SCCA Solo C Street Discussion

[bimmer635csi]

Originally Posted by marc615243

I just got a set of these and am curios as well, I am new to autocrossing so I am trying to absorb as much info as I can before each run

Seeing how you are in one of the hottest temperature areas, you will have to spray ZIIs between runs. They do not tolerate heat as well as other tires can, but other tires lack performance that the ZII has.

I found if I got above 65 degrees C for a surface temp of the ZIIs, they started going off. (Sorry, I'm an engineer, so metric is all I know anymore.) Invest in a garden sprayer and drive the tires until they start getting the greasy feeling. Then spray them down heavily and make another run. You'll see what I mean.

[Kido1986]

38f/32.5r on concrete on 235/40/17 Z2s

[marc615243]

Originally Posted by bimmer635csi

Seeing how you are in one of the hottest temperature areas, you will have to spray ZIIs between runs. They do not tolerate heat as well as other tires can, but other tires lack performance that the ZII has.

I found if I got above 65 degrees C for a surface temp of the ZIIs, they started going off. (Sorry, I'm an engineer, so metric is all I know anymore.) Invest in a garden sprayer and drive the tires until they start getting the greasy feeling. Then spray them down heavily and make another run. You'll see what I mean.

Thanks for the info, I will keep this in mind.

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by marc615243

Thanks for the info, I will keep this in mind.

I run them in Florida's crazy heat, with 2 drivers. We spray. A lot. And then we spray again. We went through just over 3 gallons of water for 14 runs yesterday

However, I still stand by the fact that I believe they are the tire you want a camber challenged car.

[marc615243]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

I run them in Florida's crazy heat, with 2 drivers. We spray. A lot. And then we spray again. We went through just over 3 gallons of water for 14 runs yesterday

However, I still stand by the fact that I believe they are the tire you want a camber challenged car.

Thanks for the info! I have a 3 gallon bottle that I will load up to keep my tires cool.

Anyone have some suggestions on which mods to go for first with the car? I intend on getting everything allowed in the C Street class but don't really know which ones offer the most bang for the buck. So far I only have wheels/tires.

[bimmer635csi]

Originally Posted by marc615243

Thanks for the info! I have a 3 gallon bottle that I will load up to keep my tires cool.

Anyone have some suggestions on which mods to go for first with the car? I intend on getting everything allowed in the C Street class but don't really know which ones offer the most bang for the buck. So far I only have wheels/tires.

I just placed 2nd in CS (including a couple of Nissans) with only tires and crash bolts.

Seat time and alignment and air pressure adjustments should be enough to get you learning. Then decide what the car needs. Saying you will do everything that CS allows is just going to eat at your wallet when the biggest restriction is the operator, not the vehicle.

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by marc615243

Thanks for the info! I have a 3 gallon bottle that I will load up to keep my tires cool.

Anyone have some suggestions on which mods to go for first with the car? I intend on getting everything allowed in the C Street class but don't really know which ones offer the most bang for the buck. So far I only have wheels/tires.

#1 Tires ($800)
#2 Crash bolts + alignment (~$125)
#3 Front sway bar (I recommend Strano or Whiteline) (~$200)
#4 brake pads and fluid, prefer DS2500 as do many here with ATE fluid ($280)
#5 shocks, Koni are most affordable. ($700 plus another alignment)
#6 catback exhaust

Throw in a $50 airfilter whenever you can spare the $50, not crucial

But listen to the Bimmer guy above me first. That is more important that all. A good driver on the OEm tires can even outdrive an ambitious newbie on a full prep car.

[DylanFRS]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

Throw in a $50 airfilter whenever you can spare the $50, not crucial

What is this?

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

What is this?

I mean get an after market air filter, whenever you feel like throwing $50 at ~1hp gain. I use the aFe Dry as I won't buy oiled.

[DylanFRS]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

I mean get an after market air filter, whenever you feel like throwing $50 at ~1hp gain. I use the aFe Dry as I won't buy oiled.

Oops, for some reason I read that as "airlifter". I am getting too lazy to actually bother reading.

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

Oops, for some reason I read that as "airlifter". I am getting too lazy to actually bother reading.

Hahaha, I was wondering what was unclear. I kept reading it over and over, trying to figure out where I messed up lol

[qoncept]

Originally Posted by bimmer635csi

I just placed 2nd in CS (including a couple of Nissans) with only tires and crash bolts.

Seat time and alignment and air pressure adjustments should be enough to get you learning. Then decide what the car needs. Saying you will do everything that CS allows is just going to eat at your wallet when the biggest restriction is the operator, not the vehicle.

Agreed, but I would say, if you can at all afford it, buy the tires. They are 90% of your prep so you'll have a much, much better idea of what your actual performance is, plus you'll have a lot more fun.

(And the crashbolts depending on how afraid you are of driving without a professional alignment)

..but other than that, I really feel like you're better off NOT buying anything else. Not from a money standpoint, but so you can just concentrate on your driving. I spent 5 years in my WRX chasing handling characteristics, checking tire temps and adjusting dampers that I really think I distracted myself from actually driving. In the ~20 events I've done in the BRZ I've only even checked tire pressures a handful of times and I'm a much better driver for it.

[qoncept]

Originally Posted by bimmer635csi

I just placed 2nd in CS (including a couple of Nissans) with only tires and crash bolts.

Seat time and alignment and air pressure adjustments should be enough to get you learning. Then decide what the car needs. Saying you will do everything that CS allows is just going to eat at your wallet when the biggest restriction is the operator, not the vehicle.

Agreed, but I would say, if you can at all afford it, buy the tires. They are 90% of your prep so you'll have a much, much better idea of what your actual performance is, plus you'll have a lot more fun.

(And the crashbolts depending on how afraid you are of driving without a professional alignment)

..but other than that, I really feel like you're better off NOT buying anything else. Not from a money standpoint, but so you can just concentrate on your driving. I spent 5 years in my WRX chasing handling characteristics, checking tire temps and adjusting dampers that I really think I distracted myself from actually driving. In the ~20 events I've done in the BRZ I've only even checked tire pressures a handful of times and I'm a much better driver for it.

[Kido1986]

Eh, I'd say you're 95% correct. I'd argue tire PRESSURES are worth checking and resetting between runs IMO. Tire wear and consistency of the car's performance. However temperature, shock settings, etc are definitely best left until you have a very firm grasp on your driving.

And crashbolts and alignment are more about tire life too. That -1 degree will help save tirelife.