Autox worthy tires: Abarth version.

Well, here is the conundrum, the Abarth with wheels that don't suck, happens to be saddled with the same 205/40r17 84w load rating the Fiesta ST is also stuck with. I refuse to put 16's on this car and tires need to be autox compound in 200TW.

So it seems, the only options I have are Azenis 615's in 205/40 84w, 215/40 83w Z2 star specs(which nobody will sell me if I mention it's for the Abarth), or a few selections of the 205/45 & 215/45 varieties which are all 84w or 85w load ratings.

While the car will see occasional g-street autox usage, it will never be in a "SRS BSNS" national level event.

My factory wheels are 17x7 IIRC in case that matters.

What says GRM?

Buy the Z2SS, for "a kit car."

Why won't they sell it to you for the Abarth?

mtn wrote: Why won't they sell it to you for the Abarth?

Load rating is slightly lower than stock.

rslifkin wrote:

mtn wrote: Why won't they sell it to you for the Abarth?

Load rating is slightly lower than stock.

1076lbs instead of 1102 or something like that.
Could that slight difference really be an issue in the real world? I understand vendors and the manufacturer won't agree to it for the sake of liability.

Also, one other note...these cars are geared short enough taller tires will probably have a positive effect on performance.

WOW Really Paul? wrote: 1076lbs instead of 1102 or something like that. Could that slight difference really be an issue in the real world? I understand vendors and the manufacturer won't agree to it for the sake of liability.

Probably not. The sticker on the car that gives stock tire size / pressure should give max rated weight for each end of the car. That'll give you an idea how close to the load rating it should ever get (assuming you're not over-loading the car).

In reply to rslifkin:

3300 total GVWR, 1872 front max, 1718 rear max. This particular car should be fairly light as far as Abarths go, 17" wheels and leather are the only options.

Stock F/R balance should be in the 64/36 realm.

I just punched 215/45 17 into Tire Rack and got pretty much the whole gamut of hot autocross tires. The Kumho V720 has more than enough load rating and runs under $125 each.

Buy from the Rack (or Flyin Miata) and have the tires shipped directly to your nearest tire shop and have them installed and balanced for about $40.

In reply to KyAllroad:

Yea, there are plenty of options in 215/45.....all are 84w or 85w. I am unsure if they'll clear the spring perch on the front struts however. I know 225/45 is no dice.....which is unfortunate as I could have got a set for $250 today.

215-40-17 Kumho LE Sport are not 200 tw, but they are not too bad

205-40 Pirelli P Zero is probably as close as you are going to get, Bridgestone RE050A is 140 tw, but people will only protest you if you are faster than they are, even then not likely at a local event

WOW Really Paul? wrote: Well, here is the conundrum, the Abarth with wheels that don't suck, happens to be saddled with the same 205/40r17 84w load rating the Fiesta ST is also stuck with. I refuse to put 16's on this car and tires need to be autox compound in 200TW. So it seems, the only options I have are Azenis 615's in 205/40 84w, 215/40 83w Z2 star specs(which nobody will sell me if I mention it's for the Abarth), or a few selections of the 205/45 & 215/45 varieties which are all 84w or 85w load ratings. While the car will see occasional g-street autox usage, it will never be in a "SRS BSNS" national level event. My factory wheels are 17x7 IIRC in case that matters. What says GRM?

can you not get by with a 205/45/17 ? does it have to be an exact match to OEM ?

as far as I know you don't have to match exactly OEM when running it Street class ... as long as it's the same dia. (17")

if you can use the205/45/17 you can run the truly SRS BSNS Bridgestone Re-71R's ...

also you can run the older (though not as quick) Re11 (same size 205/45/17)

both are load rating of 88

In reply to Toebra:

None of those would be considered an autox tire.

Also, p zeros are complete garbage at everything. The single best thing they're good for is burning them off.

In reply to wbjones:

I think as long as they're under 24.5" diameter I can use them. I've seen nothing but conflicting info on anything bigger than that browsing through the somewhat limited forum activity for these cars. And I mention I won't do the SRS BSNS versions of autox because I have no desire to have anything but fun.

the 71R's just make it more fun ... the SRS BSNS comes from the attitude of the competitors ... run the tires that will give you the most fun for the $$ ... just because you're running the "fastest" tires doesn't mean you have to be "that" guy

just have fun .. especially since you would know that the tires aren't why others are quicker ... and if you decide you want to compete at a slightly higher level, you'll know it's not the tires ... suspension mods, driver mods .. but not the tires ...

edit: per the TR site, the 71R is 21.3" dia.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE-71R

The RE71R is fun. I run it on the V simply for fun. Just put them on the Civic. I would like to be at the pointy end, but having spent most of my life solidly mid pack I expect that's where I'll stay, so I'm doing it for fun. If you get some heat cycles into them before beating on them (and don't drive like a complete A-hole) they last quite well.

