(stock 5th gen base wheel)

i have 205/50/16 on there right now but i was wondering if it was ok to run 225/50/16? would it do more harm than good? i know it will sag over the rim a little and that is ok with me if it "hooks up better"

im thinking about getting the kuhmo mx's b/c of the price and tread ware, anyone had any expierence with them?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fafsa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">(stock 5th gen base wheel)

i have 205/50/16 on there right now but i was wondering if it was ok to run 225/50/16? would it do more harm than good? i know it will sag over the rim a little and that is ok with me if it "hooks up better"

im thinking about getting the kuhmo mx's b/c of the price and tread ware, anyone had any expierence with them?</TD></TR></TABLE>

that tire is too tall. i'm assuming you're going to be using it for drag racing so you'll want to keep the Overall diameter of the tire closer to stock or shorter than stock.

the contact patch of the 225 will probably be bigger, but the rim width isn't ideal for that width. however, it'll probably give you better traction. what's also important is the tire compound and how "sticky" it is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

that tire is too tall. i'm assuming you're going to be using it for drag racing so you'll want to keep the Overall diameter of the tire closer to stock or shorter than stock.

the contact patch of the 225 will probably be bigger, but the rim width isn't ideal for that width. however, it'll probably give you better traction. what's also important is the tire compound and how "sticky" it is.</TD></TR></TABLE>

excuse my noobness. so the 225 will work, but i need the sidewall to be shorter? the problem is thats the only size the kuhmo mx comes in thats remotely close to fitting on the stock rims. yes it will be used for drag racing/track purposes. are these tires "sticky?"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fafsa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">excuse my noobness. so the 225 will work, but i need the sidewall to be shorter? the problem is thats the only size the kuhmo mx comes in thats remotely close to fitting on the stock rims. yes it will be used for drag racing/track purposes. are these tires "sticky?"</TD></TR></TABLE>

MX's are a good tire, they're a pretty sticky compound, but i'm not sure they're the best for drag racing because of the sidewall rigidity. since drag racers sometimes "air down" the drive wheels to increase the contact patch size, the stiff sidewalls will reduce the effectiveness of this technique. still, with the taller size will "kill your gearing" making the already tall gearing of the prelude even taller (meaning your acceleration will suffer).

when the car's gear ratios are figured out, the designers are using a particular tire diameter when they cut the gears. in our case, it's a 24.1" OD tire that they use to calculate the gear ratio. So if you use something "shorter" it'll make the gearing shorter-using a taller tire will make the gearing taller.

225/45/16 is the ideal 16"' size for 225 width tires. the bridgestone S03, michelin pilot sport, BFG TA KDW, ES100, and 712 are made in those sizes. also remember that 215/45/16 would also be ok, and the "old-current" falken azenis are made in that size. as far as which one is the best for drag racing, i wouldn't really know since i am not a drag racer, but i will tell you that the azenis, s03, and the BFG are all very soft, sticky compounds. but they also have very rigid sidewalls so it may not be ideal. i know alot of people like the es100's because they're cheap, have decent grip, and are pretty mushy on the sidewalls so that might be a good option.

 

Also keep in mind that with a 225 width tire your tire will bow out a LOT more. I really wouldn't want to put anything more than a 215 on the stock rim. Going 225, esp if you're going after a tire that doesn't have a stiff sidewall, is just asking for cupping or balooning. Plus it increases the likeliness of your unsetting the bead under extreme conditions. I'd really try to find a 7-8" rim to put 225's on.

 

On stock rims, I'd go with 215/40 or 215/45. depending on the road conditions (potholes). You're pushing it on stock rims with 225. As stated, they aren't wide enough.

And yes, you'll get better handling with wider/stickier tires. You'll need a nice drop too.

 

damn, i wanted the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2 but it only comes in 225/45/16 so the ideal size for drag racing is 215/45/16 (on the stock rims) right? i dont really have many options besides the "old style" azenis

 

For DRAG racing? Azenis will suck horribly for this duty. You want MORE sidewall for drag racing. Low profile (50 or less) is horrible for drag. For DRAG (not track) racing you want a sticky compound and a very soft compound and soft sidewall.

