Tire setup

[Vatche]

Well i am planning on buying falken azenis tires for my car and i have stock se rims in the front cuz i have z32 26mm brakes and i dont have other rims that will fit over them for now. so i can only go 205 on the front. what im wondering is many people told me to stay all the same size all around. but should i go 225 on the rear i have 15x7 meshies. i plan to track my car and would like ideal handling and at the same time i want my rear wheels to grip as much as possible if i was to drag race and i get no grip in 1st. Let me know what you all think. and if anyone knows where to get cheap falken's in orange county :)

[AceInHole]

IIRC 225's will fit on the stock rim.

[KA24DESOneThree]

What engine and level of tune do you have?

Wider wheels out back than front with stock power is retarded. You trying to emulate Hondas?

You have bigger brakes without the space for tires to match. Your brakes are only as strong as your tires' tractive force.

205/50R15 RT615s or similar ultra-high-performance tire, now that I'm done flogging you.

[HaLo]

My 240sx always worked best with same size tire all around, and that is with the SR20DET...

So stick to 225 or 205 all around, don't go staggered. Staggered is for show cars.

[johngriff]

I ran 225/45/16 Azenis 215 was ok on a 16x7.5. Great cornering. 100+mph on the freeway etc got some anoying tireslap, so not recomended. I am using 225/50/16 now and loving it. Use a 225/50/15.

[1Via!]

On a stock 6.5 inch wheel, 225s should be fine. I have 225/45 hankook RS2s all around on some s14 SE wheels.

I would only say that a tire of this width on this sized wheel is ok if it has a decently strong sidewall.

[420sx]

i have as pair of se wheels with 225 s02 and they hook up fine. if u aiming for grip i dont see a big deal with running 225's. but wider wheel will be nicer tho

[steve shadows]

+1 for a 225 50 15 setup, or if you can get it 225 55 15 depending on the width of the wheel. Im in love with the bf goodrich g-force tires for grip, really havent found anything I like better yet.

[Vatche]

far as i know the biggest size tire u can fit on 15x6 stock se rims are 205's

but im not really sure. i have 15x7 meshies for the rear that can fit 225's

i have an sr20det pushing 225 to the wheels and planning to go to 320rwhp with this setup unless its to much to ask. so im wondering 205 because of the front tire size or 225 and get it to fit. falkens have 205/50/15 and 225/50/15

i would like 225 but im ok with 205 i guess.. cuz i can always go bigger and better later with more money

the pads i have on my z32 brakes suck worse then the hawk hp plus pads i had on my stock calipers. but i am planning to get hawk hp plus pads soon

[Flybert]

i have an sr20det pushing 225 to the wheels and planning to go to 320rwhp with this setup unless its to much to ask.

Reading this, I think I gave up on this thread and gave up on even trying to begin to help you. You do not sound like a person that will track their car ever. I really don't believe you. BTW, it is too much to ask out of tires that small, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ay too much to ask.

[johngriff]

RE:Flybert

I have seen his settup in person, he is just management away, he's good to go.

And, I dint realize it was you, dude, wtf, junk those stock alloys!! LOL!

[OptionZero]

You really should buy wheels and tires that work before throwing money into more HP.

[Vatche]

yes , that is why i was asking you experts what to do. in the back of my mind i know that the tires would be to small for how much power i will be pushing, but i also know that it will be awhile before i have that power. for right now i just wanted to know if i should put 225's or 205's on my wheels. and pretty much i have not tracked my car yet sir. ive been trying to get my car ready for it , for 3 years now. because bad things always happen to me. and why are u so quick to judge meet me in person and i know you will understand my situation.

[johngriff]

i say 205, for those, but that is because moto beat the unholy fear of tire roll into me :bash:

[Y4555]

At anywhere over 300ps if you plan on being fast don't go under 245 in the rear. At 340ps on potenza RE-01Rs 235/45/17 on 8.5J rims at the rear definately requires caution to maintain a respectable tire wear rate and I should have gone larger. If you're planning ahead...

