milanoteg

iTrader: (1)

I just purchased my 98 GSR a while ago, I'm looking to start racing it soon. I have a decent feel for the car with the horrid tires it came with, and I'm looking to upgrade before I go out and actually race.

The stock specs for the GSR tires are 195/55/15

What would the best size be to optimize my driving for autocross? I'll be on these stock rims for a while until I feel the need to upgrade again, which at that point I'll be upgrading to a stronger and possibly bigger wheel size. The tire itself is irrelevant to my question, I think I'm going to end up with Yoko S-drives. I had good results with them on my RSX-s, and I want to optimize my autocross seat time and also have daily driving ability for this car.

Thanks in advance

90_EX_Civic

205/50/15. but IMHO, get bigger rims and wider tires later if you're serious about autox. the 205/50/15 is to small in my opinon, other people might think different but i think it's to small of a tire for autox. something like a 225/40/16 would be ideal.

90_EX_Civic

oh, and s-drives are eh, get something sticker.

milanoteg

iTrader: (1)

I really liked the S-drives on my rsx-s, kind of a bang-for-your-buck tire... any suggestions? I'm trying to keep it relatively cheap....

milanoteg

iTrader: (1)

Probably between the s.drive and Dunlop Direzza DZ101, because of my budget

90_EX_Civic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by milanoteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Probably between the s.drive and Dunlop Direzza DZ101, because of my budget </TD></TR></TABLE>

you see the only problem i see with this is that you live in Balitmore, which means snow. and these tires don't do to well when it gets colder and well when it snows. so im going to say get a UHP all season tire or at least a HP all season tire.


side note, if your going to get Dunlop, get the star spec.

milanoteg

iTrader: (1)

k thanks for the advice man

94accordsedan

275/35/15 Hoohoos up front
205/50/15 Hoohoos in the back

Works for the DS Rs, so why not a GSR.

SleeperGSR

my gsr is lowered and i have a problem with tire rub in the back with anything over a 205. My set up isn't the best, i could have gotten a different offset to avoid this problem, or roll the fenders(i will probably do this). but i have the rt-615 and they are awesome, but don't last long. I had the kumo spt, which i thought was a great tire, lasted long, but wasn't as sticky as the azines.

Sorry forgot about that the op wanted these on stock rims. Kumo spt(budget) or falken rt-615

nsxtasy

You can use either 195/55-15 or 205/50-15 on your stock 15x6 rims.

When you are first starting out (i.e. now), you won't be using the full capabilities of your tires anyway; your own ability will be the limiting factor for you. Furthermore, a less sticky tire can actually be better for learning, because it provides more feedback to you (in feel and in squeal). So my advice would be to decide on the best tire for your daily driving needs, and get that, and also use it for your first 5-10 autocross events. If and when you want to get a second set of wheels and tires that you'll only use for autocross, at that point you can think about whether you want to get uberwide wheels, R compound or supersticky street tires, etc. (It sounds like you're already planning to follow this strategy - good idea!)

As for which tires to buy now, that depends on how you'll be using them. If you need to use these tires on snowy days in the winter as well as in moderate to warm temperatures the rest of the year, you really must get all-seasons, in which case I recommend the Kumho ASX, which comes in both 195/55-15 and 205/50-15. If OTOH you have a separate set of winter tires (or a different vehicle) for winter weather, then you can get summer tires now. If you want summer tires that last a reasonably long time and do well in rain as well as on dry pavement, the Yokohama S.drive is a good choice and comes in both 195/55 and 205/50; it's cheaper in 195/55 so I would get that. Other good choices are the hard-to-get Kumho SPT and the Fuzion ZRi. (All three of these are better than the DZ101.) If you don't care about how long these tires last or about grip in rain, and you're only looking for dry traction, you can consider some supersticky tires, like the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec in 195/55-15 or the Falken Azenis RT-615 or the Kumho Ecsta XS in 205/50-15. You can expect to get maybe 35-60K miles with the all-season ASX, 25-40K miles with the summer S.drive/ZRi, or 10-15K miles with the Star Spec/RT-615/XS.

nsxtasy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You can use either 195/55-15 or 205/50-15 on your stock 15x6 rims.</TD></TR></TABLE>

P.S. We have a GS-R daily driver, which does not see any autocross/track use, and an Integra Type R, which sees plenty of HPDE track use as well as some daily driving. On the GS-R, I have 195/55-15 summer tires (currently on Yokohama ES100, and will be switching to Kumho SPT when they're worn out) on stock 15x6 rims for March-December, and 195/55-15 winter tires (Michelin Arctic Alpin) on steelies for December-March. On the ITR, I have 195/55-15 summer tires (Bridgestone RE010) on stock 15x6 rims for March-December, 205/50-15 R compound tires (currently on Toyo RA-1, and will be switching to Nitto NT-01 or Toyo R888 when they're worn out) on stock 15x6 rims for the track, and 195/55-15 winter tires (I forget what kind - Dunlops, I think) on steelies for December-March. Yes, that's five sets of wheels and tires for these two cars.

