Skinny slicks vs. wide street tires - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

*AceInHole* · 05-20-2003, 12:07 AM

I've been looking for a new set of tires for a while.... cause running street tires in a class that allows racing tires just isn't cutting it.

So.... being 4 lug, I can't really find wide rims. Being a college student, I can't afford custom wide 4 lug racing wheels. I'm pretty much limited to the crap they have for FWD cars... maxing out at like 7.5".

Pretty sure I can get a set of 16x7" wheels cheap tho (like $99 at tire rack). Then mount some 225/40/R16 tires on them.

The other option is to convert to 5 lug and only run street tires, but with 5 lug selection I'd be able to get wider tires... say 245/ 265.

But, would 225 wide Victoracers be a lot better than say, 245 wide Khumo MX's??

Or even the cheapest route: mount some 205/50/R15's on some OEM alloys.... which I'd be able to do a lot sooner since I wouldn't have to spend $450 or so on rims.

Feel free to add suggestions even...... like... what's everyone else running for autocross tires?

silnv · 05-20-2003, 07:24 AM

I dont know if this will help ya out or not cause it has to do with drag racing, but I will throw out the info anyway. I was reading around about some WS6 Trans Ams and I found this info. In the quarter mile this guy had 315/35 street BFG's and ran a 13.3 he then switched to 275/40 BFG's Drag Radials and dropped his time to 12.84. The tire size diffrence was fairly decent, and maybe will give you some ideas on what to run.

By the way I have a set of Racing Sparco wheels that are 16x7 and 16x8 with 225/50 on the 7" and 245/45 on the 8".

MovinUp-1 · 05-20-2003, 07:48 AM

Have you considered running steel wheels like Diamond Racing? They're not all that heavy and are oh so cheap, like less than $100 apiece. Then you could get a 16x8 wheel and run a 245x45x16 kumho victoracer autocross tire ($130 each). If you don't want a steel wheel, look for the cheapest 16x7.5 you can get and run a 235 or 245 width tire on that. Whatever you do, run the same sized tire and wheel front and rear.

nokeone · 05-20-2003, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MovinUp-1
Whatever you do, run the same sized tire and wheel front and rear.

elaborate please?..why not run wider in rear?

*sykikchimp* · 05-20-2003, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nokeone
elaborate please?..why not run wider in rear?

because if you run wider out back, you can't rotate the tires, and you'll be buying new sets of tires more often. Costs more.

I will more than likely run 205/45-16 v700's on the stock 16" s14 alloys.. the tires are cheaper, and I can get a full set of s14 wheels for $250.

The Diamond racing wheels are about $100ea for 16x8.. I looked very seriously at these because of the awesome price. You need to know what backspacing to use? also understand those are about 20lbs ea. iirc.

nokeone · 05-20-2003, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sykikchimp
because if you run wider out back, you can't rotate the tires, and you'll be buying new sets of tires more often. Costs more.

guess i shoulda been more clear in my question...i assumed we were talking performance...

so my question was in regards to that..

obviously cost is less when you can rotate tires...but in that same light then why get aftermarket wheels and tires at all...they definately cost more then costco brand 4 tires for $100...

*sykikchimp* · 05-20-2003, 01:37 PM

No need to make racing more expensive than it needs to be, and Tires are the main thing that make racing expensive. Say he wants to start running hoosiers.. they are about $190 ea. halfway through the auto-x season, he finds his rears are starting to cord, and needs new ones.. another $400 down the drain for new rears. If he could have rotated them, they probably would have lasted him till the end of the year. If your driving on real road courses it's an even bigger deal..

Your not really going to get any extra performance out of running a staggered setup on the 240 anyways. So do you want more seat time? or bigger tire bills that don't really make you faster.

Ace - also remember that SCCA doesn't allow over a 7" wide wheel on IT cars... I figure if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

MovinUp-1 · 05-20-2003, 01:43 PM

The reason I say to run the same size tires front and rear is because of balance. A narrower tire in the front will lead to understeer. You can dial some of it out with adjustable sway bars and spring rates but your total grip is reduced. Remember this is a street car we're talking about. The suspension is designed from the factory so that the car will understeer. Running a smaller tire in the front will simply make it understeer more. If you redesigned the suspension and adjusted the weight balance more to the rear then you could run a smaller tire in the front than the back. Trans Am cars, for example, run a 25x13x16 slick in the front and a 27x14x16 slick in the rear. They do this mainly because these cars have around 700 horsepower and they need a taller rear sidewall to absorb some of the load coming out of a corner and trying to apply all that power. the taller sidewall flexes more and gives you better more feedback as to when it is going to break loose. But, those cars are designed to run those sized tires. 240s are not.