[johngriff]

what is fast, signal runs 225/40/18 on their drift cars (rear)?

[Flybert]

Since things take you a long time, just get some 205/55/15's for now. 205/50/15 will look really ridiculous with the amount of wheel gap it will make. 225/50/15 on a 6" seems a little scary to me and would all around suck with the amount of tire roll. Just get some half decent tires until you can afford to get better wheels.

[Y4555]

Fast as in grip. It would be detrimental to put a heavy grip set-up on a car set up for drift style driving. My tire recommendations do not apply to those interested in drift style.

[Flybert]

Fast as in grip. It would be detrimental to put a heavy grip set-up on a car set up for drift style driving. My tire recommendations do not apply to those interested in drift style.

Actually, you don't know what you are talking about. If I could drift on any tires, it would be RE01-R or Neovas front and back in wide sizes. The most competitive drift cars usually run neovas or re01r. Just look at the d1gp roster of cars or ask any legitimate drifter what tire he would be running if he could. We don't run neovas or re01r's out back because we can't afford it. Two of my good drifter friends run neovas up front though.

[Y4555]

Or you don't actually know what you're talking about. ANY style of racing should have balanced front and rear tires. Running junk rear and sticky front is just going to induce less predictable oversteer. But I'm not a drifter so you can do what ever you'd like. My recommendation was simply for the optimum tire width to gain the most fast-lap traction on street tires.

[Flybert]

Or you don't actually know what you're talking about. ANY style of racing should have balanced front and rear tires. Running junk rear and sticky front is just going to induce less predictable oversteer. But I'm not a drifter so you can do what ever you'd like. My recommendation was simply for the optimum tire width to gain the most fast-lap traction on street tires.

Are you seriously trying to argue with me about something that you have no personal experience with and who said anything about running junk rear tires?

If you run a badass tire like a neova up front, you will get consistant good grip at a wide range of temperatures and pressures. With the sporty cheaper tires we run out back, there is more of a sweet spot in terms of tire pressure and temperature to get the grip levels up. Not to mention, most people running tire setups like the one I mentioned above are running staggered wheels and staggered tires which also makes up for whatever lack of balance you are trying to claim. Don't talk if you don't know .

EDIT: I'd also like to add that drifting isn't really a form of racing. Because of this, setting up a car to drift in terms of the cars balance, is definitely different than a road race car. While road race cars tend to have mild oversteer to pull them selves around corners, drift cars to tend to have mild understeer. Apples to oranges.

[Y4555]

A.) You're jacking this guy's thread to argue with noone since I already said that my recommendations were for him to get traction with street tires at 300hp.
B.)Running wide sports tires in the rear is not cheap tires so maybe I mis-understood what you were getting at.(?) And a staggered set up would obviously nullify the disadvantage so what you are saying isn't anything new...
C.)I already said from the start that the my posts have nothing to do with recommending, or commenting upon, drift settings.
- I have no intention of argueing with you about "what if's" or "how I do it's" If you want to recommend tire widths for a 240sx that are applicable to this guys car then your in the right spot. I'm sure that competitive level drifters know exactly what works best for them.

[Flybert]

Look, you told me that drift was a style of racing and you commented on the proper tire choice for a drift car based on your experience with other motorsports. So don't bullshit me about how you didn't make any comments about drifting. You're just trying to get in the last word but the problem is, you keep digging yourself a deeper whole with your contradictory comments. This thead hasn't been jacked. We are still on the subject about tires and setting up a car based on his power level so don't try to make me out to be the bad guy here.

As for cheap sporty wide tires out back, compared to neovas and re01r a lot of the intermediate tires that falken, hankook, and federal make are very cheap and perform well to boot.

