SCCA Classing and grassroots tire upgrades: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Oct. 10, 2009 10:51 a.m. neon4891 UltraDork

I have been considering my options for a dedicated autoX wheel/tire combo. My idea is to upgrade to the 15" alloys from the second gen Neons or PTs.

I know the new tire size would be 195/55/15 or 205/50/15. Are there any wider sizes that would fit? Also after the discusion over tire width and over/under steer, I was considering 205 up front and 195 in back. Is that a bad idea?

I am also looking for tire recomendations. As much as I would LOVE to run Hoosier A6's these tires will see street use for the drive to and from the coarse.

Finally, what would this do to SCCA classing on an otherwise (almost) stock first gen Neon. I think I could get away with buger bushings and the taller geared SOHC tranny in (?) stock.
Oct. 10, 2009 11:02 a.m. Capt Slow Reader

I am not 100% sure but, your tranny may screw you...

hmm that didn't sound right

A6's are run on a lot of stock class cars. however you won't be able to run them in any of the street touring classes...
Oct. 10, 2009 12:02 p.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

The Falken Azeni RT615 205/50/15 is tried and true; no longer the grippiest, but the best bang for the buck. I know of some autoX guys who run a combination of 225/45/15 front and 205/50/15 rear, but depending on the offset of the rims, they could require spacers to prevent scrubbing.

On the tranny, I prefer the lower geared 3.94, as you can run 90% of courses in 2nd gear, concentrating on driving instead of shifting. I run the 205 - 3.94 combo, and it seems about right to me.
Oct. 10, 2009 12:38 p.m. Travis_K HalfDork

The wheels and bushings would move you to STS (or whatever they call it now) and the tranny would move you to FSP.
Oct. 10, 2009 1:21 p.m. Capt Slow Reader

The kumo XS is about the same prise as the falken and much grippier
Oct. 10, 2009 2:13 p.m. z31maniac Dork

Swapping the final drive would put him in a mod or prepared class wouldn't it?
Oct. 10, 2009 2:20 p.m. parker New Reader

In reply to z31maniac: update/backdate
Oct. 10, 2009 2:25 p.m. Will Reader

The trans swap is SP legal if done as a complete unit, otherwise it's off to SM with him.
Oct. 10, 2009 6:33 p.m. z31maniac Dork

parker wrote:

In reply to z31maniac: update/backdate

You have to update/backdate everything. So he'd have to use that motor and any other options that came on that car with the trans he wants.

Don't see it being worth the effort though.
Oct. 10, 2009 6:43 p.m. irish44j Reader

Hankook Ventus RS-2's are very inexpensive and similar in performance to the Azenis. Also a pretty good street tire (not too loud or fast-wearing). I was pretty happy with mine considering the price range.
Oct. 10, 2009 7:32 p.m. parker New Reader

In reply to z31maniac:

According to the rulebook you can update/backdate transaxles as a unit in Street Prepared. SP rules differ from Stock.
Oct. 10, 2009 8:35 p.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

I have two manual tranny Neons: one with the 3.94, one with the 3.55. The 3.94 is definitely the one to have for autoX. The 3.55 gives better mileage, though.
Oct. 10, 2009 9:35 p.m. BoneYard_Racing New Reader

Stock 2gn wheels are the same width 6" as 1gns so a 215 is really your limit, not to say that 225s havent been stuffed on.
Oct. 11, 2009 3:02 a.m. Travis_K HalfDork

Back when people still ran neons in stock class, i think they ran 225 hoosiers on the front, they wont fit on the rear though with the stock wheels.
Oct. 11, 2009 8:07 a.m. z31maniac Dork

parker wrote:

In reply to z31maniac:

According to the rulebook you can update/backdate transaxles as a unit in Street Prepared. SP rules differ from Stock.

Interesting.

Although a basically stock neon on street tires in the appropriate SP class will get murdered.
Oct. 11, 2009 11:05 a.m. Dorsai New Reader

irish44j wrote:

Hankook Ventus RS-2's are very inexpensive and similar in performance to the Azenis. Also a pretty good street tire (not too loud or fast-wearing). I was pretty happy with mine considering the price range.

Just put these on my '97 Miata. FYI Tire Rack currently has them on sale.
Oct. 11, 2009 2:53 p.m. neon4891 UltraDork

If I stick with 14" wheels, what are the odds of having the tranny and bushings over looked if I dont declare them? Not that I want to cheat, I just dont want to get screwed on classing Because It was the only transmision I could find, and the bushing where 1/10th the cost of a new linkage

OTOH, I dont really care about being truly "Competetive" in my first season
Oct. 11, 2009 3:33 p.m. BoneYard_Racing New Reader

Honestly just go to the people competing in the class you want to, if the car we're talking about is the R/T in your sig and it still has the dual cam it will be mega slow with a 3.55 believe me Ive done the DOHC/3.55 thing for the same reason you did. They will probably welcome you with the slower car

IIRC there is a provision in the rule book for things like the booger bushings that are a fix for a common problem and offer no real performance advantage, anybody know what it is?