What are the best shoes to use for heel-toe downshifting?

producepete

producepete

140
Hey, I would really appreciate it if people could suggest the best type of shoes for heel-toe downshifting. I wear these reebok dmx running shoes, which are the most comfortable, but don't seem as effective as I would like them to be. It really starts to hurt my right leg when my heel is getting up to around 5000 rpms. It seems like the type of shoes you wear when heel-toeing can make a big difference. Oh, and I'm talking about driving a real car, not the Logitech Driving Force pedals. I drive the car in my sig. If anyone could help that would be great.
 
First off, this is not the forum to post this type of thread.... For future reference......

As for the shoes...

You would be best off getting actual driving shoes.... Running shoes are too stiff, and the soles are too thick to really feel what your feet are doing..... Driving shoes mold to your feet, and have thinner soles, so you can feel the pedals better....

Puma makes some really nice driving shoes, as well as other companies.... Do an E-Bay search for driving shoes and see what you find.... Trust me, they make a big difference in aggressive driving situations.......


;)
 
I find any shoe can work, so long as the sole is not too thick. Of course, real driving shoes like a G-Force or Sparco are the best.

I find the pedal arrangement is far more imporant than shoes in determining how easy it is to heel-n-toe. In the M3 or any BMW, it is laughably easy.. I can do it wearing dress shoes, oxfords, Nikes, even my Birkenstocks. My wife's Jetta, on the other hand, requires a lot more effort.


M
 
i have a pair of these slippers that are very snug, and you could tie them in a knot....the sole is like nothing. lol.

they are similar to jeradds but i havent found any online pics....

only problem with them is they make your feet REALLY warm. (and the last thing i want in this heat is more stuff to make me warm.)
 
From what I hear, Pumas are the best shoes to get. Yeah, you could get a pair of seriousl racing shoes, but the only real difference is that the racing shoes are fire-resistant, which is pointless in a street-driving application anyway, as you're not likely to be wearing a racing suit.

I just drive with a pair of New Balances, but that's because they're what I wear all the time. When I put my MT in my car, I'll start figuring out what to wear.
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec
I find any shoe can work, so long as the sole is not too thick. Of course, real driving shoes like a G-Force or Sparco are the best.

I find the pedal arrangement is far more imporant than shoes in determining how easy it is to heel-n-toe. In the M3 or any BMW, it is laughably easy.. I can do it wearing dress shoes, oxfords, Nikes, even my Birkenstocks. My wife's Jetta, on the other hand, requires a lot more effort.


M
Click to expand...

It depends on your technique how easy it is in a certain car, as well. The BMWs have a wierd upside-down gas pedal, which is good for the literal style of heel toe, where you actually put your heel on the gas and toe on the brake, but not for the quick style, where you press both pedals with the sides of your toe.
 
I have some Vans and I do it in those. The pedals are the things that suck. The gas is a bit too far down to make it easy. I would put a small block of wood on it, but it just seems...... wrong.
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec
I find any shoe can work, so long as the sole is not too thick. Of course, real driving shoes like a G-Force or Sparco are the best.

I find the pedal arrangement is far more imporant than shoes in determining how easy it is to heel-n-toe. In the M3 or any BMW, it is laughably easy.. I can do it wearing dress shoes, oxfords, Nikes, even my Birkenstocks. My wife's Jetta, on the other hand, requires a lot more effort.


M
Click to expand...

It's quite easy in any German car, indeed. This has everything to do with small German feet, and by extention -- no, lack of extention, small German something else.

But I'm not supposed to say or think that.
 
I got a pair of Ferrari driving shoes from FILA that I use when I got to the drag strip or when I try my hand at autocross. They're pretty nice shoes, also great to run in. Plus they are Ferrari red so whats not to like?

I also got a pair of Funk Master Flex driving shoes, the Lugz and they're pretty nice to.

But here are the FILA's.
 
Hey Omnis (or anyone who knows), do you have any idea what the name of a good pair of driving Pumas are? A specific name would be very helpful. Thanks.
 
Originally posted by Goomba
I have some Vans and I do it in those. The pedals are the things that suck. The gas is a bit too far down to make it easy. I would put a small block of wood on it, but it just seems...... wrong.
Click to expand...

If you have trouble, get some good quality sport pedals. The good ones often have adjustable pieces on the appropriate corners to make Heel-toe easier. You can also get a large size pedal that will be a much better solution than wood. Plus, you'll end up with pedals that give you good foot grip and look really nice as well.
 
Originally posted by Takumi Fujiwara
It depends on your technique how easy it is in a certain car, as well. The BMWs have a wierd upside-down gas pedal, which is good for the literal style of heel toe, where you actually put your heel on the gas and toe on the brake, but not for the quick style, where you press both pedals with the sides of your toe.
Click to expand...

Have you ever driven an M3 or any modern BMW (E36, E39+)? The brake and throttle are so close together you can easily cover both pedals with the sides of your foot if you're anything larger than a size 8. In addition, the resistance and pedal travel amount of any manual BMW since the early 90s is perfect. Its so easy, I consider it cheating.

And covering both pedals with the sides of my right foot is exactly the technique I use.... and trust me, the technique is plenty quick.


M
 
Definitely do NOT get loafers. You need something with good grippy soles, beacuse you don't want that big toe slipping off the brake pedal at a crucial moment...

I have those $30 Lands End slip ons everybody seems to be wearing these days, and they work fine. The Neon's pedal placement isn't ideal, but it works well enough, especially when you are on the brakes a bit.

And what's so "wow" about heel-and-toeing in a Civic? He wants to learn how to drive more smoothly, that's all.
 
Originally posted by BlazinXtreme
I got a pair of Ferrari driving shoes from FILA that I use when I got to the drag strip or when I try my hand at autocross. They're pretty nice shoes, also great to run in. Plus they are Ferrari red so whats not to like?

I also got a pair of Funk Master Flex driving shoes, the Lugz and they're pretty nice to.

But here are the FILA's.
Click to expand...


Nice. How much did they cost?
 
They were 90 bucks outta a Speed Gear catalog. I got them about a year or so ago.
 
Originally posted by BlazinXtreme
I got a pair of Ferrari driving shoes from FILA that I use when I got to the drag strip or when I try my hand at autocross. They're pretty nice shoes, also great to run in. Plus they are Ferrari red so whats not to like?

I also got a pair of Funk Master Flex driving shoes, the Lugz and they're pretty nice to.

But here are the FILA's.
Click to expand...

Those are not typical driving shoes... In fact those soles are way too thick to be good driving shoes.... The fact that they are made by Fila makes me think they are based on basketball shoes, with a Ferrari theme added.....

Here is a good example of a proper driving/racing shoe:
saferacer_1790_4587892.gif


;)
 
I seem to drive with them just fine, although my truck isn't a manny, but I still autocross with em.
 
I got a red pair of these.

A good pair of shoes is vital to proper pedal feel and control. However the pedal-box set -up and layout are just as important.

I've driven an Audis RS6 and while a very impresive car the pedal layout was poor as far as heel and toe was concerned, the brake pedal was a good 2 inches higher than the throttle and made clean heel and toe action almost imposiable, the new Honda S2000 is very similar.
 

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Originally posted by sn00pie
MOMO racing shoes suck ass, you should get classic MIR's.
Click to expand...

In the two years I have had them my MOMO racing shoes have never once tried to suck my ass.

Its a strange thing to want from a racing shoe, but I will leave you to your fantasies.
 
Originally posted by Scaff
In the two years I have had them my MOMO racing shoes have never once tried to suck my ass.

Its a strange thing to want from a racing shoe, but I will leave you to your fantasies.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 

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