Some Auto-x pics and review on E30S50's performance...

[kendogg]

Yeah as far as having more tire, especially for autocross there is no such thing as "too much".

Ask that to the people who wet to nationals last year when it was cold out.

To the OP - what are your tire temps looking like?? How is your alignment setup, particularly front camber and toe?

[rsafier]

[quote=DSP74;891507]

The biggest issue with the E30 is lack of ability to fit rubber. Even if you go nuts like myself 285s are the most you can cram under the car and it requires pretty much destroying the car in the looks department.


Says who?
My car was being built as a DSP car with 275 15's and flared to fit 285/30/18's. But as I'm willing to call driving a gut busting car on the street fun, I want to to drive this on the street and it be fun. So I'm going to just turbocharge it, (BTW VERY similar as what you have done and would like to aim for the same power intitially).

So...................When the car is flared, and painted I'm going to fit 285's up front, and 315's out back. with flares I think it'll look bad ass. But I guess others who aren't autoxers will think it just looks silly.

Okay one more insane person :) 275/85 are as big as you can get up front without slamming into the inner fender wheels, so that is the major limitation. You could fit 335+ if you really wanted in the rear. Most don't want to stagger just to allow for tire rotation (really helps with life on r-comps), and many times makes for a more understeer car.

Honestly with my suspension setup I am suprised how well it behaves on the street. A group of us drove 300+ miles to a national tour event and I was pretty comfy, my buddy in his Subie on the other hand was sore as hell.
[whore alert] if your looking for a turbo setup I am looking to sell mine off BTW[/whore alert]

[whiltebeitel]

You need to start a build thread so I can stop drooling.

[DSP74]

[quote=rsafier;867890]The biggest issue with the E30 is lack of ability to fit rubber. Even if you go nuts like myself 285s are the most you can cram under the car and it requires pretty much destroying the car in the looks department.


Says who?
My car was being built as a DSP car with 275 15's and flared to fit 285/30/18's. But as I'm willing to call driving a gut busting car on the street fun, I want to to drive this on the street and it be fun. So I'm going to just turbocharge it, (BTW VERY similar as what you have done and would like to aim for the same power intitially).

So...................When the car is flared, and painted I'm going to fit 285's up front, and 315's out back. with flares I think it'll look bad ass. But I guess others who aren't autoxers will think it just looks silly.

[matt]

215/45R16 Street tires
205/50R15 R-comps

[Mystikal]

I'm starting to wonder if I should ditch the 16's and get either 15's or 17's. Tire selection was never this hard on my E36:| Too many compromises.

Go with a 17 if you really want to stuff huge tires on. 235/40/17 and 245/35/17 are possible.

Jay

[10/10ths]

If you are thinking of 15's you should take a look at these...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=97573

They would look good on your car to

[mazur]

Need spacers. I use 15mm up front and they work fine, didn't put any out back.

We're talking about 16's.

That 0.4" is enough to deem them useless on an E30 that doesn't have fender well (read: not fender rolling) mods. They would rub in almost every direction.

Jay

Hmm...that sucks.

I'm starting to wonder if I should ditch the 16's and get either 15's or 17's. Tire selection was never this hard on my E36:| Too many compromises.

[Axxe]

Monkey Balls? Nah, they dont suck that bad. Caps/225's I wouldnt try, but 225's on weaves is surprisingly good.

I have them on caps. I'm swapping them over to my weaves in the spring.

I had a set of 225/50s. They didn't fit.

Need spacers. I use 15mm up front and they work fine, didn't put any out back.

[Mystikal]

Here's a good question...why do you guys keep mentioning the 215 Azenis when they come on a 225/50/16? Their sidewall is only 0.4'' taller than a 225/45....

That 0.4" is enough to deem them useless on an E30 that doesn't have fender well (read: not fender rolling) mods. They would rub in almost every direction.

Jay

[matt]

I had a set of 225/50s. They didn't fit.

[mazur]

Here's a good question...why do you guys keep mentioning the 215 Azenis when they come on a 225/50/16? Their sidewall is only 0.4'' taller than a 225/45....

[10/10ths]

Stay away from 225's on weaves or caps. Steering response sucks monkey balls

Monkey Balls? Nah, they dont suck that bad. Caps/225's I wouldnt try, but 225's on weaves is surprisingly good.

[Axxe]

Stay away from 225's on weaves or caps. Steering response sucks monkey balls, and 205's have almost as much grip without the steering response loss. With the 225's it takes the car an extra split second to "set-up" for the corner, which is fine on track, but autox with it's transitions ends up in very unsatisftying understeer as the tires try valiantly keep up with the wheels. It's wrestling with the wheel, not fun at all. If you go to r-comps, stick to 225's on the 8 inch wheel (MAX 235). You don't need anymore grip than that unless you are being super competitive or have 300 + whp. I'd recommend trying the 215/45/16 RT-615's first, as they have razor sharp response and high grip, as well as very linear loss of grip.

[Mystikal]

I'm probably going to opt for a set of 225 RA-1's for the 14's.

But if I did stick with street tires, would not 245 RS-2's be better than 215 RT615's longituedly?

Perhaps. However with their soft sidewalls, I wouldn't like them much on 8" wide rims. You'd be sacrificing response and stability for straight-line traction.

Jay