Good Autocross Tires for Celica?

[andyw676]

Hi i have a 1990 celica gt that i am going to start autocrossing, i was wondering if anyone here has a similar car and has any suggestions for good autocross tires, thanks

[Ratko]

If you're on a budget, I've heard that Falken Azenis are very decent entry-level tires. Maybe some seasonsed autocrossers can shed some more light on tire choices.

Or check out: http://www.toyotanation.com/articles...ross-guide.php

[SmokingTires]

Well what modifications do you have done to your car? Depending on what you have done, this decides what class you are in. Certain classes have limits on what type of tires you can use. For example, Stock class (whether it's A.B.C.D.etc) can run competition tires (Below 140 tread wear). Those would be something along the lines of Hoosiers. However, in Street Tire class, you can only run tires as low as 140 Tread wear, but anything above that rating.

If you run competition tires and yoru car is suppose to be in Street Class, you will end up getting bumped into a Modified class which would put you with people running STi's with $10k into them. So you really want to pick your tires wisely

[brink]

^ That depends on with whom you race. Some SCCA regions allow race tires in stock classes, some regions have a stock-r class for stock cars wtih race tires.

Everything I've heard about the falken azenis is they're the best bang for your buck if you want a streetable racing tire. They're not race tires per se, but they're racey enough to gain ya significant time improvements...

They're what I plan to run this season

[SmokingTires]

Originally Posted by brink

^ That depends on with whom you race. Some SCCA regions allow race tires in stock classes, some regions have a stock-r class for stock cars wtih race tires.

Everything I've heard about the falken azenis is they're the best bang for your buck if you want a streetable racing tire. They're not race tires per se, but they're racey enough to gain ya significant time improvements...

They're what I plan to run this season

Yokohama AVS here. That's if I stay in STS. I my go F/I and at that point I will run Hoosiers. The great parts of being in Street Prepared

[brink]

I thought about race tires, but really that's a lot of hassle. I'd really like to drive onto the course, race, then drive off.. I don't want to dick around with race tires. Granted, it would be really nice to drop 2-5 seconds from my time with r-compounds, but that's a little more hardcore than I'm willing to be right now

I guess if I were boosted I'd contemplate it more, like you... but with full suspension, intake and exhaust I'd still be in STS Heck, in my region I think I CAN do race tires and stay in STS.

[SmokingTires]

Originally Posted by brink

I thought about race tires, but really that's a lot of hassle. I'd really like to drive onto the course, race, then drive off.. I don't want to dick around with race tires. Granted, it would be really nice to drop 2-5 seconds from my time with r-compounds, but that's a little more hardcore than I'm willing to be right now

I guess if I were boosted I'd contemplate it more, like you... but with full suspension, intake and exhaust I'd still be in STS Heck, in my region I think I CAN do race tires and stay in STS.

WHAT????? That defeats the point of Street Tire Class!!

Yeah, I am doing full suspension later this spring. Whatever tires I get will be going on the second set of rims I am buying. If I am putting $800 into tires, I'm not going to be using them for driving 70mph on the way to work.

[brink]

heh, yep


Well, I'm just going by what I saw as I haven't asked anyone. But at several events there have been cars in my class with race tires on them. I don't know what the deal is.

But then again, I was racing in HS two years ago... r compounds are definitely not "showroom stock". But officially they're legit in my region for HS cars...

*shakes head*


I hear ya on the price/mileage thing. I never understood why someone would spend that much money on tires then just drive on the highway. Rack up maybe 15-30 miles of race on them per season. Crazy spending there...

What sort of suspension setup are you looking at, out of curiosity?

[SmokingTires]

Originally Posted by brink

heh, yep


Well, I'm just going by what I saw as I haven't asked anyone. But at several events there have been cars in my class with race tires on them. I don't know what the deal is.

But then again, I was racing in HS two years ago... r compounds are definitely not "showroom stock". But officially they're legit in my region for HS cars...

*shakes head*


I hear ya on the price/mileage thing. I never understood why someone would spend that much money on tires then just drive on the highway. Rack up maybe 15-30 miles of race on them per season. Crazy spending there...

What sort of suspension setup are you looking at, out of curiosity?

Yeah, here they are legit in All stock classes. Just not ST. That would defeat the point.

Suspension I'm going to get pretty much everything. Tokico shocks all around (Sponsored, I'm getting them for $41 each), Whiteline RSB, Eibach Progressive Springs 1" drop all around. I already have a strut tower brace on. I might possibly upgrade to metal bushings to stiffen the frame. But I may not have the money to spare.

[nort0188]

No coilovers?

For the original post, I wouldn't choose a tire based on what class you want to be in if it's your first season. Choose a tire that will do what you want it to do. If you want a sticky street tire that will last through the season, I'd say go with last years Azenis. It's a new design this year that hasn't been proven yet, but last years were great tires, and they'll be cheaper now. Also, the Kumho ECSTA MX has been said to be comparable to the Azenis, and very similar in price as well.

[4DMR2t]

If you're looking for a tire you can drive to the course, race on, then drive it home, I'd have to agree with the previous post. The azenis are very nice and cheap, and you can drive em on the street just fine.

I am running the Kuhmo MX's this year. Thus far, I love em. They were fairly cheap, and they handle fantastic. And I drive on them on the street as well. I've only been to 2 events so far, so I can't really give you an opinion on treadwear just yet.

[SmokingTires]

From what I have heard from everyone is that the Azenis' are really thin and can get punctured easy. I wouldn't suggest them as a DD tire.

[wedge]

Forget about street tires man.
Azenis are more expensive than r's anyway. Do what I do man. Buy the worst, cheapest, longest-lasting no-name brand economy tires to drive on the street. And use the money you've saved for good racing tires. I gaurantee you'll have ALOT more fun at the events.

In the centre pic in my sig, you can see my old Yoko A032R's. Those were my racing tires from last year, I only got them cuz the price was right. This year I've splurged, I picked up a set of 15" Kumho Ecsta 710's. AND a set of 14" Ecsta 700's. The 710's are only for going REALLY fast. If I'm already winning my class I won't even put them on (They're expensive and wear out fast). The 700's are what I'll run most of the time. And the 700's fit on the stock rims, so if we decide to do any SCCA events again this year, I'll be allowed to run in HS.
Note: The Canadian Solo2 rules allow alternate sized wheels in stock class, which is why I'm able to use 15" wheels and be in stock up here.

[nort0188]

A friend of mine is running the new Hankooks. I haven't heard how well he liked them for autocross, but he loves them on the street. For Mikey, he was in STS in the blue Civic Si, Kosei's, with an intake, and he ran a 1:02.xxx at Valleyfair.

[SmokingTires]

^
All the times besides ours were that close I was working with a guy driving a stock 318i and he was running 1:01.XXX Everyone but us were running fast times