ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

The thing that surprised me was that the RS3 did not win. From the first run on those we thought they would go all they way, it felt like a race tire, but feel does not always translate to speed. On the flip side the Bridgestone felt numb, the lack of feedback left you wondering if it was going to stick, but they always did and they were fast.

Part of the reason I chose the Dunlop for natls was they were easy to drive on, no muss no fuss, and talking to Chris Harvey I knew they would be a safe choice if it rained.

Its hard to go wrong with any of those tires.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

I'm in the process of shopping for wheels and tires for next year also... Just started AutoX this year and have done probably 6 events.

Think I should wait through the winter to purchase tires? I am trolling a bunch of other forums looking for 17x8 or above (width), but I don't know if there will be any specials through the winter on performance tires. I liked the price of the Ventus's, but all the reviews are poor.

I have General UHPs on now with my stock wheels. . . lets just say I'm not competitive...

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

Why would you buy such a skinny wheel? Which Ventus, there is more than one in the line?

If you have only done 6 events, the tires are not the reason you are not competitive.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Well isn't the limit on stx 9inch? I figure you can still get a good 255 tire on an 8 inch wheel.

Think I'm really losing a lot by not having that extra inch if go with a 255 tire?

Also, I know I'm not going to be competitive starting off, but I drove another locals 8 with Dunlop Z1s on the corners and was 1.6 seconds faster than in my car... I know its mostly the driver, but come on now, tires are in that equation somewhere after my first 3 runs were within half a second of each other.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

And $$$... But it cost money to win, I know...

chiketkd

iTrader: (5)

I money is a concern, just get a set of 245/18 Star Specs for your stock wheels and run those next season. Then when money allows, pick up a proper set of STX wheels (17x9 or 18x9).

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

I have all winter. . . I'll just hunt for some used 17x9s and take it from there. It sounds like Star Specs are the way to go for me though in terms of tires. I'm not good enough to reap the rewards of anything nicer it sounds like.

StrokerAce

All of the current st tires are good choices. Pretty much throw a blanket over them all depending on you weight, driving style, temperature, etc.. I have the 245/18 stars specs now for street tires and that's what I'll run until I get the suspension sorted out. Besides next spring maybe there will be re21, rs4, super star spec, etc. or some will be available 265/17 and the pecking order may change. I can afford to ride the fence on wheels and tires for now.

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

I am going to go with no. When I talked to all of the manufacturers for our test, Bridgestone and Hankook told me they have no plans for a new tire in 2010. Kind of hard to justify a new tire every year to the bean counters. They also still have to sell these tires as a street tire. There may be something new, but I don't expect we will see anything ground breaking next season.

Anijo

Speaking as someone who's maybe 25 events (all this season) in now, when I was 6 events in I was still dropping 6-12 seconds between my worst and best runs on my own. Starting out with a good tire/wheel combo is definitely worthwhile, but YOU are going to make a bigger difference to your times for at least the first 10-15 events than your car's setup will. Ride along with as many people as you can in as many different cars as you can, and then convince someone who knows their stuff to drive your car with you in it. Seat time matters more than anything else right now.

At my last event, my times were across 1 second for the day. Now that I'm that consistent, I'm starting to play around with aspects of the car setup to see what makes sense to me. It's definitely worth coming on here or grabbing an experienced local, describing what your car is doing that you want to change and get suggestions.


Anyway,

17x9 RPF1's are $250 each but they BARELY fit over the stock Calipers. 255's on a 17" wheel are pretty cheap, around $160 for the Z1's. For some reason I'm running 245/45/17's on mine right now. They're a little stretched but I didn't really know any better when I was ordering everything. Next season I'm going to hop onto 255's.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Yeah, that's what I figured I would do this season. Run the car the way it is and beat my tires up before investing in good tires.

I had a more experienced 8 driver drive my car and the first words out of his mouth when he came back in where "F%^& DUDE! Your tires SUCK!" He was still 1.4 seconds faster than me in my car than I was though...

S0l08

iTrader: (1)

All this "You need 15 events before you can drive is kind of BS." I paxed 7th out of 60 drivers my first event. I was a few seconds off the really fast drivers, but not 10-15. By the end of my first year, maybe 10 events I was a contender for FTD in my BSP STI. Now after about 17 events I have taken 4 top paxes in my new RX8. THis is not ALL national level drivers, but we have some. Last big local event I was about a second off of people that trophied at nats, and on 245 Kuhmos.
I by no means think I am special. Just because you have never autoxed before does not mean you have no driving skills. People can pick it up quicker than everyone seems to believe.

altiain

iTrader: (3)

Yep, you're a rocket ship, kid... only eight seconds behind Schaadt's GS Mini.

