autox tires for 2014

[olds350]

It seems like tire compounds are changing fast over the past year or so. I've seen where GRM has done at least 2 tests this year. The one thing I don't like about their tests are the test car. They always use a lightweight car. My bullitt isn't lightweight.

I ran a set of RS3's in 2012 on the mustang. This year I ran a set of RS3's on the mazda 3. Missed the HP and rear wheel drive, so bringing the mustang back out for 2014 and the new STU. I've sold the tires for the bullitt, so I'm back in the market for new shoes.

I'm trying to get a handle on what to buy, but not finding a lot of info in regard to what would be a good tire for this heavy, front strut car. Right now my thoughts are going back to the RS3 since I know how it feels. A set of 285's wore very well on a 10" wheel w/ ~2degree of camber. All the testing I've seen says the Rival is the way to go. Right now the Rivals are only available in a 275, no 285.

Does anyone have some tech info on which tire would be better suited for a S197?

Appreciate the feedback....

As for the car, it has some basic mods: Steda sport springs, tekico dampers, eibach sways. Camber plates will be added, but that's about all I can do for next year. No, this car is NOT properly prepped for STU. The only person I'm running against next year is my son and I want him to beat me, but he'll have to earn it.

 

[csamsh]

I've been autox'ing my car on 285/35/18 RS3's this fall, and it does very well. I can't say anything about the Rivals, haven't used them, but I do like the RS3's.

If the Rival came in a 285 though...I would probably go for it.

 

[irishpwr46]

I was just reading about the rivals in grassroots and they seem to be the way to go. maybe by the time the season comes around, they will have the 285s

 

[c_reber]

I wish more tires came in 285's That is also the tire size I'm limited to in most time attack style competitions. There are a couple 295's, but RS3's are about the only 285 (in 18").

 

[olds350]

I wish more tires came in 285's That is also the tire size I'm limited to in most time attack style competitions. There are a couple 295's, but RS3's are about the only 285 (in 18").

I hearya about the 285 limitation. That's the max for STU autocross class as well.

 

[csamsh]

...And 285/30/18 is a terrible size.

 

[sholzer]

+1 there are 0 good options in 285/35 or 285/40

 

[csamsh]

+1 there are 0 good options in 285/35 or 285/40

RS3...but that's it

You REALLY need 3.31's though to use a tire that short IMO. I'm decently sure that the shortness of my gears cost me a win in STU yesterday. I had one section of the course on the limiter in second for about 2 seconds, and another where I had to shift to third and back to 2nd in a very critical braking zone. I got beat by a WRX that was able to do the whole thing in 2nd by about half a second on a near-50 second course.

 

[olds350]

you guys have had good responses so far, but I was searching for some data in regard to sidewall stiffness and which tire would be the better option on a car w/ about 2 neg camber. It's a pretty thin margin between a 275 and 285 considering how manufacturing "tolerances" vary....

 

[csamsh]

you guys have had good responses so far, but I was searching for some data in regard to sidewall stiffness and which tire would be the better option on a car w/ about 2 neg camber. It's a pretty thin margin between a 275 and 285 considering how manufacturing "tolerances" vary....

If you're building for STU you've got to go for the bigger & taller RS3, IMO, unless the Rival is just a world beater. I've only seen one Mustang on Rivals around here, he was on 18x10's with 275/35/18 Rivals, playing in STU. He was running novice though, so....yeah. Can't really compare. I would love to swap wheels with him for a couple runs though, and see what happens.

So: idea: anybody in the Oklahoma/North Texas area want to get a tire test together? We all show up with different tires...maybe RS3, Rival, AD08R, RE11, and do a test day with some wheel trading? We could make some cool data...

 

[olds350]

wow, love the idea and would like to be part of that test, but TX is a 2 day drive for me from NC....

