Looking for new street/occasional autoX tires for 14" weaves

[sweetride01]

My current tires are Dunlop SP Sport A2's, and I've never even heard of them, they came with the car.
They have a traction rating of AA, which confuses me, 'cos they don't seem all that great. The treadwear seems quite slow, but I just did my first autoX, and the tread bars are showing. They don't have much grip in the rain, but I understand that's more an E30 problem.
1.) How good are these tires compared to others available for the E30?
2.) Can you put 205's on the 14" iS wheels, without any negative consequences?
3.) Yes, I did Search.
4.) My car is a daily driver, and I want something with good wet performance, and not too fast tread wear. But, a tire that is still OK for Autocrosses.

Input???

[Digitalwave]

There seriously are tons of threads on tires in this forum. Yes you can fit 205's on stock 14's, even bottlecaps. 205/60-14 is the size.

[sweetride01]

With 205/60, will the overall diameter still be the same?

[Digitalwave]

Specification  Sidewall  Radius  Diameter  Circumference  Revs/Mile  Difference
195/65-14         5.0in  12.0in    24.0in         75.3in        841        0.0%
205/60-14         4.8in  11.8in    23.7in         74.4in        852       -1.2%

[sweetride01]

Merci Beaucoup. I guess my speedo will now read 1.2% faster than the already 8% or so error.

After looking on tire websites, I was sursprised to find out that the only real choices are the ES100's, Ziex 512's, and SP Sport A2's.
Since people have talked badly of the ES100's wet traction, it's the A2's or the Ziex's for me I guess.
I recently bought some Ziex 512's for my dad's TL-S in 215-45-17. I like them except for the soft sidewall. My only thinking is that with the even bigger sidewall of the 14's, this problem will be even worse?

[Digitalwave]

There are a lot more choices in 195/65-14.

[Brew]

Merci Beaucoup. I guess my speedo will now read 1.2% faster than the already 8% or so error.

After looking on tire websites, I was sursprised to find out that the only real choices are the ES100's, Ziex 512's, and SP Sport A2's.
Since people have talked badly of the ES100's wet traction, it's the A2's or the Ziex's for me I guess.
I recently bought some Ziex 512's for my dad's TL-S in 215-45-17. I like them except for the soft sidewall. My only thinking is that with the even bigger sidewall of the 14's, this problem will be even worse?

ES100s have excellent wet traction until they are worn down to the wear bars.

[Mystikal]

Go undersized, and get Hankook R-S2's.

[rwh11385]

Go undersized, and get Hankook R-S2's.

ES100s SUCK ASS at Auto-X


Falken Azenis
or the new hot shit: Hankook RS2s


195/60-14 is a good Auto-X / track size tire. and cheap.

[MR 325]

Tires.com still has free shipping if you find something there

[rwh11385]

Tires.com still has free shipping if you find something there

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?sw=false&cs=195&pc=11856&rd=14&ar=60

or the Azenis


Hankook Ventus R-S2 Z212
Maximum grip ultra high performance. V-speed rated.
195/60R-14 86V DSB
Reading the Tire Size
UTQG: 200AA

$71.00


Falken Azenis RT-615
Next generation street competition. H-speed rated.
195/60R-14 86H BLK
Reading the Tire Size
UTQG: 200AA

$84.00

[Mystikal]

FWIW, the RT-615's are faster around an auto-x course. But the R-S2's definitely have the water channelling down pat, and you want rain performance.

[sweetride01]

The R-S2 has a high treadwear rating though - and at $71 a tire, that could get kinda pricey.
Since I only do OCCASIONAL Auto-X driving, I'd rather just get wider daily driver tires like the Ziex's, which should still give me more grip than the A2's I'm running on now. With the money I save, I could start thinking about a set of SSR wheels and Avon tyres for the track.

Oh, and even with free shipping from tires.com, edgeracing.com still works out $2 cheaper for me, and they ship from Miami. (1-2 day ground travel time via DHL).

[Mystikal]

ZE-512's have stupid soft sidewalls in 14" and 15" sizes. Not exactly good auto-x material, but fine daily drivers.

[nando]

ES100s have excellent wet traction until they are worn down to the wear bars.

meh, they have mediocre dry traction that's even more mediocre when wet.