  13. [13]Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ LaunchTyre Reviews · accessed 2026-10
  14. [14]ADVAN A052Yokohama Tire · accessed 2026-10
  15. [15]Carbotech XP10 front brake pads (BRZ / FR-S / 86)RallySport Direct · accessed 2026-10
  16. [16]Brake Fluid InfoFlyin' Miata · accessed 2026-10
  17. [17]2017 Toyota 86 specsCars.com · accessed 2026-10
Related platforms