RE: Auto X tire tech question

["Neal Tovsen" <sixteen.volt@gte.net>]

I'm not arguing about the wheel diameter at all, and I understand that 13"
wheels are the best for AutoX (if you can fit them), but the comparison was
for two different 15" sizes, why a wider tire is better, and whether or not
they'd fit at all.

I'll be honest: I got 16"s for the looks, mostly, but I went wider for the
handling. I figure it'll work well enough for AutoX, but if I get serious
about it I'll buy 14" wheels (my 16v's front brakes won't clear 13" wheels)
with G-Force R1s or something like that.

BTW, did you read the Tire Rack/Grassroots Motorsports article on
plus-sizing wheels? I found it on their (Tire Rack's) Web site. They found
that the best handling setup (according to lap times) was a +3" wheel/tire
setup! This was on a regular road racing track, and not an autocross where
the gearing issue is probably more important, but this still surprised me.
Further, gearing wasn't an issue between setups since all combinations were
within +/-2% of stock. I expected the +1" to do the best, maybe the +2", but
not the +3". Anyone have any opinions? If a shorter sidewall is more
important (and I'm open to being wrong here), then why don't you run
195/30R13 or 195/40R13 tires instead of 195/50R13? And don't tell me that
it's because they don't make 'em (I know they don't). They'd make 'em if
they thought people would buy 'em!

Neal

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shawn C Meze [mailto:skerocdriver@juno.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2000 11:52 PM
> To: sixteen.volt@gte.net
> Cc: scirocco-L@scirocco.org
> Subject: Re: Auto X tire tech question
>
>
>
> On Tue, 18 Jan 2000 18:49:30 -0600 "Neal Tovsen" <sixteen.volt@gte.net>
> writes:
> >> 195 50 15 would handle better...
> >>
> >> Peter
> >
> >Why would 195's handle better than 205's? If the name of the game is
> >to maximize the tire's contact patch, how would 195's of the same
> >diameter/sidewall (50-series 15") handle better?
>
>
> the 195 tire is a little smaller diameter tire which means the gearing
> will be better for autox use. Even still, a 195 tire is still too tall.
> The smaller the diameter, the better. Thats why all the autoxers use a
> 13" tire. We can get a smaller diameter (gearing) tire and still maintain
> a fat contact patch. I have 225/50R13 autox tires on the car now. (...
> uh, chorded actually.) If Kuhmo made a 195/50R13 id use them. But since
> they dont, ill be picking up a set of R1's again. (Which do make a
> 195/50R13 tire and its a hell of alot cheaper than Hoosier 225/50R13
> tires.)
>
>
> Shawn Meze
> 86' Jetta GLi   82' Scirocco GTi   81' "Project Scirocco FSP"
> The Fastest, Quickest, Cleanest and
> best looking Scirocco in all of San Diego!
> http://www.Geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/1308/index.htm
>
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