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

[Jean]

Good job! I know of one very quick DSP Subaru RS locally, it's on some wiiiide tires too.

Do you have a copy from the SM/DSP groups too ?

[dinanm3atl]

what pads are you using? This is auto-x...

I know of someone that TRACKS an e30 with m50 and has OEM brakes with Hawk Blues and NO problem... Your "ignorant comment" is kind of ignorant... doubt you are hitting 130mph and slamming on the brakes and then another 120 and slamming on the brakes... Get the correct pads... Temp range is important as you are at auto-x and might not even get a hardcore track pad up to temp.

Just sticking a wider tire on doesn't equal traction...

What temps were you running cold? Hot? What was the ambient temp? What is the tires temp range etc etc...

[matt]

As much as it hurts to say, I am with dinanm3atl... I think you might need a brake bleed or to re-bed your pads or something, but HP+s are an awesome autox pad.

[mazur]

what pads are you using? This is auto-x...

I know of someone that TRACKS an e30 with m50 and has OEM brakes with Hawk Blues and NO problem... Your "ignorant comment" is kind of ignorant... doubt you are hitting 130mph and slamming on the brakes and then another 120 and slamming on the brakes... Get the correct pads... Temp range is important as you are at auto-x and might not even get a hardcore track pad up to temp.

Just sticking a wider tire on doesn't equal traction...

What temps were you running cold? Hot? What was the ambient temp? What is the tires temp range etc etc...

I TRACK my car, and that's where most of my feedback is based off of. This was my first auto-x in a long time. I have been going to the track consistantly for about two years now.

Just comparing how my E36 M3 with same pads with same tires (except 235's) stopped a whole lot better. HP+'s might not be the best pads in the world, but I'm not planning on getting too much more aggressive for a street car. I've heard of a local running Cool Carbons on his race E30 and loves them, so I'm gonna give them a shot...I'm just not expecting miracles.

Hawk Blues? Yah, don't feel like eating my rotors up that quickly:roll:

I don't have a pyrometer, but I'm sure my current tires are overheating on the track. But it's cooler now, so maybe they might not get as greasy.


Width might not equal traction, but right now going wider seems cheaper than going with softer compound...especially for a street car.

What do you think would benefit me more? 245/45/16 Z212's or 225/50/16 RE-01R's? RE-01R's are only $25 more per tire but I'm worried they might be too tall. Maybe something else for decent price?

[joshh]

275 35 15's.

DO IT!

[buhnah7]

Wow definetly did okay in my minds, you were up against WRX's and s2000's, mad props for a 17 year old car
racing against much newer cars

[dinanm3atl]

As much as it hurts to say, I am with dinanm3atl... I think you might need a brake bleed or to re-bed your pads or something, but HP+s are an awesome autox pad.

Quoted before you edit :) :hitler: :hitler: :hitler:

I TRACK my car, and that's where most of my feedback is based off of. This was my first auto-x in a long time. I have been going to the track consistantly for about two years now.

Track Pwns ;)

Just comparing how my E36 M3 with same pads with same tires (except 235's) stopped a whole lot better. HP+'s might not be the best pads in the world, but I'm not planning on getting too much more aggressive for a street car. I've heard of a local running Cool Carbons on his race E30 and loves them, so I'm gonna give them a shot...I'm just not expecting miracles.

I just tried and enjoted EBC YellowStuffs. Might want to give them a shot. I used them at road atlanta. They are a bit "sluggish" when cold on the street... you have to pay attention but it is not "dangerous" but once warmed up they are great. Rotor life looks like it is going to be great!

Hawk Blues? Yah, don't feel like eating my rotors up that quickly:roll:

Well unfortunately you have to pay to play... Just get some blanks... They are extremely cheap and just replace them... Now if you aren't getting pads up to temp the blues will KILL your rotor(and really any track pad for that matter) so we need to find your temps and know where you are at before we really settle on anything.

I don't have a pyrometer, but I'm sure my current tires are overheating on the track. But it's cooler now, so maybe they might not get as greasy.

I haven't participated in an auto-x in YEARS so I don't really remember but the only way I could see you overheating 225s on the e30 is if you are doing a lot of excessive drifting/power sliding... Obviously I haven't driven your car myself so I don't really know but remember smooth equals fast ;)

Width might not equal traction, but right now going wider seems cheaper than going with softer compound...especially for a street car.

What do you think would benefit me more? 245/45/16 Z212's or 225/50/16 RE-01R's? RE-01R's are only $25 more per tire but I'm worried they might be too tall. Maybe something else for decent price?

