1) OEM S02s on OEM 16" wheels with OEM front and rear swaybars



or



2) new (shaved) 225/50-16s and 245/45-16 RA-1s with OEM front sway bar and the rear bar (but the rear bar will be disconnected or removed)?


I have both sets of wheels/tires


I run in the Red group (fastest of four groups) but this is just a 2 day HPDE so lap times are not critical to me. I would rather have a well balanced car than a potentially faster but scary handling car.

My new, big front swaybar will not arrive in time for this HPDE.

 

I've run option 1, and it works. Not scary. Not super fast, but with a good driver you'll be faster than a lot of average drivers on R-compounds.

If you allow the car to understeer as much as it would like to, you will really eat up the outside corners of those S02s.

I've never run option 2, so I can't say anything about it one way or another.

 

Thanks for the input. I have not run street tires on the track or autoX for a couple of years now but I am not sure how unruly the rear end will be for option #2.


I suppose I could attempt to run my old 205/245 RA-1s and if they cord I'll just switch them over to my old S02s (which still have 50% of their tread). I just don't want to get to the track and have a freaky handling car, it sounds like a 225/245 combo with OEM swaybars will end up that way.

 

The only datapoint I have is from running Michelin Pilot Sport Cups in 225/245 with the OEM front sway. Oversteer city and not fun to drive.

Disconnecting the rear bar will deal with the oversteer but I don't think the stock spring rates are up to the task of dealing with the resulting body motions.

I'd run the car using option 1 and just keep a close eye on tire pressures and watch for wear issues. You haven't mentioned what kind of alignment you're running either, and that will make a huge difference on how the OEM rubber wears.

 

Good point. I am running a pretty mild alignment (-.8 front and -1.5 rear, 0 toe front with moderate rear toe in). Springs are Ground Control (340/380), car is lowered around 1.25".


I think you all have me convinced that 225/245 with OEM FSB is NOT the way to go. Hopefully my 205/245 RA-1s will last this weekends autoX and be able to get me through part of the HPDE. When they die I'll switch over to my old S02s.