Al N. Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 Folks- In anticipation of running my first auto-x this year...I'm thinking about going with a dedicated set of tires/wheels. I currently have the Caterham 1-piece 15" "Superlight" wheel with 195/45 CR500s all around...I know I can swtich to the same stuff in 13" all around (185 front 215 rear, like Scott L) but am interested in perhaps cheaper options (though those magnesium R500 spec wheels ARE tempting). Jeff...are you using the diamond racing steel wheels? That seems like a lightweight/non-bling solution. Please advise on source. The Nitto NT01s look like nice affordable tires but I don' thtink they come in 13". Maybe I go with the 205/55 14"? --- From teh looks of the people circling my office right now, it appears like I am going to finally dive back into my day job today...:cry: Thanks again EVERYONE for making last weekend memorable. -Al
slngsht Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 If you are going to get a dedicated set, why not slicks? MichaelD says it's like a drug... once you try it, you'll never go back.
R1 Seven Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 Yes, Diamond Racing Wheels. I chose to go the cheap route while I am figuring out the right combinations for wheels and tires. Eventually I want to get a set of Compmotive wheels for it... Here is the style that I am using now: http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/RoadRaceSeries.htm Order direct from Diamond.
Al N. Posted July 13, 2007 Author Posted July 13, 2007 The slicks will put me into a different class, no? I'm trying to lay low for a while....though I could be easily talked into it. Jeff...what's the size? Also, VERY DUMB question but what's the bolt pattern for Cats?
slngsht Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 The slicks will put me into a different class, no? I'm trying to lay low for a while....though I could be easily talked into it. Jeff...what's the size? Also, VERY DUMB question but what's the bolt pattern for Cats? Al, pick MichaelD and Norm Beaver's brains as well... They are not "forum types", so they don't check in on a regular basis, but they have alot of experience specifically on Caterhams and autox wheel/tire combos.
R1 Seven Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 The slicks will put me into a different class, no? I'm trying to lay low for a while....though I could be easily talked into it. Jeff...what's the size? Also, VERY DUMB question but what's the bolt pattern for Cats? Al, Pretty much all Caterhams and Sevens go into D Mod. Even if it is bone stock...just the way it is. The larger displacement and heavier cars go to E Mod. (Higher minimum weight for that class). My car got banished to B mod a couple of years ago for reasons that I am still not certain of, where it will remain uncompetitive to any "real" B Mod car. That is simply because of the Bike engine. I don't own one...but sometimes I pretend to...Cats have a 4x4 1/4" (4x108mm) bolt circle IIRC. As for the size...that is going to depend on your specific car...a fellow Caterham owner would probably be the best to advise...
Kitcat Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 Hoosier advised M Dougherty (per a USA@se7ens.net search) on 1/24/07 to try a 7"-8" rim & Hoosier tire item 43161R25A-20.0x 7.5-13 R25A on front and back or 20 x 9-13 on the rear. Most auto-X'rs believe that too wide is just right but he pointed out that on a car as light as ours, the huge tires dont warm up & a cold tire has no grip.
Mike Rohaley Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I can verify that Caterham uses the 4x 108mm (4 1/4" ) spacing. Offsets required for a given width wheel I do not know though.
JohnMoody Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I really liked the 13” CR500s for autocross. I drive to the event and drink good coffee while chatting with the guys jacking and wrenching their wheels on/off. Generally piss them off with my run times, and then drive home. Fun enough, and the guys that beat me are way better drivers anyway. If it happens to rain, I did not worry about driving home with the CR500s like I did with the Hoosiers. They held their grip pretty late in tread-life as well, unlike the A032s, which I don’t recommend at all for the Seven. Your current wheels and tires are very nice for autoX, why not use them? John
yellowss7 Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 Al, for your first time out, no need to go to the expense of new wheels and slicks. Have fun, learn your car. Jeff is correct. Caterhams are in DM if 2.0L. or under which I believe your Zetec is. Slicks are addicting!!! I drove on my CR500's for 4 years, then drove Michael D's on slicks. :eek: Slicks are worth 2 second or more!! But you don't NEED them to start out. But you will WANT them. Tom
xflow7 Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 If it's really your first autocross, then I agree don't bother going for wheels/tires yet. I ran my first just a couple months ago on my garbage Michelin XGV's (or whatever the hell they are) and still had a ball (lost to a DM Sciracco, though :cry: ). Having said that, John's description of CR500's sounds fab. :jester: The tires I have in the back of my head for my 13" rims are the Toyo RA-1's.
Boxologist Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 I really liked the 13” CR500s for autocross. I drive to the event and drink good coffee while chatting with the guys jacking and wrenching their wheels on/off. Generally piss them off with my run times, and then drive home. Fun enough, and the guys that beat me are way better drivers anyway. If it happens to rain, I did not worry about driving home with the CR500s like I did with the Hoosiers. They held their grip pretty late in tread-life as well, unlike the A032s, which I don’t recommend at all for the Seven. Your current wheels and tires are very nice for autoX, why not use them? John Winnar! Al, just get used to the car at its limits on a closed course and how to read an autoX setup with all the cones. A set of wheels just like yours arrived yesterday, but i won't have time to drop off the wheels to have tyres mounted to them in time for sunday's autoX. i won't even have time to rotate tyres or do a nice inspection or oil change since getting back from 7-7-7. most of that will get handles in pit. my tyres are the bridgestone Potenza re-01r in 195-50-15, a huge jump from my avon zv1 which took a beating from my wacky front camber and road heat. they are going to comparable to the cr500 and toyo r888(which i will recomend as ur next set; 13" & 15" sizes will be available late this year, early next year)for street tyres. next up would be the Advan AO48. super sticky, but useless in teh wet. but ur not Box;) edit: most SCCA groups throw the 7s in DM. luckily my local group still considers it a lotus so i go CS/CSP until i have the new tyres and take some FTDs adn they start getting pissy and reread the rules. if u run with another car club, they will probably put u in non-make, sorted by engine displacement.
Boxologist Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 If it's really your first autocross, then I agree don't bother going for wheels/tires yet. I ran my first just a couple months ago on my garbage Michelin XGV's (or whatever the hell they are) and still had a ball (lost to a DM Sciracco, though :cry: ). Having said that, John's description of CR500's sounds fab. :jester: The tires I have in the back of my head for my 13" rims are the Toyo RA-1's. hold off until the r888 is availble in 13"!
xflow7 Posted July 13, 2007 Posted July 13, 2007 hold off until the r888 is availble in 13"! Is it coming? I've been waiting for the A021 to arrive after all the raves in the UK, but I've given up. If the R888 really comes this way then that sounds like a good option, too. Edit: Just read your previous post. That's good news!
WestTexasS2K Posted July 14, 2007 Posted July 14, 2007 If I remember correctly the Hoosier 25 is a bias ply tire so you can not run with very much camber. The radial hoosier A6 for autocross R6 for road racing is supposed to be the new king of the hill. But the BF Goodrich Gforce R1 is looking pretty good too. But they are not available in 13 or 14.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now