S0l08

iTrader: (1)

HAHAHA! You can ask anyone who was at that event on that course and they will tell you those result do not mean anything. He ran in the dry first heat, I ran in up to 6 inches of standing water. The course was awefull, it was a complete waste of a day. I DNFed the last 2 runs by going on the wrong side of a cone that really slowed me down some and I was in the 64sec range.

The point of my post was not to say I'm great, because I'm not. The point is that if someone would have told me I wouldn't be competative fot 15-20 events I probably would not have attended my first event.

And Jeff is a freak!

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

Find a slow enough group to run with and anyone can be fast. My first year, which found me seconds behind the reigning SS champ in my Corvette, I found a nice small club to run with where I could set FTD every event. Then I would go run with the fast group and get that reality check.

You keep living the dream. Local event results mean nothing, even in a Region with fast guys. Its not to often the fast guys bring good tires to local events. Do good at a Tour, Pro or natls, and you have accomplished something.

S0l08

iTrader: (1)

Maybe I went about this wrong. But I just dont think telling people that they won't be worth a crap for years is inducive to getting people to come out and race.
I can't drive, I'm slow, everyone chime in and tell me i'm a douche.

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

Cheer up. You could always go run in Reno, I hear they think TRX8 is fast. When clearly DKNV is the fast RX-8 driver up there.

Anijo

My 5th event, I went to a smaller, regional club up near Canada. I walked in with my car falling into STX due to the 9" wheels and AP tune but otherwise unprepared. Came in 2nd, messing up their tournament and forcing someone into 2nd instead of battling for 1st.

There's also a difference in scale... I don't know about other regions, but NWR SCCA events in Bremerton regularly break 200 entrants.

dmitrik4

iTrader: (5)

i think you're missing the point. no one is saying that; rather, it's more like "don't get discouraged if you're not good at first." almost no one is a good autoXer (even regionally) at first, so novices shouldn't get caught up worrying about improving the car...that better set of tires is not likely to vault a novice into first.

people improve at varying rates; some get very good very quickly. others never get much better. most fall in between. but someone who quits that easily (b/c they weren't good right away) probably never would have been good anyway.

we have a guy who just won an F Mod national championship in his first full season driving that class regularly. it's his third year of autoX. but he's the exception that proves the rule. maybe you are too; who knows?

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Well, there are truths to both sides...

I've picked up autocross pretty quickly. meaning I can do it alright and . However, being competitive is different. And it is all about where you run and who you run with... "Any given sunday"

I play hockey and have been since I was 8. . . a guy that just started and has played in a few games can hold their own, but they're going to need to play at least 2-3 years with instruction before they can be competitive. Same situation here... to compete at high levels, it'll take time and practice and coaching in addition to good equipment.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm new.

mwood

Just hope you're not like me, when it comes to "improving"...









...no comments from you, ULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOSE

RK

iTrader: (1)

Correction: You suck at hockey.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

oh yea, feel the love. . .

tiresmoker

iTrader: (1)

You just need more practice on your crappy tires. Seriously. Learn to be a good driver on crap tires as it is easier to find your weaknesses in your driving style with tires that aren't forgiving. This is why I keep pushing you to come out to events even though you really aren't competitive yet.

By having those Generals on the car you will learn the areas you need to improve on, and when you move up to better tires you will be able to take full advantage of everything you learned (driving smoother, entry and exit speeds, braking zones) and apply that and be BETTER then you would be if you just got sticky tires and continued to blow turns because you went in too hot or braked too late.

You have come a long way since you first event two months back, much faster then I have seen a rookie progress in a loooooooong time.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

You do realize that if I can't get faster, the only way I can win is to make you slower... and a man never messes with another man's car. Sooooo I have to bring a bottle of BV to autocross each sunday for you... and I'll just hit jamie's right knee with a tire iron.

Thanks for the compliment though... i'm just getting ready now... sad thing is that if I keep pushing the generals, I'll need new D.D. tires & new autoX tires at the same time. i'd like to spread them out a bit. Same with purchasing the dedicated wheels.

The daily driver wheels... those are because I'm tired of looking at the stock wheels.

On a different note, what are some ways to "practice" different techniques that aren't illegal?