13" auto-x tire recommendations

The 1999 Miata I bought ~1 year ago is likely to see it's first auto-x action under my ownership in the next few weeks. When I bought the car, it came with 4 Rota 13x8 wheels, shod with 11 year old V710s in 215/50/13. I'd like to buy new tires to put on the wheels. Given that I know basically nothing about auto-x tires, what should I buy?

The car is (or was at the time - I have no idea what the current rules are) set up as a CSP car. From the FS ad:

Car sits on KYB AGX shocks with first gen Flyin Miata lowering springs and a front Flyin Miata solid sway bar. Has a Racing Beat intake and a OBX header.

Competitive CSP cars are all on Hoosiers. I have no idea what you're going to find in 13" sizes, but it seems like there's not much. Probably something like a Toyo R888 is your best bet if you don't want to spend Purple Crack money.

That said, those mods don't sound like CSP to me. Let us know what's changed on the car and we can probably give you a better idea of class.

I'm not a Miata driver,and I don't autocross...so take this with a grain of salt.

Most Miatas I see on the track seem to be running 225/45/15 tires. I bet the autocross guys are on 245's.

So, it probably doesn't matter too much. You'll be largely uncompetitive no matter which tire you choose. You can get Toyos (RA-1, R888, R888R, and RR) and Hoosiers (A7 and R7) in 13" sizes. Just choose one and have fun

The hot purple crack size in 13" is a 255/40/13.

cmcgregor wrote: Competitive CSP cars are all on Hoosiers. I have no idea what you're going to find in 13" sizes, but it seems like there's not much. Probably something like a Toyo R888 is your best bet if you don't want to spend Purple Crack money. That said, those mods don't sound like CSP to me. Let us know what's changed on the car and we can probably give you a better idea of class.

Those are the only performance changes, all of which came with the car. A/C was also removed. Since I've had it, I've added a pair of Sparco seats, harnesses and a 4-point rollbar.

I also have 15" 6UL wheels, but have more track oriented tires on those wheels. My plan/thought was to put auto-x specific tires on the 13" wheels, and save the 15" wheels and tires for HPDE.

Given my lack of experience, I wouldn't be competitive with the fastest car there, much less my Miata. If there is a 13" tire that will be fun and help me go as fast as my experience allows, that would be ideal.

There are some 205/60/13 federal 595 that legends cars run. They are hard to find through regular dealers so youd probably have to go through a legends dealer. Appear to be about $100 a tire. Other than that R888 are about the only other streetable wide 13s I know of.

The prep level of the car sounds like a moderate attempt at STR. Not sure why the seller would say it was CSP. I'd try to put 200TW tires on and run it in ST.

He last ran the car in 2006. Maybe CSP has changed/evolved over the past 11 years?

I don't know anything about classing, so I'm open to all suggestions. I don't need the 13" tires to be streetable though. They will be on wheels that are only used for auto-x.

There are formula cars (formula Ford I think? Or was it spec racer Ford?) That run 13 ich wheels. There is a front size and rear size with rears being taller and wider.

Hoosier makes em. There are races take offs for $50 each. Cheap way to get a ton of grip. Maybe not A7 grip, but I'd think close.

Tire Rack shows a few 13" R-comps for autocross. Hoosiers, R888 and BFG for example. Seen it done in CSP but been a few years, as stated most in CSP has gone with 15". Except me, I'm still on 14". Just not in the cards to spring for a set of 15" this year although I am getting new tires and brakes this month. Maybe next set of tires.

Greg Voth wrote: There are some 205/60/13 federal 595 that legends cars run. They are hard to find through regular dealers so youd probably have to go through a legends dealer. Appear to be about $100 a tire. Other than that R888 are about the only other streetable wide 13s I know of.

Did research on this..

talked to http://www.cmgmotorsports.com/ these tires are not DOT approved (which explains why regular dealers dont carry them), he believes they did it so that they didnt have to put date codes on them to avoid nitpicking racers. They did carry DOT cert in the past and look like DOT tires. (so it may just be a labeling issue)

They will sell them to people for $100 a tire (uncut, see below)

The price they quote on the site is for ones with camber cutting for the roundy round folks. These are what they keep in stock and they would not work out too well for turnign in both directions. The owner of the above site said that he can order in without the cutting, they are cheaper (100/tire), but it could be 1-3 weeks until they arrive in his shop in Richmond, VA. (I am in range to go grab them, but they do ship, dont know pricing on shipping)

Sounds more like a Street Touring car than a Street Prepared car. I'd step up to 15" wheels, simply because there's better tire availability, and not run slicks or R-compounds. Unless you are built to the hilt, running C/SP is not advisable. The PAX murders an underbuilt car. Believe me, I know because that's the boat I'm in.

American racer sells a whole line of DOT race tires in 13 inch rim a 215 and a 235catalog page They will run you ~$100 each

In reply to NickD: second this. The car sounds like an STR build. Get some 15x9 wheels and a set of 225 RE-71s and go have fun with it both autocross and track.

I just put a set of Hoosier A7s on the Abomination. I'll let you know Monday if they are worth the $200+ a tire.

84FSP wrote: The hot purple crack size in 13" is a 255/40/13.

I didn't know Charmin made tires!

Hoosier makes a number of 13 inch tires in their R25B (soft) and LC0 (harder) compounds, targeted to Formula SAE and Formula 500/600. If you live near a university with an SAE team, see if you can get old tires from them, most will be willing to let them go cheaply or free.

In reply to whiskey_business:

Any idea on the difference between the r25b and the A7 compound?

You may be familiar with the application I am asking about...

In reply to Robbie:

Oh, I have a fair idea what you're working on. As far as I know they are the same compound, but A7s are hardcore DOT tires, and R25Bs and LC0s are full race tires. Lighter construction, more fragile from what I understand.