14 inch race tires & wheels?

[wycoco]

free is lovely.

[Axxe]

Free is free.

[Lair]

I can get a set of half-tread Kumho Ecsta 205/50/15's for free from a friend.

Are they worth mounting?

[Axxe]

Well, I was keeping up with an E46 M3 on street tires while on 195/60R14 RT-215's.

[2002maniac]

225/50R14 RA-1's allow me to keep up with E36/E46 M3's, and outright destroy non-m's

what kind of tires do they run? I passed an E60 M5 a few times at my last event. I was on 225 hoosiers, he was on street tires...

Put some slicks on it and I'm sure I would be destroyed.

[Axxe]

Given that the M3's are on street tires and less prepped of course.

E46 M3 on 275 r-comps and Ground controls

E36 m3 on 255 r-comps and some sort of coilover (bilstein?)

I just know the track, and don't slow down much (ride the curbs where appropriate)

It also really really really helps that the course I normally go out on has very little straights, so the power of the M's isn't as apparant. Big tracks like mosport are murder for E30's.

[155///MPH]

225/50R14 RA-1's allow me to keep up with E36/E46 M3's, and outright destroy non-m's

Given that the M3's are on street tires and less prepped of course.

[madjurgen]

14x6.5 weaves?

[Axxe]

225/50R14 RA-1's allow me to keep up with E36/E46 M3's, and outright destroy non-m's

[track6]

And I would add that the original post was about doing DE, not racing. And a quick look shows the Hoosiers at $185 vs the RA-1 at $122.

On my budget, I'll run the Azenis at a 195 width for DE stuff. With someone else paying the bill and a race on the line it's a different story.

[JRKOUPE]

The car in question was running a 1.40.xxx at barber, roughly the same at RA, and low 1.40's at Mid-OH.

As far as wide tires go, there has never been a situation where running wide tires put us at a disadvantage. In racing, there is a huge advantage of being able to put your car wherever you want to in order to make the pass. As just one example, at VIR, our car was able to climb the esses flat out, and then proceed to pass every car coming into oak tree. If you look at the fast cars that are allowed to run wide tires, every single person is. Obviously you are missing the whole point. Slicks get greasy as hell as the race wears on due to heat. When you are running a 305 Hoosier, you dont have greasy tires. If you look at our lap times, we consistently set the fast times towards the end of the race. Hell, we set Barber's DM lap record (4th fastest ever in CR) on lap 26. At RA, we were running the same times from lap 7 to lap 38.

I know your posts in general, and respect your knowledge......no disrespect. And I am not missing any point....I believe Im just disagreeing. Its not about you posting FTD or setting lap records or passing people. Its about what is max tire width to produce max performance on a given car..... and Im saying wider isnt ALWAYS faster. Im out.......and done

[Skafrog]

The car in question was running a 1.40.xxx at barber, roughly the same at RA, and low 1.40's at Mid-OH.

As far as wide tires go, there has never been a situation where running wide tires put us at a disadvantage. In racing, there is a huge advantage of being able to put your car wherever you want to in order to make the pass. As just one example, at VIR, our car was able to climb the esses flat out, and then proceed to pass every car coming into oak tree. If you look at the fast cars that are allowed to run wide tires, every single person is. Obviously you are missing the whole point. Slicks get greasy as hell as the race wears on due to heat. When you are running a 305 Hoosier, you dont have greasy tires. If you look at our lap times, we consistently set the fast times towards the end of the race. Hell, we set Barber's DM lap record (4th fastest ever in CR) on lap 26. At RA, we were running the same times from lap 7 to lap 38.

[JRKOUPE]

2-3 seconds at RA, 2-3 seconds at Barber, 2-3 seconds at Mid-Ohio
And unless if 50 degrees out, yes it will. Until you have had 10+ guys come running up to your pit asking how the car made a pass on the outside of a certain turn, you arent running wide enough tires. Its not all about max grip, it's how long they can hold up during a race.

I understand 2 -3 seconds......BUT.....what are lap times for these tracks?.....it wont be 2-3 seconds on 49 second laps...right?????


and I still will opt to disagree.....sure perhaps on certain turns etc a wider print will be faster.....but on other turns/situations, tracks ambient temp, suspension settings............ not ALWAYS.......spec e 30 guys are always arguing about this.

[Skafrog]

2- 3 seconds faster on what kind of lap time?.......1 10/ 1 35/ 2 10?...... you dig? If I can get 3 seconds at Lime Rock.....wow....like 1 06 laptimes


not to be a picky...but.....the widest tire wont always be faster

2-3 seconds at RA, 2-3 seconds at Barber, 2-3 seconds at Mid-Ohio
And unless if 50 degrees out, yes it will. Until you have had 10+ guys come running up to your pit asking how the car made a pass on the outside of a certain turn, you arent running wide enough tires. Its not all about max grip, it's how long they can hold up during a race.

[JRKOUPE]

If you're doing DE and not competition, you might want to try one of the DOT comp tires like the Falken Azenis RT-615 or the Hankook Ventus Rs2. At just over $60 per tire, they are about 1/2 the price (new) of the R tires mentioned and stick pretty good for doing DE stuff. And you can drive to and from the track if you want! The only catch is that the 14" size is a 195/60/14.

Still, if you're fairly new at this, these tires are a good step up from a full street tire without breaking the bank. And they'll hang on pretty good!

As far as prices, check out www.edgeracing.com for brands that Tirerack does not offer.

Have fun.

Tim

for RA's....Vilven tire in Ill......and CJ's in Birdsboro PA