about wheels...
 

Hi all again. Jsut went to my first autocross this past weekend (3/17):D had a blast. I was wondering what are the biggest/best rims and tires for autocrossing?:confused:

Thanks
Snake Eyes<l><l>

oh, and I forgot, anyone know some good racing seat so my helmet(my spelling sux) doesn't bang against the roof or sides? (it was the only bad part about the autocross lol)

Snake Eyes<l><l>

You don't want big rims for autocrossing, you want small light rims. Check out the Panasports, I believe the size is 13x8. Best tires would be some kinda DOT-Rs, I believe Toyo makes the RA-1 in 13 inch sizes.

I run the Corbeau Forza, it very barely fits in the car.

There is a set of Panasports on ebay right now. Check it out! :)

im gettin some diamond wheels 13x8. they're cheaper than the panasports. and either 225/45-13 hoosiers or 235/45-13 kumho tires. check out diamondracingwheels.com they're not real stylish, but they're cheap and they work

I thought you would want something in the middle. I know they are going to take a beating so you want plenty of side wall, but that means sidewall flex. The more flex the worse the handling is. You also wouldn't be able to fit very large brakes in a 13 in wheels and I would think you would want big brakes for driving at the limit.

I don't think huge brakes are the focus with the low speeds you see in autocrossing. As well, a simple pad change can result in fantastic braking with otherwise totally stock brakes. It's a very light car, remember. I could be wrong though, any autocrossers care to enlighten us with the ideal setup?

I used ferodo and bonez in my 83 with fantastic results, bigger are not needed with street tires. I do not know if adding R rubber or bigger tires will neccesitate better brakes but I doubt it. There was a guy running a FB with no roof and a Small Block and Slicks. He had the factory brake set up. although I would HIGHLY recommend some quaility studs to replace the lug bolts. I have seen lug bolts fail, and cheap studs fail. You do not want to do this.

BTW What class do you plan to run in. In stock you are only allowed the stock wheel size and ofset. Tire is open.

In street prepared get the lightest smallest wheel you can afford. Revolutions, panasports, ect. Diamonds are cheaper alternatives. Go with 13's. If your courses are rough get a slightly taller sidewall, if they are smooth, go with the shorter tire.

Just my $.02

Thanks for the advice about the studs, I've been thinking about this for a while. I was thinking of ordering the ones Mazda Motorsports sells.

I would think that press-in studs would be better than screw in. you might have to drill out the factory threads though. Press-in studs have a head on them that would keep them from just stripping out the thread and pulling out.

I got a t2 seat. bolts right in, was cheap, matches the interior, holds me in, lowers the seating position, perfect.

What class are you racing in? Check the rules to see what you're allowed to do before you start doing. You might not be allowed to go up in wheel diameter or width at all.

205/60-13 DOT-Rs would probably be your best bet if you are limited to stock rim diameter/width... they don't fit perfect but they'll work PDG.

As for the seat, I haven't tried it in a race environment yet but believe it or not it works well... Go to the auto parts store and get one of those seat belt clips that is supposed to keep the belt from retracting too far. But instead, use it to hold the belt tighter. Cinch the lap belt over your hips, pull it TIGHT using the shoulder strap, and slide the clip down on the shouldser strap against the buckle. That doesn't hold your upper body, but now your ass is solidly planted to the seat, which is a ton better than sliding around and trying to hold yourself up with your arms.

well, I was going for stock class but since me and my dad had to replace the muffler and got a performance one instead I guess the modified class

Just a little info for you...

1st - wheels/tires.. If you want to just have fun, run your street tires on normal rims. If you want to be compeditive, you're gonna have to go to R-compound (read, non-streetable, and $$$) tires.

Stock - To stay in stock class with SCCA you can run any tire you want that will fit on a factory sized rim. You are allowed to change the cat-back exhaust, but header will throw you out. And for what it is worth, sadly a seat change will throw you up also. (don't ask why)

Street Prepared - This is the next level up. This basically allows you to change whatever you want to on suspension, run any size wheel/tire, and do intake and exhaust. Basically everything but internal engine stuff. This is where I run.

A little more info, for those of you still reading this. I just finished my first auto-X on my new diamond racing 13x8 wheels with Hoosier tires this past weekend, and the car isn't even remotely the same. DAMN does it stick. I even beat my roomate with his C5 on all the runs. Ideal wheel size is 13x8 or 13x9, personal preference. The tires are 225/45-13 Hoosiers or 235/45-13 for Kuhmo's... Any more ?'s

Snakeeyes: where in TX are you anyway?

so did you win in CSP?

and will you be at pennington feild Sun?

btw.... i saw some 13" panasports for sale in partstrader.com today for $350

Katy Tx, just outside of houston:cool:

yayarx7:

I did alot better than I was expecting last weekend. I placed second in CSP next to Tim Schuh and his perfectly sorted -SE. There were I think 8 in the field.. 2 other Rx7's, one was a spec 7 that someone brought, andother 12a, there were two drivers in a v6 Fiero (88 I think) and a couple other cars that I don't remember..

And yes, I do plan to run with ER this weekend, but the event is at Mineral Wells if I remember correctly. Pennington was last weekend.

oh yeah....hope to see you there:D

So that rules out anything other than stock port... Where would a street port put me?

Do aftermarket apex seals also count? Like Hurley or Atkins type...

What about Oil pump modifications or different spark plugs... Those kinda go IN the engine...

What is the ABSOLOUTE widest tire that will fit on the back of the car with tubbing or rolling the lip. I have searched before but not with the greatest results. I need the widest tire I can get because I'm gonna have traction problems with the puny 185's.

Pele... I was looking into it... a streetport would put you into Prepared if I read the rules right... of course I found this out after the only mods to my car were a street port and headers :rolleyes:

Winnipeg... There's more clearance to the inside in the rear than there is in the front, but then you'd have to have different offsets in the front and the rear. FWIW the rear tires are probably never going to rub unless you get some huge-diameter stuff... the rear suspension doesn't move that much. Plenty of people run rather wide tires that stick out a few inches and have no rubbing problems. (See the thread on Diamond racing wheels for some pics - yes that's Tim Schuh's car up there showing off its 13x8 wheels :) )

yayarx7:

Where were you yesterday? I looked for ya....

It was a hell of a track.. Super fast. I hit about 8,00rpm in 3RD GEAR, in TWO places even!!! You figure the speed...

Still got second to Tim Schuh again though... Oh well, I learned power slides are fun :)

Every time I make plans to go they fall through:( I have to get to an autocross dammit! This time it was work. The next one's the SCCA on the seventh @ penningotn right? I will do my bestest to be there. :D