Best Tire Size for Solo2?

[JCIP]

I have a set of X-lytes I can use for autocrossing and am looking at tire sizes of 205 /40 / 16 and 205/ 45/ 16, Falken 512s at a good price.

I need a tire that is good in wet or damp conditions, since that is often the condition where I run, and I will be driving 200 miles round trip to the Solo 2.

Which tires [diameter] would be more advantagous for a stock MCS auto?

And, anyone with experience with the 512s?

Thanks!
JCIP

[minifinn]

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ad.php?t=36363

Try this link and search in STX and STS forums. A lot of info there on street competition tires. Remember "wider is better" .

My favorites are the Azenis RT-215 (now RT-615) or the Hankooks RS-2's mentioned. Good in rain and you can drive them to the event.

Good Luck.

[JCIP]

Thanks, I have been doing searches and back reading. I was just trying to determine how important it might be to have the smallest diameter tire, since I will be running it on a MCS automatic, which has much lower gearing.

Is there a disadvantage to going to the smaller diameter tire? Other than the speedo/odo accuracy. Since the automatic is supposed to be slower 0-60, 1/4 mile, etc., I was thinking that the smaller the better.

The Hankooks are high on my list right now, I finally found someone who can change out the tires for me locally.

[90STX]

There is probably no disadvantage to a smaller diameter tire (other than the speedo/odo concerns on the street). All else being equal (and it isn't always), the smaller diameter tire will have sharper response due to less flex in the sidewall, improved acceleration due to effective gearing changes, and lower CG without changing your suspension geometry.

With a manual tranny, getting too short in gearing can force you to make lots of extra shifts, which can be counter-productive. With the automatic, that should be less of an issue relative to the improved acceleration.

Getting back to that "all else being equal", a shorter wider tire with less performance biased design or compounding probably won't be better than a "stickier" tire.

I would suggest getting the RT-615 instead of the 512's if you want the best performance when autocrossing.

Scott
90SM

Scott
90SM

[JCIP]

Thanks for considering my question. I am leaning to the Hankooks, since wet is a factor for me. The idea of improving acceleration by keeping the diameter smaller is attractive, but I have just started with the automatic, and am getting used to it. Just 500 miles now.

Since I have the 16" Xlytes on my '03 Cooper S, the cars are dramiticly different. The 'o5 has the 17" Web spokes, and while I like the wheels, they sure are different than the '03 car! So, how much smaller is too small? 40 series? Or stick to 45 series?

[minihune]

Originally Posted by JCIP

I have a set of X-lytes I can use for autocrossing and am looking at tire sizes of 205 /40 / 16 and 205/ 45/ 16, Falken 512s at a good price.

I need a tire that is good in wet or damp conditions, since that is often the condition where I run, and I will be driving 200 miles round trip to the Solo 2.

Which tires [diameter] would be more advantagous for a stock MCS auto?

And, anyone with experience with the 512s?

Thanks!
JCIP

JCIP,
Falken 512s are good for overall street driving. Not the "best" choice for autocross.

If you are looking for a good wearing street tire (for those 200 mile drives to the track and back) that can be used in the wet (standing water or drizzling)
for autocross then consider the Goodyear Eagle F1 DS-G3 in 215/40-16 for $131 each. 280 tread wear 19 pounds 22.8" tire diameter AA traction.
205/45-16 is slightly heavier/taller, more narrow with lower load rating.

Falken ST615 is good in 205/40-16 at $89 each 200 tread rating, 22.5" tire diameter, 18.3 pounds. Does OK in the wet but not for standing water.

Ventus Rs2 Z212 is good in 205/45-16 at $81 each 200 tread rating, 23.2" tire diameter, 19 pounds. Works in the wet.

So how good are street tires for wet conditions? Plenty good, I've run Potenza S-03s on fun runs that clock 0.5 seconds faster than my "best official time" running on R compounds earlier in the day. Moral of the story is driving skill can make up for the difference in rubber if your street tires are decent and if road conditions are wet.

Another alternative is to get Kumho V710s in 16" and run those on stock 16" rims that you pack in the boot for autocross. This won't work in the wet.