I am familiar with the RS2s but not the new 01R's. With that being said I hate Bridgestone, their SO-3s are crap on the track and become a greasy mess if there is any significant outside ambient temp and they squirm and I just hate them...

What kind of camber are you working with? Other alignment specs? Adjustable camber front and rear? I think you can get some more grip out of what you have :) Get a pyrometer also :) It is extremely helpful to find your cold pressure/hot pressure etc with temps... and you can see if you are using the whole tire or just the insides or have too much camber or not enough etc!

[10/10ths]

I think you might need a brake bleed or to re-bed your pads or something, but HP+s are an awesome autox pad.

+1
HP+ pads are the best I have used for a car that sees mostly autocross with a few track days a year. Stock rotors, fresh ATE Blue, cooling ducts, and removal of the backing plates makes for good consistant braking on my car. HP+ are some noisy bastards though...wouldnt want them on a DD car.

btw mazur, good result considering a lack of grip.

[nando]

I can lock up my 225 hoosiers with Pagid street pads.. I think something else is up if you're overheating your brakes on a mediocre street tire.

[10/10ths]

I can lock up my 225 hoosiers with Pagid street pads.. I think something else is up if you're overheating your brakes on a mediocre street tire.

I thought you are running ABS?

[nando]

threshold braking :p

[rsafier]

Its amazing how many people have preconceived ideas of what will and won't work.
You can overheat almost any street tire in just 1 good run, anytime I've run street rubber (RT615s) I bring a sprayer to keep them at reasonable temps. And its the front that overheat, the rears generally take a lot more to get to temp. Same is true even with my 285 combo, tho if its below 80F outside if its 3 runs you generally don't need to cool them.

On the brakes, people freak out about killing rotors (they are cheap 10/ea), also I've run Carbotech Panther which are pretty strong, but have gotten 2 seasons (30+ events) plus a HPDE and probably 5K street miles on them and still have life on them and the rotors. Also every event the rotors true blue, not a problem, means they are working.

Track setup is definately far different then autocross tho. Autocross everything is kinda extreme if your going all out. Tons of camber, lots of toe-out, wider rubber then most consider sane.

[joshh]

Nice looking car.

[mazur]

I just tried and enjoted EBC YellowStuffs. Might want to give them a shot. I used them at road atlanta. They are a bit "sluggish" when cold on the street... you have to pay attention but it is not "dangerous" but once warmed up they are great. Rotor life looks like it is going to be great!

I might have to try those out. I'll probably just buy rears, since right now they're shitty Mintex. I wonder how much of a difference having better rear pads is going to make? Maybe that's my problem....

I haven't participated in an auto-x in YEARS so I don't really remember but the only way I could see you overheating 225s on the e30 is if you are doing a lot of excessive drifting/power sliding... Obviously I haven't driven your car myself so I don't really know but remember smooth equals fast ;)

Well, with good car control, it's possible to actually be faster doing little drifts while keeping your line and setting up your exit better (hope that makes sense). It just really depends on the type of corner. Probably 90% of the time you don't want to slide at all.

Good example is karting. One place I go to, if you're not sliding around corners, you're not going fast enough. Just have to make sure to keep the correct angle as to not slow the kart down.

What kind of camber are you working with? Other alignment specs? Adjustable camber front and rear? I think you can get some more grip out of what you have :) Get a pyrometer also :) It is extremely helpful to find your cold pressure/hot pressure etc with temps... and you can see if you are using the whole tire or just the insides or have too much camber or not enough etc!

It's about 3-3.5* front/rear. By looking at the sidewalls after a run (chalk) the camber seems to be about right. But like you said, I should get a pyrometer and get temperatures to make sure it's effective. Rears are non-adjustable.

I am currently running -1/8'' toe up front. The rear is inconsistant because the right trailing arm mounting points (the ends of the V) are slightly bent towards eachother and I'm sure that's messing the toe up.

[mazur]

+1
HP+ pads are the best I have used for a car that sees mostly autocross with a few track days a year. Stock rotors, fresh ATE Blue, cooling ducts, and removal of the backing plates makes for good consistant braking on my car. HP+ are some noisy bastards though...wouldnt want them on a DD car.

btw mazur, good result considering a lack of grip.

I agree their good, they just don't seem to do it for me on this car. On my E36 M3 they were AMAZING!

They're not loud if you put anti-squeal on all mounting points.

And what do you mean remove backing plate?

On the brakes, people freak out about killing rotors (they are cheap 10/ea).

Where you getting that deal?

I can lock up my 225 hoosiers with Pagid street pads.. I think something else is up if you're overheating your brakes on a mediocre street tire.

Any car can lock up their tires or set off ABS...doesn't mean they have good brakes....