Wheel / Tire Combo's....AutoX
 

Just a general thread to find out what everybody is running and their thoughts on performance, price, value, etc....



Wheels: Focal R3 16x7 40mm offset

Nice looking, a bit on the heavy side, actual weight is unknown, i've never weighed them. Got them a few months before i started autoxing. A good balance between looks and performance. But i also have a set of Rodeo's 15x7 35mm, that i will soon use for racing. Price was good, got them used from a friend, $350 w/tires :D

Tires: Kumho Ecsta 712 205/45/ZR16

Good tire, not great, but good. Again, got these a few months before i started and did not find out about the Azenis until after the fact. After 6 days of racing and regular daily driving, the fronts have worn the outer edges. (Also due to me being a Novice and getting in too hot my first 2 days) Wet grip is very good. I have since gotten quite used to the feel of the tires and can keep them at their limits with minimal breakout. Price was $80 per tire (i know too much, but i desperately needed tires, and this is the best they had in stock) Once these get worn down, a set of 205/50/15 Azenis will go on my 15" wheels and be used only for autoX.

It's late, actually quite early, i can't sleep, so i came up with this thread idea....

Jesse's right
 

I think Jesse's about right on the STS setup
15x7's with the Falken tires.

I run 15x6 Miata wheels with 225 or 205 Hoosiers on my H-stock car. The combination is very light, and the wheels are cheap from Mazda Motorsports.

However, If you are not running in a stock class, go as wide as you can - 7"or 8"

LAter,

As of last season, in STS, i had my stock R/T wheels, 14x6 (or 5.5...can't remember offhand), which were incredibly light, with Pirelli P4000's. Decent tires, but not incredibly sticky. Gotta get race rubber for this year, will either go Hoosier's or Kuhmo's.

I can get the Kumho 712s for half the price of anything else around here... I've heard mixed reviews of them..

I need new tires 'cause after 2 and a half years, my Parada Spec1s are worn because of camber in the front.

Will the Kuhmos last a while? I don't AutoX, but I drag race every so often... nowhere near as hard on the tires tho...

What do you guys think of 205/40R17 Kumho Ecsta Supra 712s?

Oh yeah, and what's the speed rating?

Well, since this old thread has been bumped, I might as well post.

Currently I'm running a set of factory steels (I think they're made of lead) with Kumho VictoRacers (205/55/14). If, and when, more money becomes available, I'll be purchasing an additional set of factory Miata wheels (the ones with the rounded spokes). Years down the road when I become rich, I'll buy a set of Hoosiers for the car. Nothing like light wheels on an underpowered car.

Hey, this information is helpful!! I want to start AutoX's, but I know nothing!! Absolutely nothing!! So any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Anyways, I was thinking about getting 5 zigen 5NO1R-C rims and I was wondering if I'd be better off getting the 15', 16's, 17's, or 18's. The problem is that because I'm new, I'd probably be using the wheels for both race and show. Thanks!

Think about this before buying racing wheels. Functionally you want a lightweight wheel that fits the right size tire on it.
Practically speaking- you have to change the wheels alot when you are racing alot- which means they might get banged up or scratched while hauling around in the car, mounting/dismounting tires, or just the slip of a lug wrench. I wouldn't reccommend getting something very expensive- and be carefull buying used cause they might have a bend or warp in 'em.
Wheels that use different lugs than your street wheels can be a pain- it sucks to get all the way to an event and you for got your lug nuts and can't change tires!
Usually smaller is better- lightweight and gearing. For the Protege 15" seems to be the ideal size (tires are cheaper too)-16's wouldn't be bad for STS if you found a really light wheel.

Later

speaking of tires... anyone have any experience with Yokohama AVS ES100s. A few folks here rave that they are a great all around summer tire with excellent wet traction that can also hold it's own for the occasional autocross.

I would be looking for something that I might be able to autocross but needs to be able to stay on the car all the time (other than winter of course).

thanks.
-JJB

I run in HS with my Pro5. I use the stock wheels and stock Dunlops. I've fantasized about upsizing my wheels, in both diameter and width, but the 16" stockers are tough to beat in terms of weight. 15-16lbs is really pretty good. Because I don't auto-x competatively (I just do it for fun) I wouldn't mind running 17"x7" wheels, even if it put me in STS (assuming I had upgraded suspension as well). To be competative though, I would run with 15"x7".

On a side note, my Dunlops have held up well over three auto-xes. I run 50psi f/r and you'd never know how hard I use them. Azenis would be nice though...;)

None of you have tried The 712s?

Thanks for the input Jas00x!! For now I just want to autox for fun and maybe someday I'll be able to really go at it!!

I am leaning towards Toyo RA-1 205/50/15 as far as tires go. We have the Toyo R-Group team support program in Canada, and they are the same price as the Kumho V70A (Ecsta V700) and from all reports tend to last longer. The new soft-compound Yokohama A032R is interesting but no one seems to know much about it, or if it is even available here yet.

For wheels ... it's not such an easy choice.
I want 15x7 and as close to +45 as possible, and being hubcentric is a nice bonus.

I had a set of Black Racing Pro-N1 on order for the last two months but no one will say when they are arriving and the season starts in three weeks! eek! So now I am frantically running around trying to see what shops have in stock locally, or what is at least on the continent at the distributors.

Most of the wheels that will fit correctly are forged which is good and bad. Although a local rally shop ( fourstarmotorsports.com ) has a couple sets of 15x6.5 Compomotive HT2 wheels from their LanEvo for sale at a good price so I may end up with those although they don't really suit the look of curcuit driving ;)

Wheels that would be nice but not all of them are available or affordable:
RealRacing R2 (perfect fit, unsure of center bore)
5Zigen FN01R / FN01R-C (only +42 offset)
TeamDynamics Pro-Race-1 (no 5-bolt 15x7 in stock)
BlackRacing Pro-N1
Volk TE37 / CE28N
Compomotive HT2 / HT3 (rally wheels a little on the heavy side but bulletproof)

wow, this is an old thread!!! i still have the 712s on the focal 16x7 (actually 42mm) for street, pretty worn, but a decent tire. Run the Azenis on 15x7 35mm wheels. Street or Race, i'd still go with the Azenis. Which is what is going on as soon as the 712s run out. They are a fantastic tire for the price value.

Jason, what cha gonna run for STS?

So you guys are saying I should stay away from the Khumos I take it?



How can I find this out and how can I fix it???

Well, you are not going to autocross are you? I have the Khumo 712's (205/40R17) on my car and so far I've been pleased with them. The only thing you might want to consider is road noise. I think that the tires are a little noisy, but excellent for the price.