Toyota / Subaru · 2022–present · track setup

GR86 / BRZ Second

The second generation keeps the first car's balance and adds a 2.4-liter engine whose torque arrives far lower in the rev range, curing the old midrange dip. It is quicker everywhere, still light and still playful at the limit. It is now a mainstream track and autocross car with its own professional one-make series, but its oil system deserves attention once you add sticky tires.
Engine
2.4 L flat-four (FA24)
Power
228 hp
Weight
≈2,811 lb (manual) / 2,851 lb (automatic)
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
  • +Much stronger midrange than the gen 1, so exits are easier to manage
  • +Low, balanced and adjustable; rewards a tidy driver
  • +Factory Track mode display shows oil and water temperature plus a lap timer
  • +Strong aftermarket and a one-make series (Toyota GR Cup)
Watch out for
  • −Oil pressure sags in long, high-g right-hand corners on sticky tires
  • −Oil temperatures climb in long sessions
  • −Limited factory camber, as on the gen 1
  • −Wider wheel and tire fitments can foul the BRZ's Brembo calipers without spacers

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—

SPL lists its longer front lower arm (recommended -2.5° to -4.0°) for both generations.

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 back to cold numbers. No platform-specific hot target for 200TW tires was verified. [12] Work out your cold pressure →

03Tires & brakes

Tires and brakes

  • 200TW endurance
    • Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ (successor to the RE-71RS)
    • Yokohama Advan A052
    • Falken Azenis RT660+
    245/40R17 on 17x9 +35; 255/40R17 with spacers or lower-offset wheels and around -3.5° front camber

    Factory wheels are 17" on base cars and 18" on Premium.

    Sources [3,4,9,11,13,14]
  • R-compound / slick
    • Hoosier A7 / R7
    • Continental slicks (GR Cup spec, 245/620 on 18")
    17" sizes as above; GR Cup cars use 18" wheels
    Sources [10,12]
Brake pads

No second-generation pad recommendation from an independent shop or test was verified for this guide. Use a dedicated track compound from an established brand and bed it in properly. For reference, the GR Cup race car upgrades to Alcon calipers.

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.

Sources [10,15]

04Known issues on track

Fix these before they find you.

  • Oil pressure and bearing failures (reported, not recalled)

    Owners have reported FA24 bearing failures; in one widely reported 2022 case, sealant debris was found in the oil pickup, and others reported the same. Instrumented testing on a GR86 and a BRZ logged oil pressure dropping from about 62 to 28 psi in a long right-hander at high rpm, more than a gen 1 control car. Neither maker had issued a recall or bulletin at the time of that reporting. Keep the oil level correct, add an oil cooler and consider a pan baffle; aftermarket baffles certified for Japan's GR86/BRZ Cup are available. [5,6,8]

  • Oil temperature

    Coolers are marketed for track use specifically because oil can exceed about 130°C (≈266°F) on circuit. Use the Track-mode gauge and back off or cool down if oil keeps climbing. No factory oil temperature limit was found. [4,7]

  • Wheel and brake clearance

    Popular 17x9 +35 wheels with 255/40R17 tires will not clear the BRZ's Brembo brakes without spacers. Check caliper clearance before you buy. [9]

05Modification roadmap

In the order that pays off.

  1. 0
    Safety & reliability first

    Safety and reliability first

    • Oil cooler and a pan baffleOil temperature and pressure are the platform's known track weak spots.
    • Check the oil level before every sessionLow oil makes pressure drops in long corners worse.
    • Track pads and fresh high-boiling fluidBasic fade protection.
  2. 1
    Tires & alignment

    Tires and alignment

    • Cam bolts, plates or longer front armsGets the front camber the tires need.
    • 200TW tires on 17x9 wheelsMost of the available lap-time gain; check BRZ Brembo clearance.
  3. 2
    Suspension & brakes

    Suspension

    • Coilovers and adjustable rear armsControls roll and adds rear camber and toe range.
  4. 3
    Power & aero

    Power last

    • Tune, intake/header or forced inductionMore power means more oil heat and more load on an oil system that already needs help.

Common classesSCCA Solo 2026: D Street (GR86 without TRD equipment, excl. the 10th Anniversary Edition, which runs in B Street; BRZ 2022–26 incl. tS), C Street Touring (GR86 and BRZ 2022–26), C Street Prepared. Toyota GR Cup is the North American one-make series for the GR86.

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 · GR86 / BRZ Second generation (ZN8 / ZD8)Model estimate
Tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid
Brake cooling
Brakes
Alignment
Suspension
Differential
Weight
Power
Cooling
Oil system
Aero
1:51.07stock 1:51.07−0.0%

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 117 mph
Brake fade marginFades
Engine heat marginDerates
Oil starvation riskLow
Tire life (relative)100%
Sensitivity · each upgrade alone vs stock (late lap)
  • R-compound tires−4.82%load ↑
  • 200TW endurance tires−2.42%load ↑
  • Track alignment−0.78%
  • Street/track pads−0.74%durability ↑
  • Race pads−0.74%durability ↑
  • High-temp fluid−0.74%durability ↑
  • Brake cooling ducts−0.74%durability ↑
  • Big brake kit−0.71%durability ↑
  • Coilovers + sway bars−0.65%
  • Splitter + wing−0.59%
  • Oil cooler + radiator−0.49%durability ↑
  • Lighter wheels + seat−0.31%
  • Oil system (baffles / accumulator)±0durability ↑
  • Limited-slip differential±0
  • Intake, exhaust, tune±0load ↑
This car’s roadmap below starts with: Oil cooler and a pan baffle · Check the oil level before every session · Track pads and fresh high-boiling fluid · Cam bolts, plates or longer front arms

Estimates from a simplified point-mass lap simulation of GR86 / BRZ Second generation (ZN8 / ZD8) (2,812 lb, 228 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, heat.

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 arms (also lists 2022+)SPL Parts (via SP Power) · accessed 2026-10
  3. [3]Toyota GR86 on 17" VS-5RS (owner build gallery)Apex Race Parts · accessed 2026-10
  4. [4]Toyota Introduces Racing-Inspired 2022 GR 86WardsAuto · accessed 2026-10
  5. [5]Toyota GR86 owners are reporting serious engine issues, but Toyota's not talkingThe Drive · accessed 2026-10
  6. [6]2022 Subaru BRZ owner's instrumented testing shows big oil pressure drops on trackThe Drive · accessed 2026-10
  7. [7]S-type oil cooler kit (GR86 / BRZ ZN8 / ZD8)HKS · accessed 2026-10
  8. [8]FA24 oil pan baffleTomei Powered · accessed 2026-10
  9. [9]GR86 wheel fitment mistakes that will ruin your carThreePiece.us · accessed 2026-10
  10. [10]Toyota provides modification details for GR86 Cup carThe Shop Magazine · accessed 2026-10
  11. [11]2026 SCCA National Solo Rules (Appendix A car classifications)Sports Car Club of America · 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]Brake Fluid InfoFlyin' Miata · accessed 2026-10
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