Autocross Tires for 2013

[tukaniSVT]

Yay ... I rarely get other photogs catching me.

But one of the other committee members remembered his camera and got a couple of shots of me.

ME taking photos and talking:


ME racing ... I took a corner a bit hot and drifted slightly ... was my second fastest run yesterday.


Back on track ... I have the Hankook RS3s, 225/50/R16 ... these are at the end of their life now. So, I am thinking about going with the ZIIs and getting the 225/45/R16s. A bit of a smaller sidewall, because as you can see in the photo ... I am very very close to rubbing ... surprisingly, doesn't happen often at all.

Ray

[STS-focus]

If you can clear the 225/50r16's I would go with the BFG Rivals. I have the 225/45r16 Dunlop ZII's and am not a fan so far (200+ miles, one PDX and one 6 run autox on them prior to TnT). Ran a test n tune on concrete and was over a second faster on the 205/45r16 Bridgestone RE11's from last year. Almost all trophies at the SCCA Peru Match Tour for ST and RT classes went to BFGoodrich Rivals. I took a trophy for 3rd of seven in STF on my Bridgestones. This year it looks like BFG for the win, and they are paying contingency.

[ecugrad]

Originally Posted by 2000blackzx3

I'm using a set of 225/45/15 BFG Rivals this year, and those things deliver, grip is significantly better than my ZI's I had last year. They take a lot more slip angle than Dunlop's while still maintaining grip... soooo forgiving. Less response in slaloms though, which you mostly notice on the road, everything goes so fast on the track you are just like "omg those things glue" and you can give ridiculous steering inputs to dodge cones where you think you were toast.

I'm in FSP with a Torsen diff. That thing is way faster than my STF build last year... only because of the diff and tires... I had like the 3rd/4th raw time on a 65 drivers field at a practice event on a STOCK SVT suspension minus rear konis and sway.

First event with my coilovers with Koni RACE-like damping...300F 350R spring rates... the car was a BEAST to drive, best FWD I've ever driven in near stock form. I could have ran within 2.5 secs of FTD (300+ whp Civics / Subarus on slicks...) (minus a Formula SAE car) before I hit a guard rail and bent a tie-rod because of ABS that didn't know how to act. Still finished 9th overall with my first of 6 allowed runs before which I didn't even have time to walk the course. First run was a 65.X (no course walk!)... 2nd 61.8 but missed a gate.... 3rd was in the guard rail. FTD was around 60.X. However, my inserts (which are not exactly RACE ones but one-offs) seem to like getting blown... I'll have see what I can run for my next events. Anyone has V3's to sell ? :P Any cheap options here? Konis/H&R Race would be a quick one... but still money.



A quick vid of my first run ever of the season... a little late at some boxes, first time spotting the course (in later runs I had to use 3rd gear in the last section).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCLiAsQru5M

How wide are your rims?

[2000blackzx3]

Originally Posted by ecugrad

How wide are your rims?

15 X 7.5" Rota's ET45 spaced 5mm to clear the calipers.

Originally Posted by tukaniSVT

Yay ... I rarely get other photogs catching me.

Back on track ... I have the Hankook RS3s, 225/50/R16 ... these are at the end of their life now. So, I am thinking about going with the ZIIs and getting the 225/45/R16s. A bit of a smaller sidewall, because as you can see in the photo ... I am very very close to rubbing ... surprisingly, doesn't happen often at all.

Ray

I once tried 225/50/16 RS3s and was rubbing a lot the fenders on my suspension. Could be done with camber and fender rolling with the good offset. I am not a fan of that dimension because of the large rolling diameter, but I haven't got the chance how fast they could have been. I think we're better on 15's which helps SVT's long 2nd gear.

[tukaniSVT]

Hmm ... that is interesting. I will say when I first got them I did rub a couple of times.

But then I bought adjustable camber all around. So, now, no rubbing. And I sit on H&R Race with KYB Adjustable Struts.

I was thinking about it again and am wanting to check out the 205/50R16, but for some reason want that 45 side wall.

Do they have 205/45R16 or 215/45R16 Tires??? Hmm ... I guess I am going to dive around TireRack.

Ray