 

I don't know the ideal size tire for drag racing, but you can run those tires you want. Just have an extra set of rims or AAA on hand if something goes wrong.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TimeRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For DRAG racing? Azenis will suck horribly for this duty. You want MORE sidewall for drag racing. Low profile (50 or less) is horrible for drag. For DRAG (not track) racing you want a sticky compound and a very soft compound and soft sidewall. </TD></TR></TABLE>

didnt yall just say those would be ideal lol...

ok how about these

Kumho ECSTA MX (Max Performance Summer)
Size: 225/50YR16 Blackwall
YR Speed Rated Price: $109
Estimated Availability: In Stock

^ thicker sidewall, but the only thing is that its 225

 

Kumho's are good. 45/50 tires should be fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sticky Tires &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Kumho's are good. 45/50 tires should be fine. </TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks for everyones help, i think im gunna go with the 225/50/16 unless someone has any good input for that not being a wise choise

 

Again, as stated earlier Kuhmo MX's have quite a stiff sidewall. Not as stiff as the Falken Azenis, but stiff none the less. You're better off the GoodYear F1 GS D3's or Toyo T1-S as both have very sticky compounds and have softer sidewalls. Almost none of the track recommended tires will be good for a drag race. Yoko ES100's might do well in this role. But 45 series tires isn't ideal for drag racing at all, as most companies start putting metal inserts to stiffen the sidewalls at 45 series. 50+ is what would be more ideal, I can't imagine anyone recommending a 45 series tire where drag racing is in mind. And again, 225 width... Kuhmo MX section width is 9.3" your rim is 6.5" wide... doesn't take a genius to understand that you'll be pinching the tire pretty badly.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...TA+MX

 

thanks for the clear up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fafsa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thanks for everyones help, i think im gunna go with the 225/50/16 unless someone has any good input for that not being a wise choise </TD></TR></TABLE>

the car is gonna bog with that wheel size. it's way too big, it'll kill your acceleration.

i'm not sure waht to suggest, since the 225/50/16 will be better for traction, but worse for acceleration. i guess it depends on how much power you're making and whether traction is a bigger problem than actual hp.

205/50/16 in the right compound might be better suited for your needs...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TimeRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For DRAG racing? Azenis will suck horribly for this duty. You want MORE sidewall for drag racing. Low profile (50 or less) is horrible for drag. For DRAG (not track) racing you want a sticky compound and a very soft compound and soft sidewall. </TD></TR></TABLE>

whys everyone always saying azenis is so bad for drag racing because of the stiff sidewalls? it may be true that it is stiff but ive seen people pull 2.1-2.0 60 fts with these tires. how much better of a street tire do you want?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fullthrottlegsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

whys everyone always saying azenis is so bad for drag racing because of the stiff sidewalls? it may be true that it is stiff but ive seen people pull 2.1-2.0 60 fts with these tires. how much better of a street tire do you want?</TD></TR></TABLE>

interesting, any comments on this?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fullthrottlegsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">whys everyone always saying azenis is so bad for drag racing because of the stiff sidewalls? it may be true that it is stiff but ive seen people pull 2.1-2.0 60 fts with these tires. how much better of a street tire do you want?</TD></TR></TABLE>

A lot! 1.8-1.9's can be done on street tires with a good driver even with the boat Prelude. Azenis AREN'T all that sticky, as their prowess comes from their stiff sidewalls, ask any road racer or autocrosser. Or go to any wheel shop and ask them how much they like mounting them. Heck, they're even one of the heaviest tires per their size. They're Azenis not even all that sticky, the tires that I listed above are stickier and softer sidewall. They will yeild better 60 ft times.

If you don't understand, the BEST launch method is to load up the sidewalls during the launch. This is the reason why you DROP the air pressure when you go to the drag strip. The more sidewall, the more torque you can load and it allows you a much wider range of error and quicker 60 ft times. Ever go to the track and see real drag racers? They're on 13" rims with 20"+ slicks, there's a reason!

I won't bother posting in this thread anymore as it should be obvious by now what charachteristics go into a good drag tire. The width issue has also been addressed as well. If you want go with a stiff low profile tire, go for it. It won't help your 60ft times.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fafsa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


im thinking about getting the kuhmo mx's b/c of the price and tread ware, anyone had any expierence with them?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not a drag racer, but these are my notes on the MX v. the Azenis Sport.
( I wrote it for another forum)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Kumho Ecsta MX Tires:

I acquired a set of Kumho MXs to replace my daily driver azenis.

