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

[Charlie]

Buy a set of RA1s for your 14 inch wheels, it'll set you back about 500 bucks. That's a good bit less than a BBK, and swapping out a set of wheels takes a lot less time than installing a BBK. Ditch whatever god forsaken street tires you're running on, and then see if you really want to blow tons of cash on a BBK. Doing it the other way around makes no sense at all.

-Charlie

[nando]

Buy a set of RA1s for your 14 inch wheels, it'll set you back about 500 bucks. That's a good bit less than a BBK, and swapping out a set of wheels takes a lot less time than installing a BBK. Ditch whatever god forsaken street tires you're running on, and then see if you really want to blow tons of cash on a BBK. Doing it the other way around makes no sense at all.

-Charlie

but how to you run a 18" Ferrari BBK with slotted/drilled rotors on 14" wheels? 100mm spacer? :p

which reminds me of another point. with better tires, it's possible that you'll use the brakes a lot less, since you can carry significantly more speed through the corners.

[mazur]

If your brakes aren't grippy enough, bleed them better, bed the pads in properly, or get a bigger master cylinder.

Got the 25mm MC and pads bedded properly. I'll bleed them again and see if that helps.

Buy a set of RA1s for your 14 inch wheels, it'll set you back about 500 bucks. That's a good bit less than a BBK, and swapping out a set of wheels takes a lot less time than installing a BBK. Ditch whatever god forsaken street tires you're running on, and then see if you really want to blow tons of cash on a BBK. Doing it the other way around makes no sense at all.
-Charlie

Looks like I can get those in a 225/50/14 (how did you know I have a set of 14's? lol)

Will these actually provide me with the amount of grip I'm looking for? And how many track days (with 4, 20min. sessions) can these be expected to last for? I've never driven on them before so don't know what to expect.

Maybe I can try finding some good used slicks for the 14's...hmm.

[matt]

Then maybe you need to replace your booster? Or did you use a 320i booster when you did your swap?

There is a good reason I tell people not to use that one...

[Charlie]

Looks like I can get those in a 225/50/14 (how did you know I have a set of 14's? lol)

You have an e30. Everyone with an e30 has 14 inch wheels lying around. I've got 18 of them.

Will these actually provide me with the amount of grip I'm looking for? And how many track days (with 4, 20min. sessions) can these be expected to last for? I've never driven on them before so don't know what to expect.

They're not Hoosiers or Kumho 710 gumballs. They are a significant step up from pretty much any street tire you can cram on an e30. In terms of life, I've got at least 20 track days on one set, and another 7-8 days on a set of "throwaways" from a spec miata guy that I picked up for 10 bucks.

They last a long time.

-Charlie

[mazur]

Then maybe you need to replace your booster? Or did you use a 320i booster when you did your swap?

There is a good reason I tell people not to use that one...

I have an IX booster.

I've got at least 20 track days on one set, and another 7-8 days on a set of "throwaways" from a spec miata guy that I picked up for 10 bucks.
They last a long time.

-Charlie

Is that shaved or unshaved? I have heard that supposedly they are supposed to last longer shaved, but I don't know if they meant by tread life or the amount of times you can heat cycle them without losing their ability to grip.

[10/10ths]

RA1's are awesome tires, fairly cheap for what they are, durable, versatile and they stick very well even when "cold" such as autocross. Depending on the conditions they are better than Hoosiers/710's, and you can drive them on the street if you want. Even in full tread they hold up to hard laps very well, recently I did 2 back-to-back 15min track sessions all day and the tread blocks still look great.

[madjurgen]

Do you realize what you just wrote?

Correct grammar, correct spelling, what's the problem?


A BBK is ONLY useful if youre cooking your pads and/or fluid. You dont mention that anywhere. What you do mention is lack of bite, which almost entirely has to do with pad compound. You need to make up your mind. You want more bite but you want to run them on the street. Mutually exclusive for the most part. Get a set of pads for the track, HT-10s or PFC01s. HP+ are really just not that aggressive.

RA1s will last you an eternity on a lightened e30. A little squirmy when new if you get them unshaved, but still well above any street tire.



Douchem3atl: Gforce Sports, Hankook RS2s, Azenis 615s. All produce stupid amounts of sliding during autox in a m20 powered e30 with decent suspension and a decent(aggressive) driver. At least thats what myself and every other e30 owner down here experiences. If they work for you, congrats.

[10/10ths]

You have an e30. Everyone with an e30 has 14 inch wheels lying around. I've got 18 of them.

lol, I have 15 14in wheels...that should almost be its own thread, I bet average for track guys is 12-16.

[dinanm3atl]

douchem3atl?

Wow... how old are you? Ever heard of driving smooth maybe?

Aggressive doesn't meant fast nor does it equal sliding.

But debating with someone calling people names is pointless.

[Jean]

RA1's are awesome tires, fairly cheap for what they are, durable, versatile and they stick very well even when "cold" such as autocross. Depending on the conditions they are better than Hoosiers/710's, and you can drive them on the street if you want. Even in full tread they hold up to hard laps very well, recently I did 2 back-to-back 15min track sessions all day and the tread blocks still look great.

x2... from what I read and hear from guys who use these, they are good track tire, not good autox tire. so there is trade off, but they will LAST.

[joshh]

RA1's are awesome tires, fairly cheap for what they are, durable, versatile and they stick very well even when "cold" such as autocross. Depending on the conditions they are better than Hoosiers/710's, and you can drive them on the street if you want. Even in full tread they hold up to hard laps very well, recently I did 2 back-to-back 15min track sessions all day and the tread blocks still look great.

WHOA there (you work for Toyo??). The only thing the RA1's are better at in any condition than the 710's or Hoosiers is they have tread and will do better in standing water.
But I do agree with you on everything else!

[10/10ths]

Work for Toyo?? I wish...free tires!

In my experiance, and having seen it first hand many times, the RA'1s are better not only when wet (even a shaved RA1 vs. Hoosier) but they also tend to afford more grip when its colder ambient. This from a guy whos only ever run Hoosiers and 710's in competition before this year. It doesnt seem right to me either but if the temp is any lower than say 60deg, no sun, even a damp surface, I am better off on the RA1's.

Many autocrossers here in WA state tend to agree with this and I was reluctant to try it for myself until a mid summer autocross that was around 60 and cloudy with a few damp patches on the track. Grip was high and stayed level for the entire length of each run on the Toyos. The day before had nearly identical conditions without the damp spots. I was running 1 year old A3S05's, Nando in his IX was on stickers. Couldnt get the tire temps above 85 in either case and they just dont seem to work well unless you get them over around 100 (co-drivers help with this). With this overall lack of grip, you have to "tip-toe" around on these tires in these conditions. Not so on the toyos.

I guess what I am getting at is the Hoosier's and 710's seem to have a narrow operating window. Of course, on a clear, warm day the autocross compounds give INCREDIBLE grip, much more than the RA'1s. That is, until you see temps of 140+ from these tires, then they get "greasy"...different topic and thats not usually a problem here in WA:D

Justin

[joshh]

Ah, now I see what you're saying.
Interesting. I'll have to look into that.
I can't tell you have many times I've gone mad trying to heat tires up just to end up disappointed and scratching my head on cold days.
Maybe that's why I was only one second behind the top DSP car here in Portland (first event) when I was using A032R's.

[nando]

lol, I have 15 14in wheels...that should almost be its own thread, I bet average for track guys is 12-16.

I had 14.. but I threw two of them away, and sold 4 to you. :p

I still have 16 wheels though, all with tires. LOL