*sykikchimp* · 05-20-2003, 01:55 PM

I'm going to make another thread about staggered wheels setups.. no need to hijack Ace's thread

nokeone · 05-20-2003, 02:40 PM

very cool..

thanks both of you..

that was exactly the response i was hoping for...

*AceInHole* · 05-20-2003, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sykikchimp
Ace - also remember that SCCA doesn't allow over a 7" wide wheel on IT cars... I figure if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

IT cars aren't turbocharged though....

Quote:

The Diamond racing wheels are about $100ea for 16x8.. I looked very seriously at these because of the awesome price. You need to know what backspacing to use? also understand those are about 20lbs ea. iirc.

Hmm... I couldn't find racing wheels for anything under $200 a peice.... but $100ea. for 16x8's sounds good.
20lbs. is nothing.... the weight should be negligible compared to grip, considering my car is making a good 220 at the wheels with room for more power if needed.

Also... any suggestions on back spacing would be very welcome plz

*AceInHole* · 05-20-2003, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MovinUp-1
If you don't want a steel wheel, look for the cheapest 16x7.5 you can get and run a 235 or 245 width tire on that. Whatever you do, run the same sized tire and wheel front and rear.

will a 245 fit on a 16x7.5 without affecting sidewall stiffness too much??

MovinUp-1 · 05-20-2003, 05:42 PM

Yeah, the tire size will be fine. not ideal, but fine. For backspacing, I'm running 5" backspacing and don't have an issue with my konis and GC's. However, I am running a 4" long front spring so that I can get the car very low without tire interference. I don't know what suspension you have so I would suggest you jack the car up and take some very careful measurements before you order. The rear is not an issue, 5" backspace with plenty of clearance.

MovinUp-1 · 05-20-2003, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sykikchimp
Ace - also remember that SCCA doesn't allow over a 7" wide wheel on IT cars... I figure if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

I think that wheel and tire width rules are usually written to keep a class of car's speed in check, not because that is all they need to go fast.

*sykikchimp* · 05-20-2003, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MovinUp-1
I think that wheel and tire width rules are usually written to keep a class of car's speed in check, not because that is all they need to go fast.

Yeah.. I understand that. I was saying for only having 7" wide wheels they are still damn fast. It was just for comparisons sake.. :P

BoostinGST · 11-17-2006, 07:21 PM

+1 for diamond racing... http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/WheelSeries.htm
i was thinking of getting some 15x10 for the rear on my s14 and some 15x8 for the front, maybe even running some 16s if i can find a good set

edit: oops forgot i was searching and not just browsing lol this thread is kinda old

**ThatGuy** · 11-17-2006, 07:24 PM

Wow, did you honestly just bump a Thread from 3 YEARS AGO just to say you might be getting Diamond Racing Wheels?

You officially fail at life.

05-20-2003, 12:07 AM	#1
AceInHole Autox Technician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Haven, CT Age: 40 Posts: 3,961 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: AceInHole Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Skinny slicks vs. wide street tires I've been looking for a new set of tires for a while.... cause running street tires in a class that allows racing tires just isn't cutting it. So.... being 4 lug, I can't really find wide rims. Being a college student, I can't afford custom wide 4 lug racing wheels. I'm pretty much limited to the crap they have for FWD cars... maxing out at like 7.5". Pretty sure I can get a set of 16x7" wheels cheap tho (like $99 at tire rack). Then mount some 225/40/R16 tires on them. The other option is to convert to 5 lug and only run street tires, but with 5 lug selection I'd be able to get wider tires... say 245/ 265. But, would 225 wide Victoracers be a lot better than say, 245 wide Khumo MX's?? Or even the cheapest route: mount some 205/50/R15's on some OEM alloys.... which I'd be able to do a lot sooner since I wouldn't have to spend $450 or so on rims. Feel free to add suggestions even...... like... what's everyone else running for autocross tires? __________________

05-20-2003, 07:24 AM	#2
silnv Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marietta, OH Age: 39 Posts: 1,093 Trader Rating: (39) Feedback Score: 39 reviews	I dont know if this will help ya out or not cause it has to do with drag racing, but I will throw out the info anyway. I was reading around about some WS6 Trans Ams and I found this info. In the quarter mile this guy had 315/35 street BFG's and ran a 13.3 he then switched to 275/40 BFG's Drag Radials and dropped his time to 12.84. The tire size diffrence was fairly decent, and maybe will give you some ideas on what to run. By the way I have a set of Racing Sparco wheels that are 16x7 and 16x8 with 225/50 on the 7" and 245/45 on the 8". __________________ 1997 Nissan 240sx 1991 Nissan 240sx hatch

