GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

Apparently, Kumho has announced the following new 710 sizes:

Available very soon:

215 - 50 - 13
195 - 55 - 14
205 - 55 - 14
225 - 50 - 14
225 - 50 - 15

Coming in Spring:

225 - 50 - 16
245 - 45 - 17
245 - 35 - 18
285 - 30 - 18

Sizes that are in question about the aspect ratio and or section width:

215 - 40/45 - 16
265 - 35 - 18
305/315 - 30 - 19

In terms of BS, I have a feeling the 285-30 will be difficult to stretch over a 8" wide wheel. The 245-35 seems a bit narrow, but it would lower the car and gearing. The 265-35, now that sounds interesting, assuming they build it.

clyde

Great. Way to make my life more difficult. :-/

idriverx8

265 - 35 - 18
pleeeeeeeeeaaase !!!!!!!!!!!!

bmc

how does that make your life more difficult? now there is only one choice.

The current rumor I've heard is that Hoosier isn't happy with the 710 being close to the S04, so they are going to be bringing out another tire that is even better.

clyde

First set of tires next year has to go on in February.

I've heard of changes coming to the S04 that have already been implemented on some sizings (stiffer sidewalls and belts that don't extend so far out towards the shoulders so they don't cord as quickly on a number of cars with extra poor camber capability). That's according to Paul at Radial.

bmc

February? Uh... autocrossing in Arizona are we? I don't plan on putting on my next set of hoosiers until March, since I'll be using my autocross rims as my winter rims this year.

Last Feb, I was cursing the snow. I found myself stuck at my house more than once, even though I had a FWD Pirelli all-season shoed GTI.

wide tires + snow + not much weight = lots of wheel spin

clyde

Florida and Georgia (assuming a similar schedule as 2004).

John V

iTrader: (1)

I don't think 245 is "too narrow." The 285's won't have any more grip than the 245s if you can't heat them up...

I'll go ahead and put my vote in for the 245/35/18.

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

Good point. 285 does seem like allot of tire for a 3000 lb car with 164 ft lbs of torque. But then perhaps the 265s will be "just right."

Probably gets back to being condition dependent. Tight course + low surface temps may favor the 245s.

ronbauer

No doubt about the 285 being a stretch. Has anyone tried this?

Regarding the lowering of the car though, the 285/30 should actually be slightly less diameter at 85.50 vs. 85.75mm for the 245/35.

Ron

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

Hi Ron, welcome to the forum. Thinking of running BS next year?

Yes you are correct. My comments about gearing were more relative to the 265-35, since the 285 just didn't seem practical.

George

Ophitoxaemia

ive found the new crop of autocross tires (ecsta v700, V710) to work very well at much lower temperatures than the victoracers i used to use. more than 120 degrees and they go greasy, and they need to be only about 90 degrees to work. rx8 should heat a 275 easily. my usual autocross car weighs about 2200lbs on 275 size tire and i have to water the them after the 1st run (with 2 or 3 drivers). so wider is likely better if the camber is controllable.

james

clyde

How wide are the wheels your 275s are on? With a codriver at a two day event this summer on asphalt we ran 275/35-18 Hoosier A3S04s. The first day was cool (low 70s) and a little damp. We didn't see 100 degrees on any part of a tire until after the car's fourth run when the sun started to come out and the highest we saw was 105 or 106 after the sixth run. We didn't take temps the second day because it was cooler, the surface damper and completely overcast.

Ophitoxaemia

9in front and 10in rear. on slippery asphalt the fronts will get to 130 degrees by the last run, the rears after the 1st run. this is not wild driving either, although ive got 350+ ft lbs of torque. ive got a set of 710's in the garage ready for the next event 31 october. i drove on them a couple of times last spring before the recall and the heating problem was much worse (especially the rear). when either the ecsta v700 or v710 get over about 125-130 the grip just vanishes- it was so bad i was convinced i had a suspension bind.

ymmv,

james

altiain

iTrader: (3)

Wow Ron - wasting no time scoping out next season's ride once you've finished dispersing the bad news to the S2000 boys, eh? :D

I know Tim Pryor was using 285/30-18 S04s at the Houston Tour earlier this year, so you might ask him what he thought about using that size.

ronbauer

Hee, hee....

It does look like I'll be in BS next year, but in a 968. That said, we now have an RX8 in the driveway that we'll be partially setting up as a backup car. You gotta love the fact that Mazda made a car where the absolute base model is the car you want. The prices are also excellent right now!

FWIW, Tim was running 275s from what I understand.

Ron

tpryor

Yep, 275/35/18 A3S04's at the Tour. We are considering the 285/30 A3S04's in the rear at higher speed events to tame some of the trailing throttle oversteer on our current setup. We like it now, but it's something we want to try.

We have fitted a 285/30/18 A3S04 and it fits fine (on the rear), but at full lock it "might" hit the lower a-arm in the front (just barely).

If we could just find someone willing to buy us a set of Penskes.................oh well, it's nice to have a goal and a dream, right?

I'll let you know as it progresses.

Imp

257s? What is that, some kind of One-off size? :D Sheesh... you guys and your 'contracts'.

Ron, exactly.. the base model is what I got too for the great price. (Well.. almost base.. I still have to shut off the 'no fun for you' button)

--kC

ronbauer

We did get the absolute base model. I figured if we were buying the car with the thought of autocrossing it at some point, we might as well go as light as possible. The Xenon's, foglights, and traction control probably don't add too much, but weight is weight. Additionally, I always hate having to remember to turn the anti-fun switch off!

Ron

Imp

There were only 2 in the region... 2 (non-moonroofed base models.. I can't have a moon roof.. I don't fit). And both about 400 miles away. It would have cost more to get them, than to by the sports that are in the area.

And besides... I can personally lose that much weight to make up for the difference. (Which I'm on a mission to do anyways)

--kC

GTP

Ron or Keith...have you weighed your cars yet in autocross trim? I'd be curious to see what the xenons, no fun button and gizmos add to the base.

Imp

George,

Not yet.. I don't know of anywhere in my region that has scales.

ronbauer

Not yet either. We'll have stock wheels for awhile. I'll try to get it weighed soon.

Ron

GTP

If either of you guys get a weight, please post up. Thanks.

clyde

Assuming that my weigh in at the DC Tour was accurate at 2,888 (Koni shocks, OEM wheels, Hoosier A3S04 245/35-18, OEM exhaust, Sport Package and navigation with ~6 gallons of gas) I'd imagine that a no option RX-8 with a similar amount of gas would weigh in just under 2,800 using lightweight wheels and as straight pipe catback (or something else really, really light). Looking forward to finding out.