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July 14, 2011 4:14 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

I want to see a tire test comparison! I firmly believe the rally tires you are currently running are WAY too HUGE. I bet you'd see a significant reduction in times by going with the smallest 15" tire you could (yoko sells 185/60R15's, which are slightly smaller than the factory 16's with 205/50R16's on my 1995 STi).

Considering the data you collected from running the auto-x Miata, I think it would be very worthwhile (and the n/a 2,2L needs all the gearing help it can get)!

The only reason I could see to stick with the taller tire would be a faster course... but even then, I always find that (for instance) in my 2.5RS when I had taller winter tires, the extra entry speed made it very difficult to properly setup for corners (the 5km/h is make or break in the tricky stuff, especially in such loose conditions with tight corners). Combined with the hopefully "quicker" acceleration to the top speed bouncing off the rev limiter, I think the time spent travelling down the short, typical rallyx straight would be negated.
July 14, 2011 4:41 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

My '95 Impreza battlewagon/rallycrosser/chump racer/lemons racer saw was barely faster with 15" rally tires on it (the smallest rally tires I could find for a 15" wheel, brand/size is escaping me right now) than with 14" all season tires in really nasty, muddy courses. Both ran OEM steelies. In dryer/mixed courses, the 14" wheels were noticeably faster. It sure felt like it was due to the 1.8 (and later 2.2) not having power to deal with the increased rotating weight and the (80k mile Impreza RS) suspension not being able to handle the added mass. The lighter tire/wheel combo made it much easier to manage transitions, thus making it easier for me to get fast times.

So, put me in another data point that says the bigger, chunkier tires aren't necessarily better on a rallycross course. Definitely course, driver, and condition dependent. In the end, I preferred the all season tires unless it was extremely soupy.

Bryce
July 14, 2011 4:47 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

good points--but we've investigated doing dirt-oriented tire tests and have always come back to the fact that there are more confounding variables than we can control reliably. Our plan for this car was initially to turbocharge and thus the extra diameter would have been less of a hindrance. The plan has now just become to enjoy the car as it is--and thus maybe 14s would make more sense.
July 17, 2011 9:08 p.m. darkbuddha New Reader

Interesting topic, especially since I've been shopping recently for a budget alternative to rally spec tires for an upcoming rally-x. My search has been for used snow tires primarily, but being in Florida, it's next to impossible to find any. So I've been looking for alternatives to the alternative... smaller but chunky all-seasons... something like a 185/65/15 or 185/60/15. Unfortunately, I've had very little luck finding anything like that in my price range ($100 for a used set). At this point though (with rally-x being a week away), I'm probably gonna end up running my street tires... 214/40/17 ContiExtremeContacts.
July 17, 2011 10:08 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

darkbuddha wrote:

At this point though (with rally-x being a week away), I'm probably gonna end up running my street tires... 214/40/17 ContiExtremeContacts.

The nice thing about the low profile tires is that they don't deflect/compress as much. I personally will never buy 195/65R15 winter tires again as they are so wishy-washy. My 205/55R16's were thousands of times better and offered the same grip.

Also, on dry dirt (not gravel), most lo-pro summer tires work well. Hell, I've set FTD before in a bone stock 2.5RS on bald summer tires in a mud-fest hell hole (except, it wasn't hell, it was glorious!)
July 18, 2011 8:41 a.m. Taiden HalfDork

It makes me very sad that in Florida you have more rallyx then we do in New England. Something about that seems extremely wrong and unfair and even unkind!
July 18, 2011 9:29 p.m. darkbuddha New Reader

Excuse the hijack for a moment:
Taiden wrote:

It makes me very sad that in Florida you have more rallyx then we do in New England. Something about that seems extremely wrong and unfair and even unkind!

Wait! We do?!?!!! Seriously, there are maybe 6 or so a year in the bottom half of the state, which ain't enough IMHO, especially when I gotta drive 3 hours to get to it. We are trying to remedy that with a re-activation of the Tampa area rally-x scene, but we'll see... lots of folks talk big about wanting to participate, but then next to nobody shows up. There's just so little enthusiasm for it here, which is a bit of shock after living in the PNW for 10 years.
July 18, 2011 9:34 p.m. Taiden HalfDork

PNW seems to be a motorsports haven.

