(Auto Cross) Tire Size
 

Ok So I posted a question about this before, and got some conflicting responses, also, I know bigger looks better but what PREFORMS better, not so much interested in looks, light weight, and something that grips like a bitch. I ve been working on the car alot over the winter and finially push 50+ hp out of it and cant wait to take it and cross it, but I ve heard crap like using my stock steelies, but I am a little aprehensive about taking the car out on the track with thoes, I mean thoes arnt exactly speed rated, I am even more worried about it because I have lowered the car about and inch and put a sway bar in it, will I be putting too much stress on the tires?? Basically what am I better off doing, going out and buying a new set (willing to do that) or save money and risk a blow out on the track ( not so willing) let me know.

do you only own steelies? lightweight is good but i couldnt tell you if itd be alright to autox on those. also, smaller diameter wheels are better for acceleration as opposed to larger diameter wheels. last season i ran on the stock 17x7 wheels wrapped in all-season BFG Traction T/A's (215/55). this season ill be running on a bit lighter wheels, Falken Torque 5's, same size (17x7) wrapped in Falken Azenis (215/45). my suggestion would just be to try your first auto-x on the steelies, and if it feels good, keep on using them...by the way, what tires are you riding on?

also, what model and year is your 3 (hatch or sedan?, S or i?) and what modifications have you done to pump out 50 more horses? and, what did you use to drop your car, and what sway bars are you using?

For autoX, I wouldn't worry too much about blow out. Most places you are not going to go over 60MPH.

If you never autoX before, my recommendation would be to just go try it with your stock rims and tire. Get a feel for the track and see how your new suspension handles. After that, think about how you might improve certain aspects of the car. Does it understeer or oversteer?. Most of that could be fixed by correct tire/wheel size and compound. Or right alignment of the car.

Good luck!

My 3 is i sedan, its actually 48.6 +hp but whos counting... most of my modifications have come from SR motorsports, Ram Cold Air Intake (SR Motorsports) Sport Pully Sysytem ( SR Motorsports ) and Cat-Back Exahust (SR- Motorsports) Lowered the rear and front with Eibach Pro Kit, and the strut bar is from greddy. I also have aftermarket spark plugs. All in all not to shaby for having the car for 5 month, and putting around 1200 bucks into it, but I think I am going to hold off on more mods for a bit, untill I decided what to do with this whole tire situation. the next thing on my list is a sweet lookin accolade body kit , but thats close to 1000 bucks a pop so thats gonna be a whiel, hopefully befor the end of the summer.