I autocrossed for the first time this past weekend down in Colorado Springs. I feel myself being very poor for the next couple of years to battle this addiction.

I totally overpowered my stock tires (all-season street tires). I need some advice on a cheap way to upgrade my tires and or wheels.

What I had in mind was trying to find a cheap set of black steel wheels (probably 15 inch) and maybe a set of fallens (205/50/15)? Or should I find a set of tires to fit my 14 inch wheels?

I would love a set of rota's but I don't think I can afford a set of wheels at this time. Any comments are accepted.

Aaron

 

Hi Volcom (Matt says in his best AA tone.)

Don't do anythign to the car. Leave the crappy street tires on, you'll learn faster. If you were overpowering the tires, you were overdriving the car. Sometimes slower is faster.

 

The only problem with that is I am wearing out the street tires fairly quickly. I also need them this winter (to get back and forth to the mountains to go snowboarding).

I was also looking at Kumho Ecsta 712's. Anyone have any experence with these tires and autocrossing them?

Thanks

 

I agree with Matt. I seem to be learning more on my crap street tires than I am on my R Compounds.

But...when you are ready, you should definately get a second set of rims and tires. Just saying this because you are in an area where weather is a real factor in the winter, just like it is for me. Get at least some new all seasons for your "street" wheels, and some nice sticky street tires for a second set of wheels. Don't shy away from 14 in. wheels either for the second set, if you are serious about autocross. Many are light, cheap, and the tires will be cheaper too. Lower overall diameter means better gearing for acceleration. Using the forums search function looking in recent or archives of this forum for tires will bring up many posts repeating the same things on tires, week after week. If I had to do it over, I would have spent money on sticky street tires, not used race tires. Then again the group I autocross with a street tire version of almost every class.

EDIT: Wrote reply, had to do work stuff, posted reply, saw yours.


[Modified by 91SiKen, 5:11 PM 7/16/2002]

 

They were the tire to have in STS last year until people started using the Azenis tires I used them the whole season and for autocross and daily driving they are a great tire. I got about 30K miles out of them.

 

I just found Falken Azenis (195/60/14's) for 46 dollars each. Anyone think that this a good deal? Thanks for all the help
Aaron