milanoteg

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you are first starting out (i.e. now), you won't be using the full capabilities of your tires anyway; your own ability will be the limiting factor for you. Furthermore, a less sticky tire can actually be better for learning, because it provides more feedback to you (in feel and in squeal)</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a couple years of auto-x experience under my belt. I feel as I'm still improving my driver skills (who isnt? lol) but I recently switched chassis as my race car. Not much different, but I'm coming from a dc5. I can already feel subtle differences in the way the car responds. I think most of it is from going from a fairly new car to a fairly older car (2006&gt;1998, 40k miles&gt;150k miles). I've driven the car to its limits if not close already with the hooptie tires on this car, and they're beginning to impede. I don't want something as sticky as a race compound tire, but just something stickier or in the very least newer, than my balding sumitomo's.

The whole point of me asking this question was since I'm going to be buying only mediocre tires for the GSR (at the moment) I'd like to see what sizes would optimize my use of stock wheels.

But thanks for all the advice

Chris F

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by milanoteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What would the best size be to optimize my driving for autocross? </TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">275/35/15 Hoohoos up front
205/50/15 Hoohoos in the back

Works for the DS Rs, so why not a GSR. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe Sean answered your question correctly, for the best / fastest DOT tire combination on 15x6 wheels on a GSR.

-Chris

unrealwrc

275/35 would fit on a 6 in rim?

nsxtasy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by milanoteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a couple years of auto-x experience under my belt. I feel as I'm still improving my driver skills (who isnt? lol) but I recently switched chassis as my race car. Not much different, but I'm coming from a dc5. I can already feel subtle differences in the way the car responds. I think most of it is from going from a fairly new car to a fairly older car (2006&gt;1998, 40k miles&gt;150k miles). I've driven the car to its limits if not close already with the hooptie tires on this car, and they're beginning to impede. I don't want something as sticky as a race compound tire, but just something stickier or in the very least newer, than my balding sumitomo's.</TD></TR></TABLE>



Then you have a choice - either get a separate set of wheels and supersticky tires for autocross plust your wheels and tires for daily driving use, which lets you buy the best tires for each use, or else get one set of wheels and tires for both uses, and live with the compromise. If you want to do the latter, you can get supersticky tires (Star Spec, RT-615, XS) but they will wear faster for street use and will suck on snow; daily driving type summer tires (S.drive) although they won't be as fast for autocross and will suck on snow; or all-seasons (ASX) although they will be even slower for autocross. That's the trade-off; your choice.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">275/35 would fit on a 6 in rim?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No! Hoosier says they should be mounted on rims 9.0-11.0 inches wide. (15x11? Wow!)

unrealwrc

I was going to say damn, I want 2 get some 275's lol

Chris F

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">275/35 would fit on a 6 in rim?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, it's been done, they fit well enough for Autocross.

unrealwrc

Sick!

milanoteg

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">or else get one set of wheels and tires for both uses, and live with the compromise.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's pretty much the situation I'm in right now, since I'm on a pretty tight budget and can't afford a seperate set of autox tires, or even a sticky set of tires because I'd be replacing them more often. I don't autox seriously or competitively enough to NEED a separate set, but eventually I will have a few sets.

Neutron

I have seen the 275's on a stock Type R at a 2 day Michelin Proving Ground event 2 months ago and he took pro class AND fast time of the day. 268 cars including BM/CM/DM/FM. Had me drooling for ever. Sometimes I can't even sleep. Makes my 205 RT-615's look like Model T tires.

The Destroyer

Im with nsxtasy.

For what they are (s. drives) the rt615's fall right inbetween the price sizing 195-205. And will give you the grip you want. Comes out to about 300+shipping for a set of azenis.

They are still prob the bang for the buck tire for avid autocrossers.

SauN

with such a wide tire, you may experience a little more rolling resistance with the tire. With a tire that doesn't fit too well with the proper wheel configuration could end up hurting you more than helping you. for a stock wheel a 195-205 should do

94accordsedan

And if Hoosier said the sun rises in the west you'd believe it?

275s fit on a 6 inch rim, quite a few DS Type R guys run it. Hell I ran 225s on my 5" CRX rims. Find a good tire mounting place and anything is possible.

STN_Pat

These are Mazda wheels, not 15x6, and not OEM ITR 15x6.

Sorry for the off topic.

94accordsedan

Do you know anything about stock class cars?

Mazda Millenia wheels are preferred by DS guys because its a cheap light weight solution.

Stock class cars must run wheels that are the same width and diameter but can change the offset by +/- 1/4"