You can either stay with the 17" wheels and settle for tires that are "not auto cross" tires in the sizes available, or go to 16" wheels and have a number of choices. Why do you refuse to go to 16" wheels, will they not clear the brakes or something? 16x7 would be legal in the SCCA street class, assuming you stay close on the offset, which you would have to do anyway. About the only other thing I can come up with is take the center caps off your wheels, take them in loose and get the Dunlop 215/40/17 tires mounted.

I am switching from the 17x7 stock wheels on my Mazdaspeed Miata because I have found that there are not very good choices that will both fit on a 17" wheel and clear the fenders and suspension on my car. Getting either 15x8 or 15x9, because I am not planning to run in ES anyway. Smaller wheels tend to be lighter, and lighter is pretty much always better for performance. .

205/40/17 They make a R888 in that and it can be driven on the street in a light enough car.

In reply to Toebra:

16's will clear the stock brakes, but I have yet to find a 16" wheel that is strong(forged), lightweight, look decent, and are affordable. The 17's mine has as an option meet the first three criteria. Bonus points for staying the course with 17's is that I'll eventually upgrade the brakes to bigger Wilwood units which require 17's. Only because mine has the 17x7 option would I be legal to run 16x7's in G-street....the lesser optioned cars cannot legally run wider than 16x6.5(their stock wheel)

There's tons of options in other variations of 17's, it's just finding them. Personally, I won't touch BFG's with a 10,000 meter pole, and I am about 50-50 if I would run Bridgestones again. I have liked every set of Hankooks, Falkens, & Dunlops I have used however. Kumho could be a dark horse option in all of this as well.

Affordable and forged don't seem like they would go together

Personally I liked my BFGs. They were as good as the RS3's that replaced them to me. Just different at the limits.

With that said I'll likely go with a set of the new bstones this time unless something else comes out that is better

WOW Really Paul? wrote: In reply to Toebra: 16's will clear the stock brakes, but I have yet to find a 16" wheel that is strong(forged), lightweight, look decent, and are affordable. The 17's mine has as an option meet the first three criteria. Bonus points for staying the course with 17's is that I'll eventually upgrade the brakes to bigger Wilwood units which require 17's. Only because mine has the 17x7 option would I be legal to run 16x7's in G-street....the lesser optioned cars cannot legally run wider than 16x6.5(their stock wheel) There's tons of options in other variations of 17's, it's just finding them. Personally, I won't touch BFG's with a 10,000 meter pole, and I am about 50-50 if I would run Bridgestones again. I have liked every set of Hankooks, Falkens, & Dunlops I have used however. Kumho could be a dark horse option in all of this as well.

you may have had a problem with the BS in the past ... but they really are the tire to have ... and while you may not be all SRZ BSNS ... they would take one variable out of the equation ... they would be the quickest of the tires you could get ... after that it's just time to have fun, knowing that it's not the tires ...

WOW Really Paul? wrote: In reply to Toebra: 16's will clear the stock brakes, but I have yet to find a 16" wheel that is strong(forged), lightweight, look decent, and are affordable.

Forged, lightweight and affordable. That's hard to come by but not impossible with patience. Define affordable though? I have purchased 2 used sets of 16x7 and 16x8 Volk TE37s for under $1k.

In reply to crankwalk:

It's more of an issue when searching for 4x98 pattern.

I can deal with OZ's spin cast or whatever they call it, they're strong and hold up well. Ditto with the team dynamics offerings.

WB, how are the re71's in terms of wear for street usage? I would be amazed if any tire survived this car for more than 15k miles, but would they actually wear well enough to get driven on? This is why I miss the z1 star spec. I did 2 years of 3 seasons with events on one set.

WOW Really Paul? wrote: In reply to crankwalk: It's more of an issue when searching for 4x98 pattern. I can deal with OZ's spin cast or whatever they call it, they're strong and hold up well. Ditto with the team dynamics offerings. WB, how are the re71's in terms of wear for street usage? I would be amazed if any tire survived this car for more than 15k miles, but would they actually wear well enough to get driven on? This is why I miss the z1 star spec. I did 2 years of 3 seasons with events on one set.

Oh yikes I thought they were 4x100 and you could find higher end Honda fitments. Good luck though!