The original poster failed to mention what he wants in terms of ideal handling. Ideal handling differs in terms of a drivers experience, the type of driving the person does, etc. Seeing how he already has way too much horsepower for the tires he's considering, I posted a suggestion above that will get things going in the right direction.

The original poster should think about ordering some 225's for those meshies for the days he wants to go fast in a straight line but i'd go with 205/55's for the daily grind.

[Vatche]

thanks for the help guys.

i already decided what i am going to do

ps: i dont drift either. this is for grip purposes

[HaLo]

this thread became ridiculous...

Drift vs Grip...? Wasn't this supposed to be about tires?

[AceInHole]

this thread became ridiculous...

Drift vs Grip...? Wasn't this supposed to be about tires?

No. That was all just a front.


BTW: I ran staggered and liked it, but then again I can step the rear at 2500 rpm :P

[OptionZero]

I highly recommend getting some cheap used FN's.

Even a 17x8 would allow you to run a 235/40/17 RT-615, which should be much more effective.

I'm assuming you're 4 lug...but if u're 5 lug, why not just get some 17x9 Fn'sall around, and 245/40/17 (kumho mx, hankook RS2 z212)

when you have money and skill step up to the world of Advan and Bridgestones.

[AceInHole]

when you have money and skill step up to the world of Hoosier and Kumho.

-Fixed some fairly obvious errors.

[OptionZero]

-Fixed some fairly obvious errors.

well, i'm thinking those competition level tires should be saved for yet another step beyond, when he has a cage and regular events to battle in

they'd just be wasted on his car

[kris]

i agree with all these guys--stay with the same tire size all around. I once tried a 225 in the front and 235 in the rear and understeer was all it produced and its not like my car has no power either, on a stock car it would be brutal. My preference is 235/45 all around though-these are on 17's, the car just seems most stable with these sizes.

If I were you on the tires I would compromise between the 205 and 225 and go with a 215 if you can

[johngriff]

well, i am going to see sr20detman at the meet on wensday night, i will harass him there :blah:

you guys should come if you are local, it is the irvine.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Ok, Flybert claimed to give up then didn't. I won't claim to give up although I really would like to.

sr20detman, you're building the car wrong. Everyone will tell you there's no wrong way to build a car, but they're wrong and you're wrong.

You need to step up to real tire sizes if you want to make your power get you anywhere but sideways. In fact, all of your suspension, wheels, and tires should have been done before you even looked at your stock engine beyond checking the dipstick. Your chassis is pathetically undertuned.

[Vatche]

Ok, Flybert claimed to give up then didn't. I won't claim to give up although I really would like to.

sr20detman, you're building the car wrong. Everyone will tell you there's no wrong way to build a car, but they're wrong and you're wrong.

You need to step up to real tire sizes if you want to make your power get you anywhere but sideways. In fact, all of your suspension, wheels, and tires should have been done before you even looked at your stock engine beyond checking the dipstick. Your chassis is pathetically undertuned.

well like always i sound like an idiot on these forums because im too lazy to car, but i feel that i shouldnt be put down. especially since i did suspension brakes and wheels before i ever got my sr. but i have had my car stolen and stripped and broken into and turbos going bad and all sorts of shit that keep me farther from the goal i should have reached longer then 2 years ago. now where i am is basically trying to get as much as i can with as little money as possible. For right now i am just going to buy 205/50/15 falken azenis 615's cuz theyre cheap good tires and in about a year when i start to upgrade from 225rwhp to somewhere around 300rwhp which is only some mods away. then i will upgrade tire sizes with them. the problem i am having right now with tire size is , i have the 15x6 SE rims for the s13 in the front which far as i know can only hold a 205. and theyre the only rim i can afford since i already have them that fits over my brakes. in the rear i have 15x7 enkei meshies that could hold a 225 but since the front cant go that big im stuck at 205. i hope maybe this explains a bit more. as i am not here to sound like an idiot. i really do put my time and knowledge into my car. and i really do try my best. because i love the damn thing.

