SCCA Solo C Street Discussion

[TMF]

Originally Posted by bslate3

What is everyone using for brake pads? I'd like just a little more bite and heat tolerance now that the Texas summer is in full swing.

I just bought the HP+, but I literally just picked up the car on Monday and haven't installed them yet. I'd be curious to hear what others are using also. Due to the lighter weight of the car, I'm wondering if the HP+ will be too much?

[coneracer30]

Originally Posted by renfield90

How is grip at this point?

Seems pretty reasonable to me. I'm expecting to flip around 80 runs.

Grip has been good though I think I may be to the point of them dropping off a little. The car has become a little more knife edge the last 10 runs or so.

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

[coneracer30]

Originally Posted by SVLTE

Wow, someone else is actually running the rival S? So little love for the tire compared to the 71R. Running 225 or 245? I'm on 225's and have been curious what others are running for pressures. I knew it didn't have a sidewall as stiff as the stones, but I've found mine to need pressures at or north of 35f/33r

225 45 17 also at 35f and 33r.

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

[SeanRTR]

Originally Posted by SVLTE

Wow, someone else is actually running the rival S? So little love for the tire compared to the 71R. Running 225 or 245? I'm on 225's and have been curious what others are running for pressures. I knew it didn't have a sidewall as stiff as the stones, but I've found mine to need pressures at or north of 35f/33r

I'm now on a square set of 215/45/16 Rival-S I was pretty clueless on tire pressures as well, I'm going to test more this weekend (if it doesn't rain). So far I've run 34-36 PSI in them.


I had our annual road race time trial event over the weekend, and the course is always the same. My new tiny 16's were only about 6 tenths faster than my basic setup two years ago (pads, old Rivals, stock shocks stock wheels, front bar only), I figured the new tires would gain me at least a full second (75 second standing start 1 lap time trial on a road course).


Also, the actual tire width measured on both the 235/45/17 stones, compared to the 215/45/16 BFG's was within 1/8th of an inch, with both essentially dead equal at 8 5/8th of an inch.


Brake pads, I'm running the Stoptech performance pads, which I thought were perfect last year. On the new tires this year, I think I may need something a bit more aggressive. I ran into a bit of fade at the time trial event over the holiday weekend.

[renfield90]

Originally Posted by SVLTE

Wow, someone else is actually running the rival S? So little love for the tire compared to the 71R. Running 225 or 245? I'm on 225's and have been curious what others are running for pressures. I knew it didn't have a sidewall as stiff as the stones, but I've found mine to need pressures at or north of 35f/33r

245s. Rear pressures I'm around 30-31, anything higher and the rear end gets dicey. Fronts I've tried 45 and 32, not sure which I like more. #hack

Originally Posted by TMF

I just bought the HP+, but I literally just picked up the car on Monday and haven't installed them yet. I'd be curious to hear what others are using also. Due to the lighter weight of the car, I'm wondering if the HP+ will be too much?

On the contrary, the HP+ isn't enough pad IMO for track days on our car. I used to run them on my Celica which weighed in around 2380 without driver and they were perfect. What you have to look out for is the pad has extremely high initial bite - if you're used to charging into a corner like a bull and stomping the brakes, you're going to need to change that or you'll slow down too much.

[Biggins]

I use Ferodo DS2500 pads; they're a little noisy for cold street driving, but I love the stopping power. They would probably work for a track day as well.

[Jawnathin]

Originally Posted by SVLTE

Wow, someone else is actually running the rival S? So little love for the tire compared to the 71R.

Problem with them is that they don't come in any better sizes than the RE71s and are not any faster but they are more expensive. Rivals are good and competitive, but RE71s are proven winners.

On the plus side, they do seem to wear slightly better and the BFGoodrich contingency is better, but that doesn't mean much for locals and if you can't win big events (especially vs RE71R cars)

With all that said, given they seem to wear better and still reasonably fast, I'll seriously consider them as an option for my next set.

[renfield90]

They are faster if your driving style works better with them. I went slower when I tried the stones. YMMV and all that.

[TMF]

Originally Posted by renfield90

245s. Rear pressures I'm around 30-31, anything higher and the rear end gets dicey. Fronts I've tried 45 and 32, not sure which I like more. #hack


On the contrary, the HP+ isn't enough pad IMO for track days on our car. I used to run them on my Celica which weighed in around 2380 without driver and they were perfect. What you have to look out for is the pad has extremely high initial bite - if you're used to charging into a corner like a bull and stomping the brakes, you're going to need to change that or you'll slow down too much.

Originally Posted by Biggins

I use Ferodo DS2500 pads; they're a little noisy for cold street driving, but I love the stopping power. They would probably work for a track day as well.

Originally Posted by SeanRTR

I'm now on a square set of 215/45/16 Rival-S I was pretty clueless on tire pressures as well, I'm going to test more this weekend (if it doesn't rain). So far I've run 34-36 PSI in them.


I had our annual road race time trial event over the weekend, and the course is always the same. My new tiny 16's were only about 6 tenths faster than my basic setup two years ago (pads, old Rivals, stock shocks stock wheels, front bar only), I figured the new tires would gain me at least a full second (75 second standing start 1 lap time trial on a road course).


Also, the actual tire width measured on both the 235/45/17 stones, compared to the 215/45/16 BFG's was within 1/8th of an inch, with both essentially dead equal at 8 5/8th of an inch.


Brake pads, I'm running the Stoptech performance pads, which I thought were perfect last year. On the new tires this year, I think I may need something a bit more aggressive. I ran into a bit of fade at the time trial event over the holiday weekend.

Thanks for the input guys. I actually ran the HP+'s on my STI, so I definitely understand the high initial bite, and yes, they did in fact fade during 15-20 minute track sessions...and high noise, high dust, etc. I was mainly concerned that the HP+ would be too much for the FRS, but it sounds like they might not be. I'll give them a shot!

[7thgear]

I have the new Hawk 5.0 and fresh rotors sitting in my trunk, should have them installed today


I purchased them with the intent of all-year daily driving + autocross. No track.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

I have the new Hawk 5.0 and fresh rotors sitting in my trunk, should have them installed today


I purchased them with the intent of all-year daily driving + autocross. No track.

I'll be interested in hearing your impressions of the 5.0 compared to other compounds you're familiar with.

[Jawnathin]

YMMV indeed.

I don't think the Rivals are considerably slower and they are competitive. But given the Bridgestones have taken every big event in CS this year besides some of the early events like Dixie and El Toro (with limited Bridgestone availability/knowledge) it is fair to say the RE71Rs are more competitive. The Rivals have gotten close but have not won any big events in CS this year.

With the results we've seen and Bridgestones being less expensive, it is easy to see why they are favored by most people over the Rivals.

[renfield90]

That's largely due to everyone adopting the stones early, rather than wait for a fair evaluation. Changing tires mid season is risky given how dramatically different these tires drive.

Look overall at the street tire classes and the few Rival S entrants tend to be close to the top or winning outright.

[G_Ride]

Originally Posted by renfield90

That's largely due to everyone adopting the stones early, rather than wait for a fair evaluation. Changing tires mid season is risky given how dramatically different these tires drive.

Look overall at the street tire classes and the few Rival S entrants tend to be close to the top or winning outright.

That makes sense. It'll be interesting to see if we see more people using the Rival S at Lincoln.