Stupid tire choice question

[generalee69]

Alright, so I don't autocross very often anymore, but there is one coming up in a couple of months that I may run. I have a decision to make. Should I run it on my:

a)Dunlop Direzza 225/45/17's
b)Hoosier Koni Challenge race tires 245/40/17's

The street tires are going to be easier to warm up and keep warm, but the Hoosiers are wider..

Also, if I stick with the street tires I can just drive the car to the event. If I put the race tires on I'll have to load it on the trailer and tow to the event.

I don't particularly care what class I run.. I can either run the street tire class with a BSP or FP index. Or just run BSP (or FP).

What do you guys think?

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[Chiketkd]

Any reason you're not considering the 245/40/17 Direzzas? What class do you compete in?

If I lived in WA, I'd look at a tire that does well in the rain.

[BrianGT]

Get the Yokohama Neova AD08. They are a step up from the Dunlop Direzza StarSpec. If you do get the StarSpecs, go wider

I don't know why you would want to run the Koni Challenge Hoosiers... they might get some heat in them and be grippy on the 4th runs if you have 2 drivers. They are too hard of a compound for autocrossing.

[mla163]

Sounds like the OP has 2 sets in his garage and isn't up for buying a new set.

If you think you can get the Hoosiers warmed up, that's your best bet. How long does it really take to change tires, can't you fit those in the trunk & back seat?

Otherwise, stick with the starspecs.

[generalee69]

Originally Posted by mla163

Sounds like the OP has 2 sets in his garage and isn't up for buying a new set.

If you think you can get the Hoosiers warmed up, that's your best bet. How long does it really take to change tires, can't you fit those in the trunk & back seat?

Otherwise, stick with the starspecs.

Yes. Thanks for clarifying. I already have both sets of tires, just trying to figure out which would be faster for an autocross.

I agree on the Hoosier... but you nailed my question on the head. I don't think (not sure) I can get them warmed up fast enough to reach the ultimate grip.

But even if they are not at their ultimate grip level, does the width give me more of an advantage over the street compound.

The Koni Challenge tires are more of an endurance tire than the R6's. Even on the track they take a few laps to get up to temp.

btw -- the Direzza's are not start specs, they are the first gen Direzza Z1

[bcblues]

Run the Duns

[generalee69]

Yeah I think you are probably right.

[UFOpilot]

Doing Packwood on the 13th and 14th or coming down to PIR by chance ?
I ask because as you know the lot at PIR is pretty chunky pavement.
Hard + wide = slick (generally not in the good way).

Though it would be fun to watch.

Maybe I'll see you there, with your Dunlops.

[KC]

I'm lazy by nature. So, I'd say stick with the dunlops and enjoy the extra time, and less work it provides.

--KC

[generalee69]

Originally Posted by UFOpilot

Doing Packwood on the 13th and 14th or coming down to PIR by chance ?
I ask because as you know the lot at PIR is pretty chunky pavement.
Hard + wide = slick (generally not in the good way).

Though it would be fun to watch.

Maybe I'll see you there, with your Dunlops.

No, I'm thinking about heading up to Bellingham to run with Chuckanut on July 11th & 12th. I used to run with them when I was in college, and haven't be up there in awhile.

Alright, so another stupid question. I was looking through the Solo rule book last night trying to figure out what class my car is eligible for now.. I think I wind up in E Modified!?

1) STU - illegal due to catless downpipe and roll cage
2) BSP/SM - illegal due to roll cage and stripped interior?
3) F Prepared - illegal due to having a wing with side plates?? Does this sound correct -- I thought I saw in the prepared list of modifications that spoilers that act as wings are not allowed... along with spoilers that have side plates.

Which only leaves E mod. Not really that big of a deal, cuz I'm just going up to have fun (and take TTOD ). Not like there is going to be a big turn out of Mod cars so maybe it doesn't matter. I'm more just looking for a clarification to see if my understanding of the solo rule book is correct.

[generalee69]

Originally Posted by KC

I'm lazy by nature. So, I'd say stick with the dunlops and enjoy the extra time, and less work it provides.

--KC

This is a very good point! Except then I have to put a passenger seat back in the car and convice my wife to ride in the STi from Kent to Bellingham (about an hour and a half).

[motoring]

Originally Posted by generalee69

Alright, so another stupid question. I was looking through the Solo rule book last night trying to figure out what class my car is eligible for now.. I think I wind up in E Modified!?

1) STU - illegal due to catless downpipe and roll cage
2) BSP/SM - illegal due to roll cage and stripped interior?
3) F Prepared - illegal due to having a wing with side plates?? Does this sound correct -- I thought I saw in the prepared list of modifications that spoilers that act as wings are not allowed... along with spoilers that have side plates.

Which only leaves E mod. Not really that big of a deal, cuz I'm just going up to have fun (and take TTOD ). Not like there is going to be a big turn out of Mod cars so maybe it doesn't matter. I'm more just looking for a clarification to see if my understanding of the solo rule book is correct.

No wings allowed in E Mod either.

Run in XP, wings are OK, but check the max size allowed.

[generalee69]

Originally Posted by motoring

No wings allowed in E Mod either.

Run in XP, wings are OK, but check the max size allowed.

No kidding?! Alright cool, thanks for the info.

[grippgoat]

SCCA classes never cease to amaze me with their suckiness.

-Mike

[gregr01]

15. STREET PREPARED CATEGORY
Cars listed as eligible in and prepared to the current national Improved Touring rules are permitted to compete in their respective Street Prepared classes. Neither Street Prepared nor Improved Touring cars are permitted to interchange preparation rules. Improved Touring cars may use tires which are eligible under current IT rules even if they are not eligible in Street Prepared.

To run an IT car in SP it must be a full log book legal IT car, this means a cage and all safety equipment--as IT and SP can not interchange any prep. A gutted car does not qualify as an IT car unless it has all the GCR required safety gear.

So, if your car is fully IT legal then for autocross it would run in BSP.

And I'd run the street tires in your local PAX-indexed class, which is what I do, and enjoy not having to do the tire swap.

[generalee69]

oh dude! Good looking out!

I really glossed over the street prepped rules because I though the cage would be a no go!

Thanks!


hmmm on second thought -- ITE is not a national IT class... but the safety regs for ITE are the same as the national IT (A,B,etc) classes. What do you think?

[gregr01]

Originally Posted by generalee69

oh dude! Good looking out!
hmmm on second thought -- ITE is not a national IT class... but the safety regs for ITE are the same as the national IT (A,B,etc) classes. What do you think?

I think the SCCA's classing system is .

If you were running in Phoenix I'm reasonably sure none of us that run in our local street tire 1 category would seriously object, since that's the way we normally handle unusual entries (though we always try to get the car in the right class & category)--even if you won the event a one-off entry wouldn't change the series outcome.

For where you're going to run, best to check in with the folks running the event and give them your best song and dance about the IT allowance.

[generalee69]

Yeah, good call. Thanks for the help.

[Sriracha]

If you don't care, just run an open class, or Non-Points class. You never have to worry about classing, just time.

[S1MPSONS]

Dunlops. Save your wheel bearings.