I really want to start autoX next year and have been trying to learn about the rules. Naturally I'll start out in the stock class. I have a 94 DX which has 13inch rims and 175/70/13 tires. My problem is that there are no decent tires at that size. I can only find all season touring types. But as I understand it if I get new rims then I'll won't be in a stock class anymore. Is this true? and if so what can be done about it if anything at all?

Also I'm 17 right now, and want to join the SCCA. I know you can become a member, but can I join by myself with out the need for parent's permission? Because my parents aren't into racing.

 

You have to run the stock tires, if you are just starting out I would run what you have on there know as you get better you can worry about better tires, They used to make some good sized 13inch r compond tires, but i am not sure if they still do, but I would not worry too much about that know.

 

for your first season, the 13's will be fine. any old all season tire will work ok too. your first season will be full of learning the basic's of driving in autocross, so cheap is good to start out. just make sure you put a lot of air in your tires.

as an alternative, find out if your car came with 14" wheels as a option. if so, you can run a 14x5.5 wheel with some 195 falken's and still be in HS.

you can join the scca as a minor. you'll still need your 'rents to sign your waiver for you until you are 18 though. if you aren't going to start racing until next year, just wait to get your scca membership until then.

good luck, and welcome to the addiction. it only gets worse from here!

nate

 

thanks for the reply. The reason why I wanted to ask about the tires is because this car has some no name tires that are pretty worn down. So I need new tires anyway. It sucks about the parents permission, but I'll be 18 in December, so it's only 3 months away.
I haven't raced yet, but I'm already addicted to racing. I am reading everything I can so I can absorb all the info.

 

Tire rack has some 195/60-13 BFGoodrich Radial T/A (Performance All-Season) Price: $41 Special Offer
Estimated Availability: Low Stock

Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer) Size:195/60-13
HR Speed Rated Price: $36
Estimated Availability: 09/15/03

Not sure how much better these would be than your stockers, but they are not too expensive. Would this be a good size for him?

 

I here ya man, being 17 sucks, I turn 18 in February so I'll check out some ice racing and stuff then Right now I'm just working on getting my car in it's best working condition I can considering it's miles and I'm getting new all season tires for my 13's because I need em real bad too. Maybe I'll see you around I'm in Grand Rapids. Depends how far I'm willing to travel for some autox

 

I know where you're coming from, lol. I was running Firestone SS20's for a while in 175-70-13 and they werent bad tires. Pretty predictable grip, GREAT wet weather traction.

 

I wouldn't say that stock tires/wheels are bad, but bigger wheels with azeni's would be a large improvement. I'm running stock tires/wheels, HXs on yokohama avid H4's, and they were ok on the auto-x track.

 

I've heard various people at local autocrosses say (and I think they're correct) that high-performance tires can mask bad driving.

You might initially be faster on Azenis, but you'll probably develop bad habits because they allow you to do things you couldn't do on less grippy tires. The bad habits will eventually make you a slower driver than you could have been.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yobtah &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've heard various people at local autocrosses say (and I think they're correct) that high-performance tires can mask bad driving.

You might initially be faster on Azenis, but you'll probably develop bad habits because they allow you to do things you couldn't do on less grippy tires. The bad habits will eventually make you a slower driver than you could have been.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree on this too. I ran azenis last season in the summer, wore them out in 4 months. Bought some es100's. I got a lot faster once i started driving on them. Not because they gripped more but forced me to learn to drive better. I then went to the kumho mx and was able to use the knowledge I learned while driving on the es100's with the new tires. And any other car I drive now.

 

yup you're right on the driving skills part. How long do you guys recommend that one race on the stock tires before upgrading to better ones? 5 to 10 events? more?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solo-x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
as an alternative, find out if your car came with 14" wheels as a option. if so, you can run a 14x5.5 wheel with some 195 falken's and still be in HS.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's my recomendation. I started out my first season on AVID H4s and they sucked! Put on the Azenis and I dropped over 3 seconds on my times.

As far as the sticky tires hiding bad habits: I think it's a toss up. The H4s weren't bad to learn on, but having the added traction of the Azenis really helped in confidence and fun (which is what's it's about, right?).

 

I'm runnin AVID H4's! Deff. a weak point....can't wait until I get new wheels with azenis.

 

I just won an EX cluster off of Ebay and will put it in. Will this bump me out of stock because DX's don't come with them?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solo-x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">as an alternative, find out if your car came with 14" wheels as a option. if so, you can run a 14x5.5 wheel with some 195 falken's and still be in HS.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you do this, be sure it's a FACTORY option for your particular model, not a DEALER option.

Factory Option = Stay in Stock Class
Dealer Option = Go to SP, or one of the new ST classes.

As to your question, the worn out whatever it is you have now tires are perfect for your first season of autocross. If you go and put brand spanking new tires on there then take them out to an autocross, they are likely to chunk up. If it's in your budget, hit the junkyard or something for another set of 13" rims of the proper width (steelies would be fine) to put those old dead tires on for autocross. This will keep you from putting a hurting on the new street tires. FWIW...

Have fun with it!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by r2x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If it's in your budget, hit the junkyard or something for another set of 13" rims of the proper width (steelies would be fine) to put those old dead tires on for autocross. This will keep you from putting a hurting on the new street tire</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'll agree with that advise. I put so much wear on the sidewalls of AVID H4s because I didn't know anything about tire pressures and just left 'em at street pressures (~32#).

 

run what you brung

 

would adding a tach count as a performance enhancing mod?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mjfan12 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">would adding a tach count as a performance enhancing mod?</TD></TR></TABLE>

If the rulebook doesn't specifically say you can, then you can't. Locally, nobody would probably protest you, but if you try to go to any type of national event, then be aware that you're likely to get protested.