[mfitz]

How much difference do you think it will actually make when i switch from stock 195/65-15 Continental's to 225/50-15 Kuhmo Victoracer V700's? By difference I mean how much time off a 60-65 second autocross run? Let me know if you are answering from similar 1st hand experience, anecdotal evidence, or just guessing.

Also, will 225 be too wide to function properly on 6 inch wide steelies?( I know that 225mm is approx 9 inches) Maybe I should ask Clay this one?

 

[stealthx32]

Probably on the order of 4-6 seconds. My 235/40/17 Ecsta v700s vs. my 205/50/15 Falken Azenis was probably ~1.5 to 2 seconds on a 50 second course...and those Ecstas were (1) heat cycled to death, and (2) less grippier than Victoracers. And the Azenis are definitely a good 3-5% faster than the CH95's.

225 on a 6 is gonna handle like mush. Are you trying to stay in stock classes? Get a narrower tire if you are, or get a wider rim if you're going for SP/SM classes. (wider rim if you can...205's are a little narrow for a Passat and you'll probably overheat 'em).

 

[mfitz]

I won't try and stay in stock, the Mini's dominate it right now, and lowering springs are not allowed and i intend to install mine soon.I guess i will eventually get a set of 15 x 7 wheels (or 7.5(the max width for ST) wheels if they make them)and run the 225's on those in Street Touring, or else D Street Prepared if I can't use my chip in ST/or swap it out cheaply and easily for ST.

Thanks for the reply though, looking at my times and subtracting 4-6 seconds puts me in the thick of things, and i would think springs and shocks would only help as well.

Until then, i will just have to keep on working on the driving.

 

[scirocco78]

Just my 2 cents.
I don't think you should go with the R compound tires for a while. Just get some better street tires like the Falken Azenis or Kumho MX's. You'll learn more from the street tires. Between the noise and the feedback they give you, you'll become a much better driver and really use those R compounds to there full ability the next season. The R compounds will only make you faster when you can't go any faster on street tires.

 

[mfitz]

Just my 2 cents.
I don't think you should go with the R compound tires for a while. Just get some better street tires like the Falken Azenis or Kumho MX's. You'll learn more from the street tires. Between the noise and the feedback they give you, you'll become a much better driver and really use those R compounds to there full ability the next season. The R compounds will only make you faster when you can't go any faster on street tires.

I will give that some thought. It would certainly be alot cheaper.

 

[2KT]

Just my 2 cents.
I don't think you should go with the R compound tires for a while. Just get some better street tires like the Falken Azenis or Kumho MX's. You'll learn more from the street tires. Between the noise and the feedback they give you, you'll become a much better driver and really use those R compounds to there full ability the next season. The R compounds will only make you faster when you can't go any faster on street tires.

I'd second that. And your car will handle the same on the street as on the track (very useful for those rare times when you need to use everything your car can give you). I have been "very" happy with the Kumho MXs on the Passat. A fantastic price / performance ratio.

Point of reference. I've been autoxing an MR2 for a while. I'm about 4-6 seconds off the best times on a 45 sec course, so it's pretty obvious that the car is a better car than I am a driver. When I can't make the car any faster, then I figure I'll considering popping for the R-compound rubber (of course, the talented drivers may still be a second or two faster than I ....)

 

[Wisconsin-Autocrosser]

How much difference do you think it will actually make when i switch from stock 195/65-15 Continental's to 225/50-15 Kuhmo Victoracer V700's? By difference I mean how much time off a 60-65 second autocross run? Let me know if you are answering from similar 1st hand experience, anecdotal evidence, or just guessing.

Also, will 225 be too wide to function properly on 6 inch wide steelies?( I know that 225mm is approx 9 inches) Maybe I should ask Clay this one?

R compounds will yield 3-4 seconds improvement over decent street tires on a typical 60 second course, perhaps a bit less when compared to RS615, Z212 or MX and the like. A 225 will work on a 6" wheel, but it is far from optimal--my recent background is in a STS Ford Focus, and some of the HS Focus guys were using the 225/50-15 on their Foci. A 205/55-15 (similar gearing) or a 205/50 (shorter gearing) may be a better choice.

That said, you will learn alot more about driving well going to an uber-street tire like the RS615, Z212 or MX than by jumping into R-comp land, so I agree with the sentiment to suggest that route...and that is based on being a pretty serious autocrosser for about 13 years. R compounds will mask driving mistakes, street tires will amplify them.

The Street Touring classes are a blast, IMO...and I see that you want to do springs anyhow. It would be a good stepping-stone to get into SP if that is your ultimate goal. You can run a 225 in STS and a 245 in STX...and wider is better. If you are going to get wheels anyhow, the 225/50-15 in say a BFG KD is about as big as it gets, otherwise everybody makes a 205/50-15...but maybe look at some 16's and at a 225/45-16 Hankook RS2 Z212 (or the Falken RS615 when/if it comes out).

Dynamically, the 15" wheels are the ticket over the 16"s, but if tire choices are the limiting factor, and they seem to be in this case...at leat expand your horizons on what you consider. I ran 205/50-15 Falken RS215s on my Focus and at almost 2800 pounds, could have used a bit more tire...like a 225/45-15 that doesn't exist in the Street Tire world (but does in the R comp world).

Just food for thought.

Erik B
www.waiautox.org

 

[mfitz]

Thanks for the advice. Now an update on the same question. Is 225/50 too wide a tire for a 15x7 inch wide wheel (which I have just aquired), or should I still stick with 205/60? Whatever I end up getting (and I have pretty much decided on a max perf. or ultra high perf. summer tire) will be my daily driver tires as well.

 

[Wisconsin-Autocrosser]

That is a pretty good fit--7.5 would be better, but, honestly, for starters that is a good setup. BFG KD is a very good summer tire that comes in the 225/50-15 size--although they are a tad pricey.