2 sets of tires, Which do I run?

[Nathan]

I have 2 sets of wheels and tires for my car. The one that is on it now is 205/55/15 BFGoodrich Traction T/A spec V. The other tires I have have 225/50/16 Goodyear Eagle LS. The 16's are wider, but they are heavier and a worse tire. The 15's are still not a great racing tire, but are better and they are light, but they are not as wide. Which set do you guys recommend I use?

EDIT: I forgot to add links to the tires.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Goodyear&model=Eagle+LS&tirePageLocQty= (the 16's)
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=BFGoodrich&model=Traction+T%2FA+V&tirePageLocQty= (the 15's)

[SeanB]

The 15s, they are probably closest to stock size and you won't take a hit on the gearing.

[Nathan]

The 15's are the stock size tire. They are 870 revolutions per mile, and the 16s are ~835. That's a lot more of a difference than I thought it was going to be. I wonder how much that equals in gearing. It'll only show about 2.5mph under at 60mph though.

[erwendell]

It's not just the gearing that matters. The rotating inertia of the larger tire and wheel combo is significant for a lower power car. It amazes me sometimes how many people sacrifice driveability by going to an ultra lightweight flywheel and then offset a good portion of the acceleration they gained by running huge tires and wheels.

[crobin4]

+1 I'd go shorter and lighter every time.

[Nathan]

I'm definately running the 15s. I figured I would anyway. I've been running the crap out of those tires for the past week. As soon as they are gone, I'll go back to Sears and get them pro-rated, then go out and by a set of Falkens. Then I might be an actual threat in the STS class. lol

[SeanB]

Then I might be an actual threat in the STS class. lol

Yes until I sell my CRX and show up with a Civic. :D

<- really really really really really really really wanted an 89 Civic Si for STS, but found the yellow car for a good price.

[Nathan]

I ran the 16's for the first time today. They suck to the ground better than I thought they would. I tried to test them to see if they are better/worse than my 15s, but I can't tell on the street. I'm not brave enough to push my car hard to the point of understeer when there is traffic out. It lightend up in a few places, so I pushed it harder and got them to slip. They squeel a lot. I'm not use to that. Car also turns harder with them on. I didn't think it would, but it does. Kind of feels a little more numb though. I've got to test these tires on a track to see which I'm going to use.

[SeanB]

Nate just wait till you try real "street" tires like the RS2 or RT-615, everything else after that will feel like poop. If those tires didn't have a street life of 10,000 miles I'd drive on them all summer long.

[Nathan]

Nate just wait till you try real "street" tires like the RS2 or RT-615, everything else after that will feel like poop. If those tires didn't have a street life of 10,000 miles I'd drive on them all summer long.
As far as the handling, the tires really feel like the week point right now. The car lays pretty flat in turns and steering is precise with the 15s. I'm having some issues with the header, it keeps breaking and is now mostly welds and melted brass. We'll see were money goes. I might start air brushing for people to make an extra buck or 2. I'll just slide all over the track and pretend I'm in a rally car till I can afford decent tires. I think I am running the 15s again. They are a little more uneven, and have a higher tendency to let loose in the back because they are bald back there. But they are more predictable, and hold about the same. I don't know if that makes since how a tire can be predictable, but BFGoodrichs are just not as temperamental acting as the Goodyears.

[ShortysTRM]

One thing to keep in mind is that street tires that are made for autocross will last you about a season and a half, as well as offer you some daily driving miles on top of that. Normal street tires will chew up pretty fast at autocross. If you don't have the option of buying autocross tires, just run what you can.

[Always The B-Side]

I understand this and am trying to find some secondary tires (and wheels) for the track only, just wondering if you or anyone else would know where to find some for cheap? Thanks,

Matt

[Nathan]

I understand this and am trying to find some secondary tires (and wheels) for the track only, just wondering if you or anyone else would know where to find some for cheap? Thanks,

Matt
Tirerack.com has the best price on new. I check ebay all the time for some Falken RT165s. They have them on there used sometimes. You're lucky if you can find the right size.

[ShortysTRM]

Try edgeracing.com. They carry Azenis 615's and Hankook RS2 Z212's for really cheap, as well as cheap wheels.

[Always The B-Side]

I found some on edge racing but they were sold out. I'll keep looking! Thanks!

[johnnytavo]

if you want your header to stop breaking you could purchase some stiffer motor mount inserts!

[camry3sfe]

slightly off topic.

falken fk452s any good? I can get these in a bundle with rims for 600 at edgeracing to fit my car perfect. or would the falken Ze 512 be a better tire for autox. I know the Azenis 615 would be nice, but they dont have them bundled with the rims. :(

hey nathan, your celi has the 5sfe engine in it. I have heard that the exhaut flange for the 3sfe and 5sfe are the same. I've never had my header break or malfunction. they are pace setter headers. so if they might fit the 5sfe, you could look into that, they might not break.

[SeanB]

Neither, both are worse than what you have.

Both are categorized as all seasons, I use the Ziex ZE 512s as regular street tires and trust me they are just that and if you autox on them they will last you less than 7000 miles.

[Nathan]

if you want your header to stop breaking you could purchase some stiffer motor mount inserts!
Is that STS Legal? I know I'm just starting, but I don't want to screw around with the rules. Even if I were to bend the rules, I wouldn't do well yet. I would probably get my butt kicked in G stock. lol

hey nathan, your celi has the 5sfe engine in it. I have heard that the exhaut flange for the 3sfe and 5sfe are the same. I've never had my header break or malfunction. they are pace setter headers. so if they might fit the 5sfe, you could look into that, they might not break.
Yup, same head. The pacesetter will fit. It doesn't bolt up, but it's close. We basically have the same motor except I have a bigger boar. I'll go back to the stock manifold before I get another header. I know I can make this one work, and make it better.

I really think I should have been an engineer sometimes. I've been working on this header design, re-doing my helmet, and making my animal training device. I love this stuff. I still love psychology though.

[johnnytavo]

yeah i don't know if it is legal, i was just suggesting, because a stiffer motor mount will keep your motor from moving so much, which will of course keep your header from moving a lot

[Hillbilly]

I'd run the 15's just because of their physical advantages no matter their grip level compared to the 16's. Although I am running against you so I could just be lying to you lol.

[Nathan]

I'd run the 15's just because of their physical advantages no matter their grip level compared to the 16's. Although I am running against you so I could just be lying to you lol.
I appreciate your honesty. I am running the 15s. I got a chance to "check out" the 16s, and the rub when hard cornering. I don't want that on the track.

[Nathan]

Anyone see me out there today? Dang, those 16s really sucked. I was sliding all over the place. One of them got a hole in it, and another got a big crack in the sidewall. I know the 15s would have held better. We'll see at the next event.