I think we had about 4 rallyx in all of New England this year. New England is pretty darn big.
July 18, 2011 9:53 p.m. Nitroracer SuperDork

I'm running a rallyx this weekend too, first one I've ever done. My snow tires are going back on for the weekend, narrower and knobbier than my summer set. I have a little more torque than a stock subie though.
July 19, 2011 10:40 a.m. Greg Voth HalfDork

In reply to darkbuddha:

I hear you. The rally scene is weak here. I drove over to a lot of the Tampa events at the raceway when I owned the "Battlewagon". I think the last one there about a year ago had maybe 10-15 cars. I ran the black Subaru Forester. Looks like from your avatar youve got the Xr4ti?

The three hour drive from Daytona is not ideal so I am sure I missed a couple. Its about three hours down to PBIR also so I havent made one of those yet.

I would like to see the "Battlewagon" back in action also.
July 19, 2011 11:28 a.m. darkbuddha New Reader

Yep, that was me in the XR4TI... and I DNF'd. BTW, it wasn't 10-15... it was 7. So sad.

It would be nice to have a "network" of events in the state to make it more reasonable to get to events and build a bigger enthusiast community. I was hoping that with GRM being here in Florida that there might be more support for it in the state, but I've noticed that the rally car projects in the magazine seem to exit the building after a fairly short tenure. Could it be because there's no real way to enjoy them locally once they're built?

Of course, it being Florida and all, maybe I should just buy a mud truck and hit the Redneck Yacht Club. Then again, probably not.
July 19, 2011 1:05 p.m. Greg Voth HalfDork

7 is not a strong number. I think I got fastest raw time in the Forester but was beat by the Evo due to cones falling over. I still contest it was the dirt knocking them down and have photographic evidence of this.

The "Battlewagon" project is over as far as I know but Per sold the car to David so it is still around the office. I don't believe David has had a chance to take it out to any events though.

It was my wifes old car so I am keeping tabs on it if it comes up for sale again. I really liked that car and took it to several of the Tampa events before getting the Forester.
July 19, 2011 2:45 p.m. darkbuddha New Reader

Hope David gets it out to the PBIR event this coming weekend. It's tragic to think that project car is not seeing the kind of action it was being built for.
July 19, 2011 2:59 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

darkbuddha wrote:

Hope David gets it out to the PBIR event this coming weekend. It's tragic to think that project car is not seeing the kind of action it was being built for.

Right now this weekend is a definite maybe. I might be building a Porsche engine instead as we're still trying to get the car together in time for Porsche Parade. I know, so many cars, so many things to do.
July 19, 2011 3:54 p.m. darkbuddha New Reader

That's one tough decision to have...
July 19, 2011 6:47 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

I have a feeling the Porsche is going to win. I just picked up the rest of the parts needed to rebuild the engine--gaskets, seals, O-rings, flywheel bolts, etc., etc.--and we're scheduled to be in the shop Saturday and Sunday. It will be nice to get this one back on the road.
July 19, 2011 6:50 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

And not to change topics, but the Porsche should drive so nicely when it's done. The clutch has been getting a little wonky, so when the engine goes back in we're replacing the clutch, clutch helper spring and the clutch cable.
July 19, 2011 9:53 p.m. parker New Reader

I don't want to hear any complaining about a lack of Rallycross events. If you have one a year that's more than the entire state of Texas
July 19, 2011 10:24 p.m. Taiden HalfDork

parker wrote:

I don't want to hear any complaining about a lack of Rallycross events. If you have one a year that's more than the entire state of Texas

But dont you all have a lot of amazing land?? I don't get that. Rallycross only required what, an acre of land?
July 20, 2011 6:54 a.m. darkbuddha New Reader

parker wrote:

I don't want to hear any complaining about a lack of Rallycross events. If you have one a year that's more than the entire state of Texas

I'd think Texas would have some prime territory for it, but finding folks that are interested might be a bit tougher. It's truck country probably more than anything. That said, where there are Subaru guys, there better be some rally enthusiasts, and I'm sure Texas has its share of Subaru guys.

cheapspeed wrote:

A rallycross or a building a motor for a Porsche Parade? Seems like an easy decision.

Rallycross FTW!

After my own heart...

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