Tire/rim sizing question

[StarscreamS13]

Ok, so looking about getting back into the stock class runnings.

Stock rim size is 16x6. What's the widest tire you'd go? It would be a max/ultra summer tire or possibly a R-compound, leaning more towards the summer tire.

I'd like to do a 225, but I have a feeling that's just gonna feel sloppy w/ only a 6" wide rim. I did do a 225/50-16 (Hankook RS2) on my WRX's 16x6.5, felt pretty solid. Don't know how much difference the 1/2 inch difference will make.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Jay

[ehutch91]

I'd stick with a 205 wide tire. I've had big tires on small wheels before and I never really liked it. Too sloppy or had to run really high pressure to keep the sidewall from moving too much. Hoosier even recommends a minimum of 6.5" for their 205/45R16. Theres a bunch of good street tire class options right now. Falken Azenis, Bridgestone RE-01R, Dunlop Z1 Star Spec, Toyo R1R. Yokohama doesn't have any real 16" sizes for the Advan Neova AD07s and I don't think the new Kumho street tire is available yet. I wouldn't get an R compound unless it was a fairly aggressive one like Hoosier or Kumho 710. The old Victoracer was a nice all around R compound but since the price has gone up on them I really don't consider them a great value as they once were. I'd go with the street tire since they are about half the price of a good R compound.

[Washburn]

Out of that list of tires, I can highly recommend the Star Spec's. On a heavier car, they work the best and are priced right. Don't bother shaving....we've been winning on full treads.

[StarscreamS13]

Ok, for 2009, I plan to get my sh*t together and get my butt out to as many, if not ALL of the FVSCC autoX's and lapping days. But I need tires, especially w/ the 240 being in EP class (boo!), I need sticky tires.

Currently I'm working w/ ~155whp, dyno from over a yr ago, so probably up 5-10whp, so on the high-end maybe ~165whp, not much. Looking at keeping things simple, like I always tend to do, so I'm going w/ 15's, I have a surplus of 15x6s, a few 15x7s, and looking at getting another set of 15x8s.

Ok, onto the questions;

VictoRacer V700s OR Ecsta V710/Hoosier A6?

205 or 225 width?

These will be my autoX and lapping day (when I'm not using it for drift practice) tires. So I want something that will work well at short, single autoX laps, and 15min session, long, multiple laps.

In my mind, the VictoRacers seem to fit the bill, they last longer, can work well in either short or long race sessions, are cheaper, etc. But I'm looking for other peoples opinions.

I've been drifting on 215 width tires (17's) in as low as 200 treadware, but those are apples, and the Kumho competition tires are oranges. Just not sure if 205 width will be enough or not.

Any info and/or educated opinions that you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Later,

Jay

[Kiesgen117]

For ep, you could run full race hoosiers!!! but if you don't want to go that route, id go with a 225/45, on either the 7 or 8 in. rim. The flater the trie the better, and if i want raw grip the hoosier, but if u want alot of grip with some forgivness and lasting traction for sliding the car and going a little beyond the limit, i'd go with the kuhmo. But i don't think the full on race hoosiers are much more$!
just my 2 cents

[StarscreamS13]

For ep, you could run full race hoosiers!!! but if you don't want to go that route, id go with a 225/45, on either the 7 or 8 in. rim. The flater the trie the better, and if i want raw grip the hoosier, but if u want alot of grip with some forgivness and lasting traction for sliding the car and going a little beyond the limit, i'd go with the kuhmo. But i don't think the full on race hoosiers are much more$!
just my 2 cents


My main concern w/ the Hoosiers (A6) is how they will take the continuous laps at lapping days at USAIR and any other lapping events I may get to next season. The Hoosier is also the only one that comes in a 225/45, the Kumhos come in 225/50.

[Dizmm]

Those A6's will work well for auto-x's at USAIR, but i would not take those out on a lapping day.

[StarscreamS13]

Those A6's will work well for auto-x's at USAIR, but i would not take those out on a lapping day.

Ok, so what would be good for both autoX and lapping days?

I know they're about the same price as Hoosier A6's, but I've been eye'ing up the Yokohama Advan A048s, alot of reviews show them to be good for both autoX and track/lapping events, plus seem to get good treadware. Anyone have any info/opinions on the Advans?

[StarscreamS13]

Another option I've looked into is a wider Extreme/Ultra/Max Summer tire.

Like some Dunlop Z1 Star Specs, Falken RT615, Bridgestone RE-01R, Hankook R-S2, etc in a 245 width tire on like a 8-9" wide rim (depends on what rim size I'd run, still have sets of 16's and 17's ranging in 8-9" widths, etc).

They won't grip like a R-compound, but will last longer, be good for both, I won't be a winner in my class, but I will be able to have fun, which is the most important part of autoX IMO. Plus I have no experience w/ R-compounds besides driving someone elses car, but I've used the old RT215/new RT615s, pre "R" RE-01s, Hankook R-S2s, and Kumho MXs, and they all have their pro/cons, but fairly equal and they're something I know I can work w/ and get good results with. Plus there's the added bonus of being less expensive and road worthy (spirited driving/driving to and from events w/out doing alot of wear compared to R-comps).

So what I'm getting at is; a 205/225 width R-comp or a 245 width Ultra/Max/Extreme Perf Summer, is what I'm looking at now.

Still anything you guys can come up w/ would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jay

[SgtRauksauff]

You could maybe go with the R6's instead of the A6's... I used the R's (4, not 6 yet) on my escorts in the past (one turbo, one not), and had great luck with them at autobahn and gingerman and BHF and USAIR, and pulled great times at parking lot autocrosses too. Maybe not as uber-grippy as the A series, but WAY more grippy than any of my summers (rt-215, hankook rs2), even in cool rain.

--sarge