Starting out wheel/tire advice?
 

Hello, went to my first autoX this past weekend.
I spun out a couple times, but also experienced some pretty heavy understeer at some points - mostly because I would turn in a bit late.

I really like this so ill definitely try to go out more this season.

I've been thinking about getting 17x8 wheels to help with the grip issues I had. I'm currently on stock weeks. I don't have crazy power, just a tune, catback, and drop in filter. Is upgrading wheel width worth it? Or should I stick to stock wheels but get better tires?

Thanks!

Have you decided what class you want to participate in? That'll guide all of your modding decisions in the near future.

Hmm, not really. I don't know too much about this stuff. I would prefer to keep it simple. I definitely don't want to step to a turbo or super charger.

If you're on OEM tires, absolutely go to better tires before different wheels. A wider wheel on the oem tires will make no appreciable difference but will instantly bump you to STX.

I would recommend better tires. Best choices for a high performance summer tire would be the BFG Rival, Hankook RS3, or Dunlop ZII. After that, your next three mods should be:

1. Seat Time
2. Seat Time
3. Even More Seat Time

Experience will make you quick :)

The OEM tires are great for learning how to manage oversteer. I'd recommend you run em till you finish em off. They'll last quite a while, and simultaneously get you much needed seat time and save you some coin on tires.

This is exactly what I am doing as well! By the time the stock tires are toasted, I will have had enough seat time to properly take advantage of better tires without shredding them.

Scott

you issue is not with grip, your issue is with your control

if you are spinning out, that means you are jerky with your inputs (steering, throttle-on, throttle-off, brake), or have a heavy foot coming out of turns. It is the job of your right foot to know when your tires are approaching the limit due to power.

as for understeering, understeering is not caused by you turning late. Understeering is when your front tires run out of grip before the rears do. This means you are simply going too fast for the corner.

If you are turning in late, this has nothing to do with the car.

Next time plan ahead, and slow down more.

none of your mistakes are a result of the tires, getting sticker ones will just mask your mistakes and you will never learn.

FYI, the tune will automatically kick you out of stock class.

The most "affordable" class is probably stock class on road tires. I put affordable in quotes because many drivers that race in stock class will have 4-5k Moton/JRZ dampers.

"I swear it's stock...just like right off the showroom floor...it came with a 4-5k suspension upgrade option directly from the manufacturer!!" :iono:

Thanks for all the advice guys.
Is there some place I can read about different classes?
A bit confused regarding what will kick you up a certain class etc... @CSG Mike @trippinbillies40 @ayau

With all the info. I think I'll stick with stock tires for now.

As an aside, I thought I read somewhere that 17x9s were the most one could use in a class (whether stock class or not, I don't remember the specifics but I believe it was a 'lower' tier)

Seat time will be the best investment at this point...don't worry about parts or even tires. Check your local forum and you might find an autox school. Some regions are good about that sort of thing or providing an instructor. :)

- Andy

For SCCA - If you run anything wider than your stock 17X7s you are bumped out of stock or RTR. First decide which organization you want to run with then prep for a specific class.

with what is done already he already is in stx. however i do agree SEAT TIME!!! @rainmonkey http://www.scca.com/solo/content.cfm?cid=44517 the car is classed for c-stock and stx. look for the thread stx rules and setup questions. lot of good info there for SCCA

not just seat time, guys

you can sit in a seat for 60 years and not learn a thing

you must study the theory behind vehicle dynamics, and apply yourself at each autocross you attend

i know plenty of people that have been racing in this or that for the better part of a decade who are just not fast, and its easy to understand why the moment you start talking details with them, they simply don't understand the mechanics behind it. To them the solution is always moar power or moar tires.

one of the best way you can link theory and application together is by getting some sort of datalogging device, this should be your first investment. I only wish someone told me this years ago.

There are a number of affordable options available that work with either tablets or your phone, they will help to visiualize your runs, make a connection between the input and output, and hopefully correct next time you're out.

One of the most difficult things about autocross is understanding, on a deep, internal level, that what ends up being fast doesn't seem fast, which leads to overdriving and ruined runs.