05-20-2003, 07:48 AM	#3
MovinUp-1 Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Now I'm in Texas Posts: 243 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Have you considered running steel wheels like Diamond Racing? They're not all that heavy and are oh so cheap, like less than $100 apiece. Then you could get a 16x8 wheel and run a 245x45x16 kumho victoracer autocross tire ($130 each). If you don't want a steel wheel, look for the cheapest 16x7.5 you can get and run a 235 or 245 width tire on that. Whatever you do, run the same sized tire and wheel front and rear. __________________ Allen Delta Region SCCA SM 1990 240SX SR20DET

05-20-2003, 01:37 PM	#7
sykikchimp WOW addicted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the moon Age: 40 Posts: 6,518 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	No need to make racing more expensive than it needs to be, and Tires are the main thing that make racing expensive. Say he wants to start running hoosiers.. they are about $190 ea. halfway through the auto-x season, he finds his rears are starting to cord, and needs new ones.. another $400 down the drain for new rears. If he could have rotated them, they probably would have lasted him till the end of the year. If your driving on real road courses it's an even bigger deal.. Your not really going to get any extra performance out of running a staggered setup on the 240 anyways. So do you want more seat time? or bigger tire bills that don't really make you faster. Ace - also remember that SCCA doesn't allow over a 7" wide wheel on IT cars... I figure if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. __________________

05-20-2003, 01:43 PM	#8
MovinUp-1 Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Now I'm in Texas Posts: 243 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The reason I say to run the same size tires front and rear is because of balance. A narrower tire in the front will lead to understeer. You can dial some of it out with adjustable sway bars and spring rates but your total grip is reduced. Remember this is a street car we're talking about. The suspension is designed from the factory so that the car will understeer. Running a smaller tire in the front will simply make it understeer more. If you redesigned the suspension and adjusted the weight balance more to the rear then you could run a smaller tire in the front than the back. Trans Am cars, for example, run a 25x13x16 slick in the front and a 27x14x16 slick in the rear. They do this mainly because these cars have around 700 horsepower and they need a taller rear sidewall to absorb some of the load coming out of a corner and trying to apply all that power. the taller sidewall flexes more and gives you better more feedback as to when it is going to break loose. But, those cars are designed to run those sized tires. 240s are not. __________________ Allen Delta Region SCCA SM 1990 240SX SR20DET

05-20-2003, 01:55 PM	#9
sykikchimp WOW addicted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the moon Age: 40 Posts: 6,518 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm going to make another thread about staggered wheels setups.. no need to hijack Ace's thread __________________

05-20-2003, 02:40 PM	#10
nokeone on strike three. Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, California Age: 42 Posts: 3,282 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	very cool.. thanks both of you.. that was exactly the response i was hoping for... __________________ panda; rockin your socks from the Bay to LA to SD, yay! Pink GodziRa

05-20-2003, 05:42 PM	#13
MovinUp-1 Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Now I'm in Texas Posts: 243 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah, the tire size will be fine. not ideal, but fine. For backspacing, I'm running 5" backspacing and don't have an issue with my konis and GC's. However, I am running a 4" long front spring so that I can get the car very low without tire interference. I don't know what suspension you have so I would suggest you jack the car up and take some very careful measurements before you order. The rear is not an issue, 5" backspace with plenty of clearance. __________________ Allen Delta Region SCCA SM 1990 240SX SR20DET

11-17-2006, 07:21 PM	#16
BoostinGST Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Posts: 726 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	+1 for diamond racing... http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/WheelSeries.htm i was thinking of getting some 15x10 for the rear on my s14 and some 15x8 for the front, maybe even running some 16s if i can find a good set edit: oops forgot i was searching and not just browsing lol this thread is kinda old

11-17-2006, 07:24 PM	#17
ThatGuy Admin Asshole Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Retired Age: 41 Posts: 20,394 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ThatGuy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow, did you honestly just bump a Thread from 3 YEARS AGO just to say you might be getting Diamond Racing Wheels? You officially fail at life. __________________ "Speak softly,..." -Pres. Teddy Roosevelt "Be polite, be professional, ..." -Gen. James Mattis

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