 

[irishpwr46]

If you're building for STU you've got to go for the bigger & taller RS3, IMO, unless the Rival is just a world beater. I've only seen one Mustang on Rivals around here, he was on 18x10's with 275/35/18 Rivals, playing in STU. He was running novice though, so....yeah. Can't really compare. I would love to swap wheels with him for a couple runs though, and see what happens.

So: idea: anybody in the Oklahoma/North Texas area want to get a tire test together? We all show up with different tires...maybe RS3, Rival, AD08R, RE11, and do a test day with some wheel trading? We could make some cool data...

theres an article in this months grassroots motorsports that actually tested all the major "road" tires on a track

 

[csamsh]

theres an article in this months grassroots motorsports that actually tested all the major "road" tires on a track

what car/setup did they use???

 

[dontlifttoshift]

There is also an article in HotRod with a tire test done at TireRack.

Testing was done on a 4 door 1970 satellite, don't laugh, the car is well sorted. Sizes used were 275/35-18

ZII------------------56.43
RS-3----------------56.90
Rival----------------57.1
RT615k--------------57.36
SuperSports----------57.79
RE11 (not A)---------57.98
NT05----------------59.37

As always, those results only apply to that car on that day on that surface with that driver, YMMV, yada, yada.

In reality, any of those top 3 would be a good choice. Pick the size that fits your needs and go.

 

[csamsh]

There is also an article in HotRod with a tire test done at TireRack.

Testing was done on a 4 door 1970 satellite, don't laugh, the car is well sorted. Sizes used were 275/35-18

ZII------------------56.43
RS-3----------------56.90
Rival----------------57.1
RT615k--------------57.36
SuperSports----------57.79
RE11 (not A)---------57.98
NT05----------------59.37

As always, those results only apply to that car on that day on that surface with that driver, YMMV, yada, yada.

In reality, any of those top 3 would be a good choice. Pick the size that fits your needs and go.

That's an unexpectedly good showing for Falken.

 

[NDSP]

If you're building for STU you've got to go for the bigger & taller RS3, IMO, unless the Rival is just a world beater. I've only seen one Mustang on Rivals around here, he was on 18x10's with 275/35/18 Rivals, playing in STU. He was running novice though, so....yeah. Can't really compare. I would love to swap wheels with him for a couple runs though, and see what happens.

So: idea: anybody in the Oklahoma/North Texas area want to get a tire test together? We all show up with different tires...maybe RS3, Rival, AD08R, RE11, and do a test day with some wheel trading? We could make some cool data...

I'd be interested. I'm going to be buying my wheels and tires in about a month. 18x10 forgestars 14s with ?? tires. I was thinking 285 RS-3's but I'm trying to build for NASA TTC and STU. If I go with a little bit smaller tires say 275 rivals I get an extra point or 2 I can use for a mod somewhere else. So I need to crunch the numbers and see where my bang for the buck is.

 

[olds350]

There is also an article in HotRod with a tire test done at TireRack.

Testing was done on a 4 door 1970 satellite, don't laugh, the car is well sorted. Sizes used were 275/35-18

ZII------------------56.43
RS-3----------------56.90
Rival----------------57.1
RT615k--------------57.36
SuperSports----------57.79
RE11 (not A)---------57.98
NT05----------------59.37

As always, those results only apply to that car on that day on that surface with that driver, YMMV, yada, yada.

In reality, any of those top 3 would be a good choice. Pick the size that fits your needs and go.

That's excellent info. Thanks for posting. I'd say running those on a '70 Satellite would be a very good comparison; heavy, high horse power, RWD. Is there a link to that info on line somewhere? I'd like to read the review..

found the youtube vid.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kASM04zuHlo

 

[dontlifttoshift]

There is a video on you tube but there isn't any real information in it. Pick up a copy of HotRod.

 

[olds350]

There is a video on you tube but there isn't any real information in it. Pick up a copy of HotRod.

Is it this months or last months copy?

 

[dontlifttoshift]

This month, just got it in the mail. Bare metal 34 3 window on the cover.