Hi All,

I've been auto-xing off and on for a few years now. Last year I had a fully prepped STS 1989 Acura Integra and had fun bringin' up the rear of the field .

Anyway, I have moved on and took delivery of my '05 MCS (with LSD) a few weeks ago. No need to discuss how much I like it

I am thinking about getting race rubber for G Stock, but can't decide the most sane path. I don't go to more than 6-10 events in a year and maybe one track day/DE.

With that info and the fact that the car is so new to me, would it be wasteful to start our with R-compound tires? Or, would the smarter choice be to run Falken Azenis (or whatever they're called now) until I get my feet wet?

Just trolling for opinions. Let 'er rip :smile:

Regards,
Erik in ATL

 

Get the Falken Azenis

Unless you are competing for a season trophy or plan even bigger goals, you will be very happy with the Azenis.

Especially because you can put them on your MINI the day before the race and not have to spend time monkeying around changing tires twice at the track or have to carry 4 extra tires in/on the MINI.

Not to mention the huge money saved or the fact that they will last you a very long time compared to r-compounds. . . oops, I guess I just mentioned those 2 facts

 

Will the Azenis work as a street tire too? I'm thinking about getting a set but the Finance Minister (wife) won't approve a dedicated set of autox tires yet.

What kind of mileage could I get out of them on the street?

 

Sure. Just don't expect to get the same life as you would a harder street tire. It depends on mileage and number of events, but I wouldn't expect more than a year out of them.

Last year's Azenis (RT-215) wasn't great in standing water, and that's one of the thing's I understand the new tread design is intended to address. I have no idea if they'll be any better in snow, too. The "old" ones didn't handle it very well!

Regarding the original question, definitely stay away from R-componds for now.

Brock

 

I'll look at this in reverse:

1) The Azenis makes a fine everyday street tire, just slow down in the rain. I've run them on both MINI S's now, getting 20k miles from my first set (very little autocross time on them). They're cheap, last a reasonable amount of time, and grip like crazy. As long as you understand the limits of the car, they're fine. Leading me into the next suggestion...

2) It's hipocritical to recommend the Azenis for the street, but not the R Compound for the track. Both require a great understanding for car control (since they offer less feedback) and obviously extend the limits of the car.
You've got some good seat time on street tires at this point in autocrossing, you shouldn't "need" anymore". I started on R Compounds my first race and have never regretted it. If anything, I recommend a season of events on street tires, or a couple of schools (about the same number of runs) before moving on to R Compounds. If you've done as many as 18? events now, you've got plenty of seat time for R Compounds. You have to make an adjustment to them, but that will always be the case, why wait longer?

Brian Garfield
WDCR SCCA Solo
Novice Coordinator

 

I've been at this for 17 years and totally agree with Brian.

Back in 1988... I did my first school on Pirelli P600's (on a GTi), the next week I mounted up a set of Yokohama A008R's and never looked back.

The way I look at it. If you live in an area that gets snow (I do) ANY good autocross "street tire" will need to come off in the winter. Since your probably buying a second set of wheels anyway you might as well mount up some R tires.

WARNING, R tires are like drugs. If your on a budget, try a set of Hoosier R3S04's or Kumho Victoracers.

note: you can drive a Kumho Victoracer to and from events, I hear they will actually outlast a Falken.

All this said.... Last year I bought a third set of wheels and wrapped them in Bridgestone S-03's. These tires do double duty as rains and "summer" tires. Let me tell you S-03's are flat awesome in the rain. To get used to my "rains" I actually ran a couple "dry" out of region events on them. If the region had a ST class I was always the fasted FWD car. At one event in Central Illinois (dry, no ST class) I actually finished in the top 10 on index, beating a couple "known" drivers on race rubber

This year I plan to run for Milwaukee Regions "F" championship on the Bridgestones.

 

What size tires will fit on a stock 16" wheel?

 

More than you think

I assume you mean R Compounds, so here are the ones available:
205/45R16 Hoosiers
205/45R16 Kumho Ecsta V700's
205/50R16 Hankook Z214
205/55R16 Toyo RA-1
215/40R16 Kumho Ecsta V710's
225/50R16 Kumho Ecsta V700's
225/50R16 Kumho Victoracer V700's
225/50R16 Avon Tech R's
225/50R16 Hoosiers
225/50R16 Toyo RA-1
225/50R16 Yokohama A032R

The bold are the common choices. I may have missed some, but I don't think so.
The 225/50R16 is a REALLY tall diameter, so you want to stay away from that, but some do fit and a few people are running them. The 205/55R16 Toyo RA-1 is just as tall, but skinnier, so they fit, but will slow you down some.

Running Stock Class, you see quite a few wild tire widths on narrow wheels. Keep in mind, these people are RACING on them, so it works, don't let anybody tell you otherwise. For example, many of us have seen 5" wheels with 225's on them! It's not pretty, but it works.

Another thing to keep in mind. With race tires, the manufacturer is trying to keep the "spec size" for classes, but yet they stretch the tire to the DOT measurement limit. For example, Hoosier's 205/45R16 is almost the same size as what their 215/40R16 used to be. Kumho V710's run very wide, that's another example. So try to run something other people have run, or find a way to test fit it.

If you've never run R Compounds, you may want to start with a Hankook 205/50R16. I haven't run them and they're fairly new, but they're supposed to be similar to a Kumho Victoracer and since the Kumho isn't available in a good size, that may be the way to go for many MINI owners. Again, *I* have not run them though.

Brian

 

........And last about as long. Just be sure you understand that MINI's EAT tires in auto-x. It is the main reason I moved to a "street" tire class by going to STX which will also solve the lack of camber issues.

But...back to your original question. If you have any experience, and are the slightest bit competitive in nature, you will quickly tire (no pun intended) of loosing to the guys/gals with R comp tires in the stock classes. You will need these to win. If that's your intent, why drop the coin on street tires?

 

It's time to replace my A3S04 205/45R16s.
I'm considering the 215/40R16 V710s instead of the A3S05.

The V710s are ~$200 cheaper but will they run as fast?
Given that the V710s run a little wide are there any rubbing issues?

 

Its been said that the V710 will run longer and will be as fast or faster than the A3S05, not too bad for $200 less!!! I personally have not ran either yet, but I do have a set of A3S05's sitting in my garage waiting for the Atwater Prosolo only because 2 were free. I guess Hoosier is going to have to do something with pricing or else they will see sales start to drop off quickly IMO.

 

Not if the v710's are never available. Last I spoke to Tire Rack they were 12-14 weeks out

 

I hear you! I just got back in to town and hopped on Tirerack to find that they are STILL backordered. I guess for Atwater I'll be on my new A3S05's. :-)

See you there!

Craig

PS Do you have Abe's email? If so, PM me. I accidentally erased it off my phone somehow.