ANOTHER noob tire question/suggestions

I was aiming to have a set of 15x8s wrapped in some good tires before my first autoX this past weekend at TMS but that didnt happen lol. i was forced to put that on the back burner and decided to run my car with the 17x7s and 205s i have on there currently. keep in mind i only have those wheels and tires for street use (didnt intend on racing with them lol, wayyy too slippery). within the next few weeks i will almost definatly have a set of 15x8 rims. then it will be another month or two for me to wrap them. My NA already has roled fenders with a slight pull all the way around so i kind of wanted wider tires for the best grip. this set will be strictly my autoX set. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

O last thing, the wheels im looking at are konigs with +25 and weigh 12lbs each.. thanks

For autocross with the ability to drive to and from events, go with the Hankook RS3 in 225/45/15. Best/widest "street" tire for miata. If you are looking for an r-comp, I'll defer that to the hardcore AX guys.

RS3's are the current hot-weather go to tire. Beware - if you only have one set of wheels, they suck in the rain.
Wider isn't always better.


Star Specs would be better for combined daily driving and AX duty.

Be aware of the tire and wheel size limitations for the class you intend to compete in, or you'll be throwing away money. For example, in STS, 7.5" is the max width. If you plan to run in a Street Tire class with a Stock pax, then you must use stock diameter and width tires (and almost the same offset).

If you plan on running primarily with BMW, PCA and NTAXS, then wheel/tire combo is irrelevant.

Running with BMW is going to be my main. Their events are close to where I live. Equipe is 2nd on my list lol, i plan on doing those just to get track time...

Ozmdd- if i can run the 8" wide rims wrapped in 225/45/15s with bmwcca in class x, then what will that put me in for equipe?

As of now i only care about the bmwcca (and hopefully will actually be competative (not last) next year lol). Running with equipe is going to be just for fun/getting seat time- so if i get put in a tough class and am always last then o well lol...

^ I just happen to have this up as i'm looking my self. Looks like STX (the same for me as well)

http://autocross.com/er/carmodandclassification.pdf

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Originally Posted by Jiggerachi

^ I just happen to have this up as i'm looking my self. Looks like STX (the same for me as well)

http://autocross.com/er/carmodandclassification.pdf

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Ummm really??

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STX is for sedans/coupes with four seats and engines up to 5.1L normallyaspiratedor up to 2.0L turbo/supercharged.

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Maybe STS?? (But I see the 7.5" rim rule)

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STS is for sports cars with 2 seats and normally aspirated engines up to 1.9L.
ST allowances
Included cars: BMW Z3, Honda CRX and del Sol, Mazda Miata (1990-97) and
RX-7 (1979-92) (non-turbo), Toyota MR2 (1985-89) (non-supercharged)
Excluded cars: Lotus (all), Mazda Miata (1999+), Toyota MR2 (1991-95,
2000+)

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Link - http://cms.scca.com/documents/Solo_R...categories.pdf

The PDF I linked to says width limit is 7.5", is this not right? That'd be nice.
It's been a looooooong time since I raced with scca/er so I'm trying to understand the newer classes.

Edit, looks like a torsen screws you for STS as well. That's partly why I stopped running with SCCA is at the time I was stuck in CSP. Not that I would have been competitive anywhere else, but I got murdered everytime I drove out there.

IMHO - SCCA is putting some effort into limiting the playing field for the antique Miatas. Pisser is it is the rule set many clubs use like ER. \

My car is in the same quandary the Torsen and ABS really limits where it can play.

I thought the reason you quit running SCCA is because you drove so painfully slow. :-)

NA 1.6 with 7.5" wheels and either a VLSD or open LSD is STS.

NA 1.8 with 7.5" wheels and open LSD is STS.

NA 1.8 with Torsen LSD is STR. Can remember the max wheel width in STR, but you can look it up.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

NA 1.6 with 7.5" wheels and either a VLSD or open LSD is STS.

NA 1.8 with 7.5" wheels and open LSD is STS.

NA 1.8 with Torsen LSD is STR. Can remember the max wheel width in STR, but you can look it up.

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Thanks Jimmy!

I think it is 7.5" maybe one of the STR kids could chime in.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

I thought the reason you quit running SCCA is because you drove so painfully slow. :-)

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Well, that too.
Ass... ;)

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Originally Posted by Jiggerachi

I got murdered everytime I drove out there.

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That's because you removed the purple shock and the anus exhaust. :rolleyes:

sTR is max 9" wheel, 255 tire. Miatas cannot run in STX or STU, STF and STC.

8" wheels will put your car in STR, pretty much. Equipe Rapide uses SCCA rules and classing, so just check the SCCA rule book (free online).
ER and SCCA have a local Street Tire class where you can run against a bunch of different cars and all are indexed against each other using the pax. Basically, it helps to make a Yaris competitive against a Corvette by indexing the times. Ask me how I know. :)
All of the other clubs simply class you by engine size, turbo/supercharger and race tires. They have 3 to 5 classes that every car will fall into. It's very easy and there are no nitpicks about carbon fiber hoods or wheel size, etc. because the classes are very broad, you may be up against faster cars, but the goal of those clubs is fun and lots of seat time rather than very strictly regulated competition.

As a rule of thumb, any Miata is a fairly competitive autocross car regardless of the club. Certainly when compared to virtually any other car model.

I don't know if any of the non-Torsen NB's qualify for STS, but they are all C Stock and the Torsen NB's are STR with the NC's.

Thanks! This Sunday ill be forced to run sts at the mesquite ER event with my 7" wide street tires (which means sliding everywhere lol). Thennnn,once I have the 15x8s wrapped, ill register under str.

Gonna be Sweeeet!

What year/model is your car?

If we run at Mesquite, you'll be sliding anyway. :)

IIRC all NBs are STR, open or LSD (Torsen or Tochigi-Fuji)

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Originally Posted by sammm

That's because you removed the purple shock and the anus exhaust. :rolleyes:

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Hahaha... I was missing the anus exhaust power. The asymmetrical thrust now throws the back end out on left turns. It used to be much more balanced.

Damn... looks like my fidanza throws me back in good ole CSP...::Rant::

95 miata. Open Dif. Alumina 5 way adjustable shocks. That's it. I take it mesquite is super slick? I'm picking up the 15x8s Friday and should have the 225/45s in a month. Don't knowbif ill go r888s or rs3s yet lol.

The fidanza is a non-issue with NTAXS, BMW and PCA. TCSP isn't all that bad a pax for SCCA and ER; I've run it before.

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Originally Posted by JKKent

Don't knowbif ill go r888s or rs3s yet lol.

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You need 140 tread wear or higher, so no R888s in STS.

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Originally Posted by OZMDD

The fidanza is a non-issue with NTAXS, BMW and PCA. TCSP isn't all that bad a pax for SCCA and ER; I've run it before.

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Yea I normally try to run those clubs(well out of the three freaking events i've ran in the last year) for that reason. I may be starting a new job soon that will take me out of the possibility of monthly autocross events so this might be the last one until i've built up enough tenure to start pulling a bunch of annoying vacation half days.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

You need 140 tread wear or higher, so no R888s in STS.

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Thought the 15x8 rims took me out of sts and into str anyway.

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Originally Posted by JKKent

Thought the 15x8 rims took me out of sts and into str anyway.

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Okay. No r888s in STR.

dang lol. guess im saving up for rs3s (slighty cheaper too :D)

And better for autox than 888s