HRMINI

Hello all...

I ran in the MCASS last summer (thanks Sean) and have since wanted to get into autocrossing.  Wheels and tires have been my reason for waiting. - don't want to autocross on Dunlop runflats.  I'm now tired of waiting and want to jump in for the 08 season if possible.

I want to stay Stock GS.  My 07 MCS has no mods.  I intend to run 16 inch wheels and Falken Azenis tires.  That's all I intend to do - at least up front.  That said, I see from another post that 16 x 6.5 are the wheels I need to stay "stock".  I'm coming down from my street 17's .

When I go to edgeracing.com, all I see are 16 x 7 wheels for the 07 MCS.  If I bite on that have I just changed classes?  Not something I want to do.  I don't see the Azenis tires in a 17" size either...  Can somebody help out a newby who is a little slow on the uptake??

Steve K

In truth it would.  Locally Most would not know nor care about the extra .5.   Best is to try finding a set of X-lites .. either a take off set at dealer or someone selling.  The FLik series use to also be in 16x6.5 the most popular were the Blast, but i looked them up and now can only find the 16x7.  Since you mention Azenis and not Race Rubber (really needed to excel). The Tire and wheel change will only put you into STX which has the same (well almost) pax as GS.  The Pax is what most are worried about when matters of class comes around.

As for getting into it. Come on out most of us Dont care about class (that are cars are in) were out there to have fun and to push the cars harder than we would on the street. Then we compare by Raw time and throw pax out the exhaust.

Hey Steve, glad you enjuyed MCASS..... we're in the planning stages of doing it again for 2008!!

 Do It Yourself SCCA Classing (http://www.odr-scca.org/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,54/)

Let me dig up the details on GS. But for now I think the ruling on rims was whatever came from the factory.  So 17x7 or 16x6.5 for the MCS.  I think.

I'll post more later.

Rota Slipstreams are available in 16x6.5.  Way cheaper than SSR and not too much heavier - at least not enough to matter.

all of what was said above (especially the slipstreams) plus azenis are available in 17.  215/40R17.  i've got some.

besides, you really want slicks if you're gonna stay in GS (which is G stock).  V710s are the choice right now i think...

Mike's right about the R compounds, GS allows them and if you want to be the fastest you:ll want them too.

BUT,  I wouldn't do that yet Steve, just get out there and drive.  Putting slicks on the car now would be a waste of money and it wouldn't teach you anything on the course.   :icon_lol:

Hey y'all; thanks for the replies.  Here's what I'm thinkin...  I don't intend to drive the car daily on the tires I want to use for autocross, but want to drive to the track on the tires (ie, I don't want to have to carry tires and change on site).  So, that's why I was thinking Azenis.  If class doesn't matter that much at my experience level, than what's the wisdom: 16 inch or 17 inch?  Also, is there a tire that I could get away with for daily driving that wouldn't suck on the track? I'm gonna leave the runflats on the stock wheels and have a set of something for the track; just need to decide the best bang for the buck.  I'm more interested in the driving than the modding...Steve

Hey Steve,

When starting in Autocross I found that driving on my daily tires was the best because I was use to handling the car on those tires. After about 4 months or so I went to Azenis. I got a used pair with the wheels 15", I was very suprised at the difference but was glad that I had the previous experience so I knew how to handle the car. In the beginning tires do not matter at all. The most important part of Autocross is finding your line and knowing your ability and your cars limits. You can autocross on your run flats they are really hard but it is all about seat time at frist and tires probably will not make much difference if any to a beginner. That's my 2 cents.

Looking forward to seeing you out there.

Lelane is right get as much seat time as you can. Then talk to the fast people about which tires and wheels to get. :038:My tree cents.  :icon_rolleyes:

Thanks for all the replies...   Last piece of data...  want to run on something other than the runflats!  I don't want to replace them!  I'd like to keep them to restore the car to "original", but have drivable tires for the track.  All that considered - do we think 16" or 17"???  I guess 17's would be nearest to "stock".

i think in the end its a personal preference.

most people will suggest 16s for autocross to try and get the shortest/fattest/cheapest combo
for track duty some will suggest 17s for lower sidewall=better response

for street it'll be easy to buy a setup either way that maintains the proper ratios

i'm often struck by vanity so i went 17.  gotta look good when i'm going fast (or slow as the case may be)

It's a well know fact in the NASCAR cirlces as well as F1 Teams, that if you look good you seem to go faster.   
It's true. Really.   :102:

I when with 17's on our '07 MC. Bought the rims and tires comb from Edge racing.com Just make sure you get the 14mm bolts for the '07 and newer MC's.

Thanks Everybody!  When I pull the trigger I'll go with 17s. Merry Christmas everyone!!