Lenso 13 x 7.5 wheels with 225 50 13 hoosiers.

[Charlie]

And power is secondary in autocross...you should know that!

Maybe in the textbook world or at your local events on postage stamp lots. I've never seen a national, divisional, or frankly midwestern local event that wasn't a "horsepower" course.

Maybe your local club is run by a guy with a Mk1 rabbit who likes 1st gear turns and chicago boxes, but that is far from the norm from what I've seen on "tour" courses. An e30 isn't light, especially compared to its competition in SP. 2750 pounds doesn't responde like 2300 pounds of ITR. E30's aren't nimble, period. A lot of car on an antique suspension design.

-Charlie

[joshh]

The ITR does not weigh 2300lbs. I have a DSP GSR. The ITR weighs 60lbs less than the GSR which weighs in at 2670.
Tha ITR was just moved to DSP this year. It was in CSP last year.

Look my whole point is not that Alex is not a good driver. Because obviously he is to be that close to Derek and his very fast IS-300 with extremely wide tires.
If you listened to everything more experianced people had to say you have tunnle vision ( I don't consider Alex very experianced).
I will be using these wheels with or without some of your members "approval". If something breaks I'm not afraid to come back on here and show why it didn't work. But till I know for sure theres no way I'm not going to try it because another DSP competitor told me not to.

[Charlie]

The ITR does not weigh 2300lbs. I have a DSP GSR. The ITR weighs 60lbs lass than the GSR which weighs in at 2670.
Tha ITR was just moved to DSP this year. It was in CSP last year.

Look my whole point is not that Alex is not a good driver. Because obviously he is to be that close to Derek and his very fast IS-300 with extremely wide tires.
If you listened to everything more experianced peole had to say you have tunnle vision.
I will be using these wheels with or without some of your members "approval". If something breaks 'm not afraid to come back on here and show why it didn't work. But till I know for sure theres no way I going to not try it because another DSP competitor told me not to.

It still makes no sense to me to run a tire/wheel that small, especially when you plan to run SM in that car. You're gonna be in third gear with that car unless you plan on running something like a 3.15 or 2.93 rear end.

Again, an M20 will overwhelm 225's, an M50 is gonna liquify them.

But hey, it's your money. Personally I'd snag a set of 16's with some 245's.

-Charlie

[joshh]

Its very possible you are right. When the car is running and I get it out there I will post back my findings. I bought the wheels for the Acura and want to see what happenes with the E-30. Its very little money off my back unless something breaks. I'm willing to take that chance.

[ed94r]

I would say that there is a general lemming effect for E30 DSP cars with the 15-16" tire/wheel combo's. And I also would say that Alex (along with Tom Bleh) are the some of the ONLY guys in the Nation that have tried what would be consisered "radical" tire/wheel sizes compared to the norm.

I've been autocrossing with Tom (who until recently campaigned a DSP E30 at a National level) for years and have seen him go thru alot of different set-ups. I don't remember him doing a 13" combo, although I can remember suggesting the possibility of it years ago. Soooo, since most of us generally get our set-up's from guys that have gone thru the trouble of actual testing, we probably should give joshh some room to try it out. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. But I've seen alot of guys do what many considered "radical" even "stupid" and find speed.

I'll echo the above comment that with such a short wheel/tire combo, he's gonna be doing alot of 2/3 upshifts, unless he can find a DSP legal way to make it turn 7400+rpm!

Ed

[808BMW]

So where's all your national titles? Because you must be the best driver the world has ever seen.

[alex]

Have any of you actually looked up Alex's results?? He started Nationally on 14 Aug 2003. Thats a full 2 years of experiance and he does not have a championship, so stop kissing ass and stop thinking he knows all.

August 14 2003 is Thursday by the way... Mind sharing your source of information?

I invite everybody to stop beating up the dead horse here and see some test results from joshh.

[808BMW]

I invite everybody to stop beating up the dead horse here and see some test results from joshh.

Test results will be a post saying "R3vd my car while taking a hard turn, somehow my entire suspension fell apart for no apparent reason"

[alex]

I invite everybody to stop beating up the dead horse ...

Seriously, no need for more personal comments. Thanks.

[rwh11385]

joshhh,

National Champion next year on ghetto-rigged 13" wheels or BAN.

[joshh]

I wish I lived closer to Kansas so I could run in the championship. I really don't know where I stand with the fastest guys in DSP to be honest (at the national level).

Alex, the information is from the SCCA site, open to the public. It does say 14 Aug 2003.

I never said this was the winning combo. I want to simply try it.

Gearing is the one thing I am worried about but the car has tall gears so that does make up for the 13" wheels some.

[Rich V]

Boy, this thread sure got nasty.

My personal take on the E30 being competitive in DSP is that is doesn't compare the the E36. Think about it, better rear suspension, lower COG, only 150lbs more weight (give or take), 30-50 more rwhp! How the hell could it NOT dominate? Why have all the E30 guys gone E36? We are not talking rocket science...

It's a wonder Alex gets his E30 going as fast as he does, that is some SERIOUS driving and car setup ability, regardless of how long he has been doing it. I'm fairly certain Alex has been autocrossing a considerable amount of time before he starting going to Nationals.

Just to clear things up. I have been autocrossing for roughly 5 years. I have been beat by people with less than 2 years experience and have also beaten NATIONAL CHAMPIONS with 15+ years experience (both in the same cars). Drving time doesnt mean anything, you have to have talent.

BTW: Good luck tomorrow Alex! Unfortunately I couldn't be there, maybe next year...

[Rich V]

Gearing is the one thing I am worried about but the car has tall gears so that does make up for the 13" wheels some.

I had toyed around with the idea of 13" wheels with my E30. While I don't think it will hurt anything I beleive there is more to be gained by the larger/wider combo than going smaller and getting the car lower.

What kind of E30 are you running that has tall gears?

[Rich V]

I'll echo the above comment that with such a short wheel/tire combo, he's gonna be doing alot of 2/3 upshifts, unless he can find a DSP legal way to make it turn 7400+rpm!

Not with those stock rocker arms you wont!

[joshh]

I have the 2.91 LSD and stock e tranny.

Funny thing is I was simply curious about anyone using these and just by the response alone, it made me want to try it.
I realize its not the winning combo but for local stuff it would be fine.