Project84

iTrader: (2)

So based on a chat I had with a local guy selling some tires on craigslist, he suggested I pass on his 15" steel civic wheels w/ Azenis 615's and buy some for my stock 14" wheels for auto-x use. He was a super nice guy, owns a Miata as well, which I found out after calling him.

Anyway, I'm wondering if I'm going to buy tires, and only plan on running SCCA 2 or 3 times this year once the car is up and running (maybe more if the car stays together), should I worry about buying 15" wheels to race with, or should I just mount race tires on my 14" hollow spoke OEM wheels?

The car will probably only see 3,000 miles of use this year, if that. I have other toys to play with from time to time. This miata was just a fun little project I wanted to fix, race a few times, and decide where to go w/ it from there.

Opinions?

Buy 15" wheels and 205/50 tires?

or

keep OEM wheels and buy 195/60 tires?
(60 sidewall seems really tall. Will these be sloppy on a very tight 45-50 second SCCA Solo course?)

Thanks, and sorry for such a boring post. Sorry this is about auto-x which a lot of you find boring. Its my cheapest/easiest outlet for motorsports besides the dragstrip.

webby459

iTrader: (8)

1. You can comfortably run the 615s on the street and at autox/track days.
2. Those 15" steel wheels are probably a lot heavier than your stock 14s, a VERY bad thing.
3. I had those 615s, 195/60-14, and didn't find them sloppy at all. It was a good track tire, and a good street tire. That was n/a, though.

Summary, if I get you correctly, is to get the 14" 615s for your wheels, and use them for all purposes. If you end up wanting 15s in the future, you may end up wanting a bigger wheel, anyway (like an 8 or 9), and you can get some really light 15s for the Miata.

BTW, really neither tire will hold much power. What are you making? 225/45-15 is minimum at autocross for ~220-250whp, and that would be in an r-comp. Maybe you should just keep what you have on it and save up for a much better setup?

Edited: holy hell, dude. I looked up T04E, and you are probably going to be making some real power. You need more ******* tire if you don't want to make a smoke show at the autocross. 225/45-15 on an 8 or 9 is min, 275/35-15 on a 9 or 10 is going to be more realistic. The little 615s worked for our 95whp wonder, not on a turbo car.

Project84

iTrader: (2)

The turbo was on this car when I bought it in not running condition. I'm more than likely going to be looking to swap turbo's as soon as I take the car on a few maiden voyages at very low boost. Stock engine and open diff for now anyway, won't be able to utilize this turbo at all.

Good advice though, thank you.

Pitlab77

iTrader: (3)

I would go with the wider 15" wheel

against common advice I ran the 225/50/15 r-comp on my 99 Sport. In auto cross you want grip. I know the old acceleration vs grip debate but you do not have the time to make up loosing grip in autoX as the seat time is so short. Having grip and carrying speed on a line is so much better.

www.discounttiredirect.com has an $80 ( i think) rebate on Azenis right now. I think the are trying to get rid of the 615 stock to get read for the 615K

Project84

iTrader: (2)

well, currently there are some knock-off no name all seasons on the car and they are probably flat spotted (if that can occur these days w/ radials and what not) from siting for 2+ years. I have had no luck finding mazda pattern (OEM or aftermarket) wheels in my area for a cheap price. I wont drive the car much, so i'm really looking forward to the 615's. I'm probably just going w/ the stock wheels. I have the hollow spoke 14's. We'll see how that fairs.

I know of the $80 rebate, but I'm playing an additional angle. I'll report if It works and I save another $48. Should be getting an email from them any time now.

chicksdigmiatas

iTrader: (11)

What class are you planning to run? If you want lighter wheel/tire combo, also, the 16's are the same weight as the 14's and a couple more pounds on the wheel, you would have more response and grip on 205/40/16's. I think the 14's and 16's are like 18.5 and the 15's are about 22. Crazy. When i ran sts2 (at the time), i went with the 205 40 16 because it was lighter than the 15. I did well Well there is my 2 pennies, and i really didn't answer your question. I have since started running star specs on 15's, and love them.

Edit: I read the other posts closer. I saw the T04E deal, You need slicks to be competitive

Project84

iTrader: (2)

Despite the TO4E, the engine is not built... that's just what the schmuck bolted on there to sell me a "turbo miata" which essentially had no supporting mods. Just a hacked up downpipe, ebay mani, ebay fmic, and ebay TO4E.

I'm looking now to find something smaller in a T3 that'll actually work well at 200whp.

I need a big helping of advice, but mt.net scares me, and I don't want to ask for it.

bellwilliam

iTrader: (1)

this is not 2005, pls stop buying 615. it was the hot tire 5 years ago, it is now on par with all season tires.

MicaCeli

iTrader: (1)

I second this.

chicksdigmiatas

iTrader: (11)

Its ok to ask for help, just don't get hurt when we tell you to search

Pitlab77

iTrader: (3)

615, starspec, doesnt not matter. if its not a R-comp its not an r-comp.

And a good driver in 615's can beat ok drivers in the others (I know you know this as you race on the track).

It depends on what his current goals are. I would have trouble justifying the extra $$$ if I was just having fun. I am ceartinly not going to drop close to $1000 on r-comps when i can drive as fast as some people on "old" tires.


Side note. New compound 615's are coming out.

Project84

iTrader: (2)

Well, I pinned vulcan tire prices up against discount tire direct "price matching" policy, ended up getting 4 of them in 14" shipped for $220 out the door with an $80 rebate. $140 for 4 tires which will be 10x better than my ragged *** old all seasons... worth it.

I thought about having my g/f buy a second set and list them on Craigslist for $200. Profit. I just doubt there are many people out there in need of 14" competition tires.

Current goals, fwiw, is just to get the car running. I'm about to completely revise this build w/ quality parts and a MS, so I can safely reach 200whp. Damn this tax return season and my house needing all my money and attention. Car may continue sitting for some time.

MicaCeli

iTrader: (1)

Just remember to bring a water sprayer for those tires at Auto-x they will get greasy on the third run or so. On the track you will get a good 10 laps out of them untill you start drifting around every corner

I actualy run those tires on my miata for daily driving they are so cheap is very hard to pass them up.