I was considering buying some Hoosiers for next autocross season with a set of mazda millenia wheels. My question is, Is there any possibility of me tearing up the body/chassis with R compounds?
Ive heard of neons getting cracks in the firewall and then eventually it tearing like all the way through and stuff. Also Ive seen some pics of Hondas with stress cracks and things. Also there is a guy here locally that runs a MX-3 that is having all kinds of suspension problems that could have to do with the fact that he has run R compounds for so long and put so much stress on the car.
I dont want to cause this kind of damage for a few seconds quicker at an autocross. What do you guys think?

 

There is definitely more stress on the chassis, but I doubt that it will create the type of stresses that can cause problems to an ITR. I know of people who have autocrossed their ITR w/ R-compounds since 2000 and no issues.

 

well mazdas must have horriable build quailty to have problems like that.j/k

The only thing i would worry about is the trail arm bushing these got torn up on my car(it was 10 years old than yours though). I think the ITR should handle those tires fine.

 

I kind of doubt it. I've got a GS-R, which doesn't even have all of that ITR fancy reinforcement business on it. It's got like 50 track weekends including a couple seasons of competitive racing, and tons of autocrosses on it. I'm not aware of any glaring structural problems with the car.

Now, that said - the car has had a full cage for years. Bolt in from 1998 to 2003, and custom welded-in from 2003 to current. As always, YMMV.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mattamotor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well mazdas must have horriable build quailty to have problems like that.j/k
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Or S2000's... a lot of s2000's that were autocrossed developed a problem in the front area with some speration of body parts, this has been addressed on later models.

Most cars do not have any problems with R comps and body stress espically in stock or even street prep/sts class's some of the higher class that have slicks I have heard of some cars having issues, buit not a whole lot.

 

Thanks guys, I think Im going to look for a set of millenias over the winter in preparation for next autocross season.

If anybody knows of some I could buy for sheap let me know.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 01ITR640 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If anybody knows of some I could buy for sheap let me know.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I thought livestock was fairly pricey... besides, isn't it "sheep" not "sheap"

Christian, who sometimes enjoys making baaaahd jokes