redvalkyrie
redvalkyrie Reader
6/6/16 3:56 p.m.

The only tire I'm coming up with for a 185/55-14 is a Yokohama S.drive with a UTQG of 300. What else is out there in 14" sizes?

johnnie
johnnie Reader
6/6/16 4:18 p.m.

Z-II Star Specs are available in 185/60-14
Azenis RT-615Ks are available in 195/60-14

There may be others.

redvalkyrie
redvalkyrie Reader
6/6/16 5:05 p.m.

Thanks! I missed those two somehow. I hear good things about the RT615Ks...and the price is reasonable.

I almost want to step up to 15" wheels for autocross duty because of the wider tire selection. However, that would mean new wheels for autocross and keeping the 14" wheels for daily driving. I'd rather have the new bling serve as daily drivers. I currently have Celica Supra wheels on my Starlet and they fit the bill for autocross--strong, fairly light, and free.

johnnie
johnnie Reader
6/6/16 5:56 p.m.

The RT615Ks are a little off the pace of the newer rubber, but they're still pretty good tires.
Out of curiosity, how much does a Starlet weigh?

G_Body_Man
G_Body_Man Dork
6/6/16 5:57 p.m.

Does Nankang offer anything in the size you're looking for? They have plenty of 14s.

Will
Will SuperDork
6/6/16 7:00 p.m.

Hoosiers. That's about it.

Small cars now come standard with 17s. Big cars now come standard with 19s or 20s. I hate it, but it's the new normal, and tire companies make money selling tires in "normal" sizes.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
6/6/16 9:43 p.m.

Im running 205/55/14 nt01 r comps on the datsun 2?0z. i am enjoying them two events in.

redvalkyrie
redvalkyrie Reader
6/6/16 10:04 p.m.
The RT615Ks are a little off the pace of the newer rubber, but they're still pretty good tires. Out of curiosity, how much does a Starlet weigh?

A Starlet weighs about 1800lbs with the driver.

wlkelley3
wlkelley3 UltraDork
6/8/16 12:11 p.m.

I have also been running the Nitto NT01 for a year now. But they are less than 200TW and I'm running in CSP. There are R-Comps in 14" as well, Hoosiers and Hankook.

KyAllroad
KyAllroad UltraDork
6/8/16 12:36 p.m.

Have you trolled CL for used wheels? Often you can find something ugly but the right size (15") for sub $200. The availability of 14"s isn't going to get any better.

Trackmouse
Trackmouse Dork
6/8/16 1:56 p.m.

Hey I run Celica supra wheels too (1985 Celica) they aren't bad. The falkens get bad rain results so depending on your area you may choose otherwise. I'm in the PNW, so remain is really likely over in the valley.

redvalkyrie
redvalkyrie Reader
6/13/16 11:49 a.m.

So, thanks guys for all the recommendations. The Falkens are about $50 cheaper then the other offerings but I don't know if that justifies buying them over the other choices which include:

Dunlop ZII Star Spec 185/60-14  200aa.  17lbs. $124 Falken RT615K. 195/60-14. 200aa.   19lbs  $90 Hankook Ventus Z214. 205/55-14. 40aa 19lbs $144 Toyo Proxes R888 205/55-14 100aa 19lbs $138 Nitto NT01. 205/55-14 100aa. .??  $137

Does that 40 tread wear on the Hankook's equate to $54 worth of increased performance? Would I be giving up much by going with the Falkens? I'm not going for outright wins--I just need something predictable and more up to the task of autocross and HPDE days over my rock hard and slick dailies.

Thanks JP

Knurled
Knurled GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/13/16 12:07 p.m.
Will wrote: Small cars now come standard with 17s. Big cars now come standard with 19s or 20s. I hate it, but it's the new normal, and tire companies make money selling tires in "normal" sizes.

It's trending down in tire diameter again for the small cars. I just plugged in a '16 Fiesta in our catalog and it's showing a 185/60-15 as the OE tire size. Mini Coopers are showing a 175/65-15. Sonics (not Chevy's smallest hatchback) are on 195/65-15s...

So it's not all bad. Just bad if you want 13 or 14 inch tires. And we shan't even speak of 12s.

I expect that 15" is the new bottom rung because of brake size issues. You cut down on brake noise/dust complaints if you use large rotors and relatively mild pads rather than 9" rotors and aggressive pads.

chaparral
chaparral GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
6/13/16 12:34 p.m.

If you've got a 4x100 bolt pattern, the optional wheels for a Prius are forged by Rays Engineering and hilariously light..

RedGT
RedGT HalfDork
6/13/16 12:47 p.m.

The z2 star specs are a very good and very popular tire for both autocross and track days. They're within a second or less of the two 'really fast' unavailable-in-14" 200TW tires on an autocross course and have been rpoven to hold up well on track too. And they last plenty long to use on the street all summer as well.

The Hankook Z214 will be faster, but they are a no-tread DOT R-comp. If you're looking to drive to and from events on the tires, I wouldn't suggest those. Certainly not for daily driving. And they will take you out of any of the classes that require 200TW, if that is a concern.

I've never seen anyone run NT01's and be fast. I'm not convinced they are any faster than the star specs in an autocross setting. At the very least, no one with any skill has used them at any events I've been to. It may be that someone who buys an in-between tire (cheaper in some sizes than good 200tw tires, yet slower than dedicated R-comps) also tends to be making compromises in other places of prep and skill.

boileralum
boileralum GRM+ Memberand New Reader
6/13/16 12:55 p.m.

Much like the SCCA and the term 'Solo II', tire manufacturers have pretty much moved on from making much in a 14" size, other than those few mentioned above. Nothing top tier in a street tire is available, but you can still get Hoosiers.

Vigo
Vigo PowerDork
6/13/16 3:12 p.m.
If you've got a 4x100 bolt pattern, the optional wheels for a Prius are forged by Rays Engineering and hilariously light..

I assume you're talking about the C as all the others are 5 lug.

jr02518
jr02518 Reader
6/13/16 4:13 p.m.

Bridgestone makes a RE-71R in 14", they just do not bring it in to the US. Anyone know someone who can make the calls to get them into the country.

redvalkyrie
redvalkyrie Reader
6/28/16 11:24 p.m.

Well, turns out I went with 15" wheels instead of my original plan of sticking to 14s. So, now the Potenza RE71R in 195/50R15 has jumped to the top of the list.

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