staggering tires?

[Jamie Lessie]

ok,

because I am a cheap college student (a stubborn one) who wants to keep autoxing I must resort to getting used tires. The only problem is, used tires are sold in pairs which makes it extremely difficult to find a matching set. I have always rotated tires, and I know that once I stagger them I wont have that luxury anymore. Really though, how much extra life do you get out of tires that you can rotate?

I have some tires lined up they are:
245/40/17 Michelin pilot sport ps2 in front
255/45/17 Falken azenis 615's in the rear

I would rather have PS2's in the rear but those are smaller. I could, however get the pair and wait to see if some matching ones come up. I need these before the 4th. If anyone saw my tires at the last event, they were bald before my 12 runs also, do staggered tires throw of balance?

My father is extremely against getting staggered tires. I do not know any better as I have never done it. I have done google searches but have learned from experience that 99% of people that drive "racecars" don't know jack squat what they are talking about. I trust you guys and your opinion. Thanks for all the help you have given me.

[Steve Ekstrand]

You can stagger tires. Lots of us do all the time. You should understand the consequences of both different grip at either end and different compound characterics if you mix tires.

[Mako Koiwai]

Having 225/45/17 Yoks in back and 205/50/16 (?) Falken 615's on Kestler's Elise was an evil combination.

[Jamie Lessie]

Anyone else?

I want to know, really how much longer tires last when rotated. My father says I will get up to 50% more life out of them that way. He has been known to blow smoke out his rear though. Does this sound unreasonable?

[KJ Christopher]

Anyone else?

I want to know, really how much longer tires last when rotated. My father says I will get up to 50% more life out of them that way. He has been known to blow smoke out his rear though. Does this sound unreasonable?

I think it is very unlikely to find 50% more life out of tires by rotating street tires. If you're also doing our autocross events, it would help though. Excess camber and toe will cause wear and flipping the tires on the rims exposes a fresh side. I have the rims marked on my RX8 in order to track so that they get rotated each event.

I rarely' rotate anymore. Mostly because with a staggered setup and directional tires, it requires dismounting/remounting. I did rotate the tires on the ML when I did the brakes. (Since I had all four off at the same time anyway.) I do monitor treadwear though, looking for abnormalities.

Yeah, staggering sizes will effect handling. (Best thing I did was going square on my E36 M3.) But so will mixing brands. Just get what you can afford and run with it.

[Jeff Ringer]

jamie,

check this out.. the re-01r 's are still on sale - call for exact sizing avail.. sometimes they have something not listed

used tires are sometimes more of a pain then anything unless they are almost new

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp ... R&i1_Qty=4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jamie Lessie]

Thanks Jeff!

Would any of you buy the 2005 production? Would they be "worse" then the more newly made tires? (that wording sounds odd)

I may pick up some of those! How do you all like them? If they are better then the falken 615's I will take them!

[Mako Koiwai]

The 01's are definitely better then the 615's ... which aren't ideal for a newer driver. They break away comparatively suddenly compared to the 01's. The Tire Rack would have the tires stored correctly, so no problem there. For a while we were buying Kuhmo 710's that were at least that old.

[Jamie Lessie]

The 01's are definitely better then the 615's ... which aren't ideal for a newer driver. They break away comparatively suddenly compared to the 01's. The Tire Rack would have the tires stored correctly, so no problem there. For a while we were buying Kuhmo 710's that were at least that old.

Yeah, I am not sure if it is because I started autocrossing with 615's with 15,000 miles on them, or if that is just how they are. They do not warn me before they break traction, it is either grip or slide.

Thanks for showing me this

I do have a chance to get some well-priced new dunlop star specs, they would be about $100 more than these 01's. Everyone recommend the dunlops to me. Are they worth the extra $100? I may look for a place to keep them. I will just shell out and get both. Then I don't have to worry about tires for a while.

[Mako Koiwai]

Definitely ... the Z1's are better then the 01's ... again, especially good at the edge and under hard late braking ... almost R tire like in feel.

[Kurt Rahn]

Definitely ... the Z1's are better then the 01's ... again, especially good at the edge and under hard late braking ... almost R tire like in feel.

I just got a set of Star Specs and I love them. The Pro this weekend will be my first time autocrossing on them, but even just driving around town on them, I can tell how much better grip they have than my old tires.

[Jamie Lessie]

I might just get them both then. No eating out for 2 months though. lol

I have only done 3 autocross and am still a novice so if I can get them both I will put on the 01's first and store the z1's until next year when I am hopefully a bit better at this.

Thanks so much for all your help

[Leonard Cachola]

Just get the 01s for now and buy the Star Specs later that way you only have to eat in for one month instead of two.

[Jamie Lessie]

Just get the 01s for now and buy the Star Specs later that way you only have to eat in for one month instead of two.

I found a brand new set for of Z1's for $399 (225/45/17's) I thought I would get them and store them until I need them.

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

I found a brand new set for of Z1's for $399 (225/45/17's) I thought I would get them and store them until I need them.

If you are looking for tires for your FD those are way to small. You should not be putting a Miata sized tire on an RX-7. 245-275 is a much better range.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Yeah, I am not sure if it is because I started autocrossing with 615's with 15,000 miles on them, or if that is just how they are. They do not warn me before they break traction, it is either grip or slide.

