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

[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....

[matt]

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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[matt]

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

[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.

[whiltebeitel]

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

[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]

[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]

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?

Do you see national level guys switching to narrower tires when its cold out? Other then a wet rain tire I haven't seen it ever.

[kendogg]

Do you see national level guys switching to narrower tires when its cold out? Other then a wet rain tire I haven't seen it ever.

Right. And none of them could figure out why street tire cars were SO close to their times. It was because they were running massive tires, that even with tons of toe, couldn't get enough heat in them on a cold-ish day to get them into the temp range the tires needed to be in.

The part most people seem to not understand is that you need to be able to get these massive tires hot. I recommend a pyrometer to pretty much anybody before spending money on other stuff. Check and record your tire temps, see whats really going on. Look at your alignment, etc.

[joshh]

Cold temperatures do put a damper on the Hoosier race tires but not so much for the 710's. They heat up quite fast and don't need to get as hot as the Hoosier. On a 70* day my first run gets them up to temperature (225 50 15's). If I don't cool them off before my second run they start getting greasy.
Even with a skinnier race tire you wont see much of a change in cold weather in autocrossing.
This is one reason why I asked why Nationals was held so late in the year.

But even a cold race tire is faster than a cold performance street tire. I know, no one said they were faster. Just stating the fact.