Hi guys!

Couple of questions for you - I'm trying to put something with some semblance of competitiveness together for the '09 autocross season, and I determined that the best thing I could do with a couple grand is grab some lightweight wheels with some good ol' Hoosier A6's. I'll be competing in BSP, just for reference.

So here goes:

Is it worth the extra weight to get 18" rims?

I am looking for a really stiff sidewall, and thought that could be accomplished with either 17 or 18" rims, but thought that the 18" rim would offer a couple more MPH in gear x - maybe I could eek out that just-too-long straight w/o banging off my rev limiter for any gratuitous period.

I have no suspension mods as of yet (discounting the usual swaybars, etc.), but could foresee some coilovers in a couple of years, so clearance is important.

Also, what width should I go with?


TIA guys,

Adam

 

Id go 17s and drop it. 18's arent needed

 

Every single top BSP Evo runs 285/30-18s, on 18 x 9.5 or 18 x10" wheels.

 

Are you sure? Read Richard's post and then go look at all the BSP/SM Evos. There is one very good SM Evo on wide 17s, but that's about it.

You also don't "drop" an Evo to be highly competitive in a SCCA BSP - or any class for that matter. Most of us go with 18s so that we can use 285/30-18s, which fit without modifying the fenders other than rolling the lip.

OP, you have NO USE of getting top-notch rims and race tires until you have a fully-built suspension. You won't be competitive in BSP without both the fatty r-comps and well-built suspension, so weigh your priorities and purchase accordingly. Putting tires like that on the stock suspension will totally overpower it. I know, because I spent a whole season in SM on stock MR suspension and 245-width V710s (basically equivalent to the A6s). It made my car pitch and roll like a weeble-wobble. I was competitive in my region but not remotely competitive with other real SM (or BSP) cars.

 

Richard and Clayton are right in every way. If you really mean competitive in BSP, you need 285/30/18 V710s or R6s and a good set of coilovers at the very least.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys! I guess some of the Bilsteins from ZZYZX will be this winter's project. And maybe early next year, those 18's will go on. And then, who knows... world domination?

Thanks again for the advice guys!

 

Unless there were some changes I wasn't aware of, Zzyzx use Koni not Bilstein. If you get him to make you a set, please let me know. Apparently he has disappeared off the face of the earth.

 

Ya I also was very interested in the zzyxx as well, but Steve is completely MIA. May be just really busy with the orders he recieved, at least thats what everyones hope is.

Right now best other option other then that is a set of KW's, preferably from Robi.

 

I'm telling you guys....someone needs to try the AST 2 ways.....


- Andrew

 

AST does not build double adjustable's for evo's. YET. PM me for details if you like.

 

Andrew I sent you a PM regarding the ASTs. Fatheroftheevo, let's talk

 

you get into the tradeoff of width vs rotating mass and distance from center.

If you could easily get a 17" wheel with the width to run 285's I'm betting you'd see a large number of them.

as for AST, AST-USA is doing some really cool stuff lately, and it would be worth the call the Andrew to see what's up.

 

That "IF" is the thing. It's a huge "IF"

There are _NO_ 285/X/17 R comps to my knowledge. 275s are already a very tight fit on 17s.
Some of the best sources on the subject (including Dennis Grant) maintain that even if larger diameter is required, it's almost always worth it to run a wider tire.
There is a reason, or more likely many reasons, that 285/30/18 is the standard for both STis and Evos in BSP and SM. Some people are even running 315s. But I have yet to see anyone seriously competitive on 17" tires in those classes. Tire options are another factor.

 

The other reason is the fit. 285/30-18s fit better than 275/40-17s, so the trade-offs send us towards the 18s in most cases.

There is one fast Evo that does Nats who runs 17X9.5. He botched Day 2 last year at Topeka, but if you look at his raw times, he's damn fast - right with me and maybe faster. However, neither of us is on par with Daddio or even Evolutionary.

 

If you don't mind, would you share who it is, and do you know which model of tires he is using?