The Michelins have a similar characteristic—grip, grip, gone. And that was street driving.

Fresh 615s are a lot more catchable than when they're close to done.

[Jamie Lessie]

I found a brand new set for of Z1's for $399 (225/45/17's) I thought I would get them and store them until I need them.

If you are looking for tires for your FD those are way to small. You should not be putting a Miata sized tire on an RX-7. 245-275 is a much better range.

225's are what came stock on the car. 225/50/16's. The 225/45/17's are as close as I can get to stock, not that I cant go wider, Discount tire quoted me over $700 for 245/40 Z1's. I will gladly pay the $399 and install them myself. That is almost half the cost. I will gladly go 2cm smaller for that much $$ not to mention I LOVE the shorter tire. I don't hit redline with my shorter ones now, even on the larger autocross courses. With taller tires my "gearing" wont be as to my liking as much.

I also have my car lowered. I would do 245/45 in the front and 255-265 in the rear. I don't want to stagger though. I could do 245's all the way round. I will probably do that. I have 8 inch wide rims. is it ok to put a 255+ wide tire on an 8 inch?

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

225's are what came stock on the car. 225/50/16's. The 225/45/17's are as close as I can get to stock, not that I cant go wider, Discount tire quoted me over $700 for 245/40 Z1's. I will gladly pay the $399 and install them myself. That is almost half the cost. I will gladly go 2cm smaller for that much $$ not to mention I LOVE the shorter tire. I don't hit redline with my shorter ones now, even on the larger autocross courses. With taller tires my "gearing" wont be as to my liking as much.

I also have my car lowered. I would do 245/45 in the front and 255-265 in the rear. I don't want to stagger though. I could do 245's all the way round. I will probably do that. I have 8 inch wide rims. is it ok to put a 255+ wide tire on an 8 inch?

It is not the gearing, it is the grip you give up with that way to skinny tire that you are going to overheat. There are guys stuffing 295s on 8" wide wheels in stock class, 245s (which is what I run on an 8") are a much better fit.

btw with the right offset you can get a 285-18 in the front, and 305 rear, with just a fender roll. We had 255-40-17s all around on our FD without touching the fenders.

[Jamie Lessie]

225's are what came stock on the car. 225/50/16's. The 225/45/17's are as close as I can get to stock, not that I cant go wider, Discount tire quoted me over $700 for 245/40 Z1's. I will gladly pay the $399 and install them myself. That is almost half the cost. I will gladly go 2cm smaller for that much $$ not to mention I LOVE the shorter tire. I don't hit redline with my shorter ones now, even on the larger autocross courses. With taller tires my "gearing" wont be as to my liking as much.

I also have my car lowered. I would do 245/45 in the front and 255-265 in the rear. I don't want to stagger though. I could do 245's all the way round. I will probably do that. I have 8 inch wide rims. is it ok to put a 255+ wide tire on an 8 inch?

It is not the gearing, it is the grip you give up with that way to skinny tire that you are going to overheat. There are guys stuffing 295s on 8" wide wheels in stock class, 245s (which is what I run on an 8") are a much better fit.

btw with the right offset you can get a 285-18 in the front, and 305 rear, with just a fender roll. We had 255-40-17s all around on our FD without touching the fenders.

overheat eh?

I can't afford the Z1's in any size other then the 225/45's (because I am getting them secondhand)

Is it better to have a Z1 in a 225/45 or a BS 01 in a 245/45? remember, I am no pro driver

[Steve Ekstrand]

Get the Bridgestone on sale. This isn't a hard decision.

Get the old 2005's for $78 a piece and save your money.

The correctly sized Dunlops are faster, but not by huge amounts and they don't last as long.

A 245 BS is going to be faster than a 225 Z1.

[Jamie Lessie]

Get the Bridgestone on sale. This isn't a hard decision.

Get the old 2005's for $78 a piece and save your money.

The correctly sized Dunlops are faster, but not by huge amounts and they don't last as long.

A 245 BS is going to be faster than a 225 Z1.

Thanks Steve and thanks to everyone. You are such a great help to me!

[Jamie Lessie]

Get the Bridgestone on sale.

The correctly sized Dunlops are faster, but not by huge amounts and they don't last as long.

A 245 BS is going to be faster than a 225 Z1.

btw: I did not know that size made that much of a difference. Look at the difference between 225 and 245 on a ruler. It is only 0.79 of in inch difference.

The 01's last longer too huh? I might buy 2 sets of the 01's then. I always worry about affording "the next set" of tires.

[Mako Koiwai]

One thing at a time! By the time you've used up the 01's .. you're going to want to Go Wider with better rubber. Don't try to reinvent this stuff ... we've already made all the mistakes for you!

[Jamie Lessie]

One thing at a time! By the time you've used up the 01's .. you're going to want to Go Wider with better rubber. Don't try to reinvent this stuff ... we've already made all the mistakes for you!

That is why I ask so many questions here.

I like your new avatar btw. That is a really cute picture!

[Rick Brown]

btw: I did not know that size made that much of a difference.

Uh....

........No.............I can resist the temptation............


...........Leave the comeback to the real perverts in here............... }:)