I am new to R/C racing and need a little help getting started in the right direction.

First off I need to select the right pinion gear. I will be running a Monster Pro motor and the instructions suggest using a pinion gear lower (3-4 teeth) than normal stock motors because of it being a high RPM motor. The car manual suggests a 28 tooth pinion. So is it as simple as using a 25 tooth pinion or can someone suggest something better based on their experience?

The stock class requires rubber tires. What rubber tires are best for a carpeted surface?

Thanks for any suggestions anyone may have.