[AceInHole]

IIRC 225's will fit on the stock rim.

QFT

FWIW: with a good suspension setup and a lot of tuning the 240 is fine with a staggered tire. 275 front 315 rear was fairly well balanced on my car. Generally, when people complain of understeer, they're overdriving the car to begin with.

[HaLo]

Well, my 245 V710 on 8.5" rims work too well.

Don't you lift rear inner wheels on hard turns?

[AceInHole]

Well, my 245 V710 on 8.5" rims work too well.

Don't you lift rear inner wheels on hard turns?

I had that problem at the last Tour event I did with the S14 due to a broken rear swaybar bolt. I've had the car lifting inner fronts at times, though. Suspension bias has a lot to do with it, but for the most part I've found that leaning the car towards understeer helps keep the rear end in check when you're running more power.

That said, yea, if you wanted to you could balance the car towards oversteer regardless of having a slightly staggered setup. If you have trouble with understeer, try settling the car before turning in (i.e. don't overdrive the car) and play with your suspension setup. FWIW I've had good luck with 4.5 deg camber up front, 2.5 rear, but that's with enough traction to actually get some roll out of a 10kg/ 8kg springrate. Hopefully a solid-endlink (blade end) front sway will help :P

[HaLo]

I have been keeping the rear sway bar unplugged since the Devens Tour event... and still have lots of rear wheel lift... It's so frustrating as I can't put power to the ground...

[AceInHole]

I have been keeping the rear sway bar unplugged since the Devens Tour event... and still have lots of rear wheel lift... It's so frustrating as I can't put power to the ground...

I had the same problem in my friend Mark's car, but he has a stock front and aftermarket rear bar. I'll try and post a vid later of my car in a balanced state (still at work ATM), but either way shoot me an IM tonight.

[kris]

well like always i sound like an idiot on these forums because im too lazy to car, but i feel that i shouldnt be put down. especially since i did suspension brakes and wheels before i ever got my sr. but i have had my car stolen and stripped and broken into and turbos going bad and all sorts of shit that keep me farther from the goal i should have reached longer then 2 years ago. now where i am is basically trying to get as much as i can with as little money as possible. For right now i am just going to buy 205/50/15 falken azenis 615's cuz theyre cheap good tires and in about a year when i start to upgrade from 225rwhp to somewhere around 300rwhp which is only some mods away. then i will upgrade tire sizes with them. the problem i am having right now with tire size is , i have the 15x6 SE rims for the s13 in the front which far as i know can only hold a 205. and theyre the only rim i can afford since i already have them that fits over my brakes. in the rear i have 15x7 enkei meshies that could hold a 225 but since the front cant go that big im stuck at 205. i hope maybe this explains a bit more. as i am not here to sound like an idiot. i really do put my time and knowledge into my car. and i really do try my best. because i love the damn thing.

you'll be happy with the 615's gripping abilities but the wear is pretty bad on a street machine. I would get a tire that last longer, unless of course your car is not a daily and then so be it.
As for over-driving the car with a staggered tire size perhaps that is the case. My suspension is far from stock (suspension tech. sway bars, FLT-a2's, strut braces, T/C rods, nismo pwr brace, tein tie rods & ends, SPL subframe spacers, SPL RUCAs, and a few other things I cant remember. front camber at 2.5 rear at 1.5 dont remember the other settings). My LSD ( A 2way) may have something to do with it. I find in my case same wheel sizes all around work best, no matter what settings I changed. When I have more power ( 300+ very soon) maybe I will change my tune :D , but until then I will have to say even sizes all around.

Really SR20detman everyone has a different preference on most everything :blah:

[Vatche]

Really SR20detman everyone has a different preference on most everything :blah:

i have defintely learned that, what i try to do is take all the opinions and choose the ones i want. and yes my car is daily drive and i have heard about the treadwear on these tires. but for once in my life i want to have good tires...so im gonna just spend the money on these for now and get something different next time.