Drive my BoxsterS on weekend only but still managed 10,000 miles in 05.
No room for a spare set of wheels and tires so I'm looking for an AutoX streetable
tire that's good in the rain (don't want to kill my passenger ).
I've got the RA-1 now and they are great but kinda heavy and not as grippy as I imagined for AutoX.

suggestions welcome.

btw,
18" Carrera 5 spokes.

 

consider Kumho 700 ecstas

 

Sounds like a common problem for those of us driving to and from events on R-compounds on 18" rims. I tried RA-1s on 17" rims and found them to be very slippery for autocross, but grippy enough after two laps on track. They were good on the road to and from events and wore slowly, however. I ditched them after two autocrosses. I now have Michelin Cups mounted on 18" rims and they are only marginally better for autocross, but good on the road to and from events. They also take a couple of laps on track to provide good grip. I used and liked Kumho VictoRacers for years, but they don't make them in rim diameters larger than 17". I'd like to know how the new Yoko ADVAN A048 works at autocross.

 

I considered the Ecsta V700, but Tire Rack says they "must" be shaved to 3/32 - 4/32" for any dry application. Several also commented that they need more than 1 degree of negative camber even more than the VictoRacers do.

 

True autocross tires are not street friendly. True track and street tires are not autocross friendly. Now that we've established that a "street autocross" tire is a compromise, what's out there?

Well, if you want one that is good in the rain, and streetable, then you need treads, so throw away thoughts of Hoosiers or Avons or Goodyear slicks.(and throw away dreams of FTD too!)

That would leave: Toyo RA-1s, Khumo (V710s, V700 (victoracers or Ecstas), Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, Maybe Yokohama ADVANS or A032s (if you can stand their tread noise).

MPSC's are NOT a great autocross tire because they take to long to build up heat. The Toyos are not great out of the box but after some heat cycling they only get better and they wear really well. Once you have a few events on them there is equal grip from beginning to end. I found the Victoracers to be better than the RA-1's (even with full tread, but admittedly better when worn a bit). Not sure about 18" applications though.

Does this help? lol.

 

I think there may be two more choices:
- Kumho Ecsta MX: good street compound that lasts, handle heat well and very competitive in street-tire classes, about 3 secs off from r-comps. Just don't take them to the track, they fall apart.

- Falken Azenis 615: good street compound tire as well, durable but probably not as long as the above option, but they dont handle heat too well.

Both of the above tires are quite reasonable priced. The MX handles high-speed standing water better in IMHO.

Cheers,

FT

 

how are the MPSC in the rain on highways?
I had Azenis on my Miata and they were great right out of the box for autocross but made the car much slower from red lights, generally useless on streets.
3 seconds off R compounds for the MX's sounds rough, maybe I'll stick with RA-1.

 

MPSC is quite lousy in the rain as it comes from the factory. However, Michelin, if asked nicely , provides a tech sheet showing how to shave water channels on to the tire. If you follow that procedure it is nearly as good as the RA-1 in the rain, but they are still hard to get to operating temp, especially in rainy situations.

 

Pressures with the RA1's make a big difference. On track 40 hot seems to be the target but in autox 38 is max. After which they get real slick. On a 944S2 start between 34-36 cold.

All I have hear about the Michelin's is on the track it takes alot to get heat into them but then they stick well. AutoX's are too short to properly heat them.

Victoracers are a very popular setup here for street/autox.

 

how are the victoracers in the rain?

 

They are not very good in the rain either, although they were still my tire of choice for autocross and track. In the damp they are okay, but in heavy rain you'll need to slow down considerably, or pull off the road until the heavy rain passes. Of course, they would be better in the rain than near-slicks such as the V710s, but that's not saying much. Yoko 032s are a DE worthy tire that is good enough in the rain to be chosen as rain tires by some racers. They are not real grippy in the dry (though better than a street tire), and they are quite noisey on the road.

 

Another option, albeit an expensive one, might be to get a second set of wheels to mount up the best street legal tires to use for autocross… This is what we do with our Miata. On autocross weekends we put on our set of Hankook Ventus RS 212. and drive to and from the event. All other times the Miata has a set of old ES100’s. And the Hankooks are very compliant in the rain. The Hankooks are a nice alternative to the Azenis, great tire for the money and might be worth looking at for the P-Car.

I’ll second racer’s comment about the ADVANS or A032s being noisy. On the way to an autox I was passed by an M3 on its way to the event also, I could hear those Advans a quarter mile behind me (in the Miata with the top up!).

I got a few runs in at an autox this past weekend with the Boxster on Michelin Pilot Sports, granted I had no idea what pressures to run them, they felt pretty good for a street tire on the course.

That is just my experience. Is this helping?

 

where are the Orlando autocross events held? I go there often, might have to rent a mustang or something and kills some time.

I had a second set of wheels for my Miata too. Real pain in the **** that tire changing. But then again I never had an impact gun or a racing jack. I'm not too hardcore about autocrossing. I enjoy it but its a bit too much of a time commitment some weekends. This past weekend a local club had 140 cars show up that must have taken forever. 8am to 5pm For only 7 runs, I decided to pass and wait. THere's a big track event so hopefully some of the crazies won't be around.

But I do like to be competitive when I do show up (12-15 events a year including the EVO school). Rather I don't like placing low in my class. I feel inferior and won't fight for the remote control with my girl friend.

Well I guess I ruling out the MPSC. The RA-1 is ok but not worth skipping something new for.
Might have to look into the Victoracers or ditching the R compound altogether. But I hear the worst R compound is still a few seconds quicker than the fastest non-R
hmm...

 

If you are running in Stock class consider Goodyear Eagle 1 GS D3's. Just got Car and Drivers top high performance tire rating in November 05. Beat out Michelin, Yokohama Neova's, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Khomo, Toyo, etc. A very sticky dry tire with good wet traction and a pretty comfortable ride considering handling performance. I run Kuhmo Victoracers on my prepared 944 and drive them to the track but would not do so in the rain. R-compound tires work great on a dry surface but forget it when its wet. I run a 2000 Boxster in Stock 2 with local PCA but am limited to non-R compound tires. Good luck!!

WBonsell
2000 Guards Red Boxster
1985 Alpine White 944

 

I've run Victoracers, Ecsta V700s, V710s, MPSC, RA-1, Dunlop Super Sport Race, and Hoosiers in autox on various cars.

I think the RA-1 is the best all around tire you can buy. On my 911, they are incredible. They are very grippy in autox, even when cold or rainy. They are also a superb track tire, as they are sticky early and do not get greasy. On the street, they are as benign as any performance summer tire. They have great grip in the rain as well. For autox, though, I think the RA-1 is as grippy as the V700 VR, and grippier than the Ecsta V700 (not as grippy as the V710, but that is a very high performance/low wear/no street use kind of tire.

MPSC is only good for the track...no autox. Ditto the Dunlops. Way too hard for autox...no cold grip.

Hoosiers are good, but do not last long at all. I much prefer the V710.

I'd stick with RA-1s, and check your alignment specs and supension settings. They are a superior tire to the V700 VR, should last longer, and should perform well for what you are looking for them to do.