I decided to leave my track wheels and r compounds at home, and give the new Kumho a go.

Ambient temps at streets of willow this weekend were hot; saturday 94 - 95 F and in the high 80's low 90's F on Sunday.

The tire has great grip. I ran sessions with passengers all day long, and the tires stayed consistent throughout - for those of you that are familiar with the streets of willow, you know it's very tight track.

You're either turning, or braking or turning or braking - so it's very hard on the brakes and especially on the tires in my case since I don't have an LSD and all the turns have camber changes throughout.

The tires come up to temp quickly: 3/4 through the 1st lap they felt good, and 1/2 way through the 2nd lap they were "on." I fell as if the kumho compound is softer than the azenis compound.

The pressures that I used over the weekend varied with the conditions.

On saturday (the hotter day) I started with HOT pressures of 38/36 but felt that was a little low due to some (very minor) sidewall rollover - I up'd the pressures incrementally by 1 psi after a series of outlaps and got the tires working a little better.

On sunday (the cooler day) I started with 40 psi front HOT and 38 psi rear HOT - however I was getting too much wear on the center section of the tread (implying too much pressure) and I dropped them back down to 38 front HOT and 36 rear HOT.

The drop in pressures worked in getting more even wear accross the tire, but I didn't have enough time to play with them more on sunday.


Overall, I'd say in extreme heat (95 F or more) the mx's probably work best (for me) somewhere around 35 - 37 psi HOT. This will vary with cars of different race weights - my car at close to 3000 lbs will require different pressures than a 2400lbs civic.

Conclusion: the Azenis has met its match!

The MX is a viable alternative to the azenis for road course use - auto-x people may wish to stay with the azenis as (I feel) it comes up to temperature sooner and is therefore "on" that much sooner.

That said, the MX felt more consistent (even in the high ambient temps) than the Azenis and offered the same (perhaps even a little bit more) absoloute dry grip - this is what impressed me the most.

The only downside , however, is the amount of wear (which leads me to believe the mx is a softer compound than the Azenis) - I got more wear on the tires in 2 days at the track than I had with the azenis - how this will factor over the long run for someone who uses the MX consistently at the track, I don't know - but for the price and performance, I think it's a worthwhile trade-off.

</TD></TR></TABLE>


Modified by bb6h22a at 1:16 PM 2/23/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TimeRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

A lot! 1.8-1.9's can be done on street tires with a good driver even with the boat Prelude. Azenis AREN'T all that sticky, as their prowess comes from their stiff sidewalls, ask any road racer or autocrosser. Or go to any wheel shop and ask them how much they like mounting them. Heck, they're even one of the heaviest tires per their size. They're Azenis not even all that sticky, the tires that I listed above are stickier and softer sidewall. They will yeild better 60 ft times.

If you don't understand, the BEST launch method is to load up the sidewalls during the launch. This is the reason why you DROP the air pressure when you go to the drag strip. The more sidewall, the more torque you can load and it allows you a much wider range of error and quicker 60 ft times. Ever go to the track and see real drag racers? They're on 13" rims with 20"+ slicks, there's a reason!

I won't bother posting in this thread anymore as it should be obvious by now what charachteristics go into a good drag tire. The width issue has also been addressed as well. If you want go with a stiff low profile tire, go for it. It won't help your 60ft times.</TD></TR></TABLE>

well yeah that's what im saying. common now, how many people on this board have you seen that has gotten sub 2 60fts on street tires? not much. azenis arent all that bad, but yea, a softer sidewall and sticker compound would yield better times.

 

as someone posted before, with the 225/50/16 (kumho mx's) on stock rims for drag racing purposes would get more traction but kill acceleration, im wondering how much would it effect acceleration? my car now makes 400+WHP so i know no street tire will hook up. im wondering if its worth the trade off

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by john d &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hi, my name is john d and i rip through tires faster than a fat bitch who sat down too fast. </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol.....just messin' around john.

 

i wanna know that too

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ChrisRicketts &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lol.....just messin' around john. </TD></TR></TABLE>

very true statement though so when are u gunna drive down here so we can run

 

let me get this new setup in first.........