If you're sticking with the 16s I'd only consider the 205/50/16 ZII or the intriguing 205/45/16 R1R. Gearing will suck on the 205/50.

If you end up buying 15s, the Rivals feel awful but are somehow quick, and maybe the extra wheel width will help. The 205/50 on holeys is like steering a oil tanker, but that might change on a 6.5" wheel. I'd be interested to see how your magic Toyos respond to a wider wheel. I have yet to drive the 205/50/15 ZII but thats the first thing Ryan and I are gonna test. I'm honestly very curious about the 195/50/15 for the gearing advantage too, but worried that the weight/heat will kill it (same concern with the R1R).

 

Thanks very much for all your helpful observations!

Sincerely,

Charlie

 

Isn't the top speed on 205/50-16 very similar to stock? Or is stock already taller than optimal? I'd consider the R1R's (205/45-16), but aren't they out after this year? I guess I could drive on them for the year, I'd probably kill them by the end of the year

Are these hands down better than the r1r?

 

I do have a slight prejudice for the R1R (particularly since my best PAX last year was the day I was too lazy to put the Hoosiers on). I do think that there's some guidance for 2015 regarding a minimum TW of 200 (the current R1R does not pass that test) but that 205/45-16 R1R makes my short list in addition to the Dunlop and Rival.

Debating and throwing darts on this question is how I hope to shorten the weeks of waiting that now stand between me and dropping the clutch in anger...

Cheers,

Charlie

 

In the same boat.. part of me wants to run the R1R in 205/45-16 to try it out, shorter gearing, probably won't lose that much overall grip.. and maybe I should run it now while I can

The other half says just run the Z2s since that's probably gonna be my go to tire for the next 2-3 years, get used to the grip, the gearing, and it'll wear better etc...

Decisions.. and counting down... not that much longer to go

 

That's unknown. I was not thinking about them because of the 2015 200TW rule. I didn't want to find a solution for this year, only to do it again next year. I didn't realise they were available in some interesting sizes.

Though the pixie dust ones are the 195/50-15 which may be a bit short. I thought they'd been banned, but that clauses seems to have been left off the 2014 rules.

 

Any thoughts on a mixed setup? I was thinking about Z2's in the front for their longitudinal grip with Rivals in the rear for forgiveness at higher slip angles. My concern would be the Z2s and Rivals dealing with temperature differently at the front vs back.


George M

 

One of the great things brought on by the street tire switch is that the "hot setup" is always in flux! There will be a ZII Star Spec for 2015, and possibly a new Hankook compound this year, and possibly the long-rumored V720 too.

And FWIW, the R1R also seems to do much better than its competitors at a certain very important site. That said, if your local site is asphalt, you'll probably be disappointed with it.

 

makes me want to go back to z2's.. 205/50-16, just set it and forget it. just seems like the best overall mix of performance.

btw archduke, i'm tackling the FSB soon.. probably gonna use your write up.. enlist some help from the local mini club... wish me luck

sorry for the thread jack charlie!

 

A good quote from Autocross to Win: http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets4.html

 

I don't sweat it that much - the differences between the top tires are smaller than the differences in my driving skill from one event to the next.

I'll just get something that works, and then make the best of it by adjusting the loose nut behind the wheel (and mebbe the pressures)...

Cheers,

Charlie

 

I like this.



Cheers,

Charlie

 

So, 30 days until the season starts. Time to try and remember how this all works?

How about re-reading the classics?

Beckman: http://phors.locost7.info/contents.htm
Henry Watts:
Turner and Miles:
and the 2014 rules perhaps? SCCA...

Cheers,

Charlie

 

i'm reading the watts book right now!

 

So I just had a lovely chat with Jeff Anderson, an accomplished driver who has been running in STX for the last few years, and also serving as our Novice Chief. It appears that the Instructor Chief hat has also gravitated to him recently.

Jeff has been an active Novice Chief over the last several seasons, and is looking for fresh ideas to further improve the experience that someone has when they start racing with the New England Region.

I am interested too, because I have had fun in the last few years welcoming a few Mini-acs to the sport, acting as an instructor, and celebrating the excitement that most newbs to the sport feel when they are starting out. Watching someone else have a blast reminds me of my own enjoyment, and reinforces the simple truth that I do this sport to have fun.

So now Jeff has me thinking - what can we do better?

I'd really appreciate your ideas too - so I'll start a thread at the root of the Autocross section of the forum, and hopefully we can crowdsource a little bit?

Here's the new thread, if you have a few minutes and don't mind my leaning on you a bit.

All the best,

Charlie

 

This might be a time for real tire wars for the first session out, if this year keeps going as it has. My suggestion:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=Blizzak+LM-60

You weren't specific, so I just assumed......Ice racing....

We are headed back to sub-zero around here next week.

 

I feel your pain - I am just watching the first flakes fall, and and leaving to drive down to Red Bank NJ in a couple of hours.

Should be entertaining.

The worst part is that I washed the car yesterday!

Cheers,

Charlie

 

My son just purchased a very nice used truck - and the weather does not appear to irritate him as much as it does me... I wonder why?


Cheers,

Charlie

 

Well, if you get much more snow you can stack those two vehicles in your driveway...

 

Hope your drive goes/went well.

 

Well the weekly commute to NJ is suspended for a while, as the game has shifted to Pune India. The good news is that I did not go (lovely folks, flight Waay Tooo Looong!). The bad news is that to stay in the game I get to get up very early indeed (but the clock jump helps a little).

But more to the point, I yielded to temptation and after extensive analysis, consultations with an Ouija board, and finally a tie-breaker involving darts, I have purchased this year's racing tires.

Drum roll please....

So the 205/45-16 R1R gets the nod, and the Panasport rims will get shod by the end of the week. When I actually bolt them to the wheels is another question entirely!

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Folks do their thinking in the oddest spots. I recall one immortal slogan I once read which began "Sometimes I come to sit and think..." and then tails off in a most impolite direction.

I drive and think.

I usually start out just driving. Deliberately filling all my senses and directing all my attention to the task, as I wind up the little roads on the coast.

I try and make every gear change an imperceptible event, and plan ahead so as not to need the brakes, and also take a line among the numerous potholes that is not so serpentine as to cause onlookers to think me drunk.

Look ahead, be smooth, and drink the familiar surroundings imbued with the false promise of imminent spring.

The thinking just happens as I try and concentrate on the driving.

Sometimes I do not feed the thought, if it is a worry, or pointless, or trivial.

Sometimes I do nourish a thought, and split my attention between the car and contemplation - and sometimes the thought process is remarkably fresh and effective.

And if I'm lucky enough to have a new insight, or to define a sensible action in the whirlwind of life, then I take note of it and vow not to forget. Often I don't forget, and these traveling ruminations have helped me in more than a few cases.

But once I've admitted I am distracted, and after haven given a train of thought sufficient run, I put it aside again and return to where I started.

Just driving.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Interesting choice, now register for the Jersey Tour!!!

 

interesting choice - anything in particular sway your decision? for me personally, i dont know if the r1rs will last as many events as i hope to do this year

 

Aren't those your "rain" tires of choice? Is there a rule change I missed? No R-comps? I thought "Street" was 180 or 200 or something and the R1Rs are 140...sorry if I sound lost in all of this.