Has anyone solved these problems I'm facing? I've progressed to where I can beat cars running race tires with my S03s but I wear them out pretty fast and it's getting expensive (second set this year).

B Stock is the class I want to continue in with a Performance model and the choices are limited for 18" DOT tires that fit 8" rims. What are you running and how do they perform?

How are you getting the tires to the event? I saw a trailer hitch that someone fabricated but a commercial application is preferrable. Towing the car is out because the truck is my wife's hauler for her horses.

Please post any suggestions you have.

 

I have used the above tires on 8 autocrosses this season and still have half the tread. Theses are not the stickiest Hoisers are the best, size 275x35 but they wear is poor and expect to go through three sets in a 16 race year.

I drive anywhere from 30 to 100 mile to each event on the tires and don't see it as an issue.

I do plan to add a custom hitch this fall as I plan to do a track day each month and autocross next season.

 

Based on reports from our local competitors -- that they are getting at least 10 events per set -- I don't believe the Hoosiers will wear at nearly the rate CRay suggests. And the new ones (S04) are supposed to work longer than the previous generation.

We started out on Victoracers and now are on Avons, both 275/40x17 on 9" wheels.

The Kumhos still have tread and work well, and they have 22 events (111 runs) on them. Our Avons have 18 events (78 runs) and are not half-worn yet.

I started out on the Kumhos because I needed a tire I could drive to events, for which they are fine.

You may have seen my hitch diagrams/photos. It is working out quite well, although it attaches to the rear bumper only. This winter I plan to investigate a way to add stays that extend the attachment to the frame, without interfering with the muffler action.

BTW, my box-trailer knocks down the cruise mileage pretty significantly (~29 to ~23). I suspect it's aero-drag.

 

I was talking to a driver yesterday at AutoX. He races on Hoosiers and was showing me one that he had already worn down to the cord. He estimates he has 50 miles on them - i.e. 50 runs.

 

Good lord. you're getting ~29mpg?!?!


I'm picking up a set of 19's for the street and plan to stick with the stock 17's for autocrossing. Any recommendations for tires on those? How much camber are you all setting up with?

 

If you're running the stock 17's I'd go with the Hoosier A3S04s in either 275/40R17 or 245/40R17. The location we are running in my region is kinda small, so I went to 245/40R17 A3S04s and they work great. The Kumho V710s seem to be just as good as the A3S04s, but they only have 275/40's in 17", and no one has tried to see if they fit on the stock wheels yet.

As for transporting, you can fit all four wheels/tires in the car, this was talked about in a few other threads. For each event I put two wheels, air tank, cooler, helmet and chair in the back (remove the spare tire), two tires on the passenger front seat and the jack on the passenger floor.

 

Mine has always gotten good mileage. I get 29 @ 70. In fact, last week I did a low-speed-cruise test: 60 mph on a flat section of highway for 10 miles in both directions, and got 34.6! Of course I never drive 60...

You might consider a 245/45 Victoracer.

I run 3 deg. front, 2 deg. rear.

 

Thank you all for the information but remember I've got a Performance and have 18" wheels that are 8" wide. 17" is not an option since I want to stay in B Stock.

I've been playing what if games with a tire calculator and wonder if a combination of 225/40 and 245/40 would work. They approxiamate the stagger of the stock tires, fit on 8" rims and while the speedometer would be off I've never looked at it on a run. However, the only tires I can find in those sizes are Toyo RA-1s, not Hoosiers or Kuhmos.

Any suggestions are welcome.

phoenixZ33
When you make it to the Nashville autocross later this month I'm looking forward to meeting you and find out how you get all that in the back. BTW, I had a good day this Sunday and took 1st with my son getting 2nd.

 

Just come tirewear thoughts

I ran 245 45 17 Victoracers on my car for over 150 runs without cording them (see pic below of run ~140) They never corded, they did however die by heat cycle, but still better than streets.

I now run 275 Hoosiers on the car, you MUST run them high in pressure or you will cord the tire on the outside edge, and you'll most likely do it very quickly. 46-50lbs of pressure up front, if not more.

 

You should be allowed to run 17's with your performance model, didn't some of those come with 17" wheels? I could have sworn 17s were standard, 18s were optional on the performance. Either way that would require buying new wheels, which isn't fun.

In my opinion the best street tire (Ecsta MX, Azenis or KD) isn't that far off an RA1 or V700. If you're gonna go with race tires, do whatever you can to run Hoosiers, V710s or the Avons.

 

My opinion is that the Victoracers are closer to the Hoosiers than the street tires you listed are to the Victoracers. In the spectrum of performance, I would make this list of representative tires, from stickiest on down:

'Slicks' (pick your brand) - Victoracers - Michelin Sport Cup/Pirelli Zero Corsa/Toyo RA1 - Azenis/KD - Ecsta MX/Goodyear F1/Pilot Sport/S03, etc...

 

Thanks for the size/brand advice. When the new wheels come in I'll probably pick up a set of Hoosiers. I'm definitely planning on traveling with them the way you suggest. I've got a roadster but I'm sure I can fit two in the trunk if I take out the spare. If not, I can drop the roof and have a tall stack of tires in the passenger seat.

 

Huh. You might have the highest mpg I've heard of. Is that what your car is tell you in the computer or what you're calculating off a tank? One of my buddies gets about 26 and I've been trying to break 24 as an average across a tank. Oh well, when you spend $'s going through mods and other fun car toys you have to ask yourself if penny pinching on gas still makes any sence

 

My car has 4k on it and I still only get 22mpg at 70 mph. I hope this gets better.

If you don't want to go to an r-compound that you have to change at the track, you can try the toyo RA-1's. I've never used them at an autox but have been using them for years for road racing for the simple fact that they last a long time and they don't die by heat cycle. You can drive them to and from the track and some people even use them for street tires. They take a while to warm up so you won't see their optimum performance at an autox course, but I'd say they'd be at least the same or better than the S03's in terms of grip.

 

All great advice! Thanks.


I've heard good things about the Toyo's. I'll probably go with the Hoosiers per other recommendations and the fact that I'll have a spare set of rims.


Lateapex... you have inspired me. I went out and did some tests. I hit 27 mpg! I've quenched the curiosity for now