InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

How big of a difference will 17x9 wheels + 275/40/17 tires make over the stock 16's and 245/50/16s? Miatas and Porsches and BMW's were all running around 36-39 seconds, and my best time was 41-42 seconds.

I'd normally just assume the car is slow but I was actually really surprised at how easy it is to drive on the limit and how well it behaved. Very fun car to throw into corners. I dont think more power would help, and obviously the biggest potential for improvement is between the steering wheel and the seat.

But I'd like to at least represent us thirdgens well, and Im not really sure what I can do to improve things significantly from here.

And it was probably the most fun I've had in years... Amazing.

DesertFox

Tire size will help a little bit as you will increase your contact patch.
Tire compound will help much more... (I was amazed how nice race rubber grips)
Improving your HP to weight ratio will also improve things.
First and foremost more seat time, take classes offered, and go out every time you can. You will find what you think is on the edge really isn't.
There is nothing more humbling that turning what you think is a really good time and then having a far more experienced driver take your car out and cut several seconds off that time.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

For what it's worth Im running BFG G-Force Sports. Not exactly hte stickiest tire out there, but one of the better ones available in stock sizes.

I was cutting the times down every time through the course, but I just dont really know how I could have gotten much more out of it at that point. Maybe I shouldnt be comparing my times to those of Miatas so much?

Base91

iTrader: (1)

Just learning to drive better is definitely the most cost effective way to get better times. It all comes down to the tires. They connect you to the road so the way you drive and everything you do to the car is about keeping as much of the tires in contact with the road as possible. Get the best tires you can/want to afford that fit what you're doing. How much street/strip, what class etc.etc. That tire size is pretty good and there are plenty of good tires to choose from. Then, if you really want to cut the times it's on to all the other stuff. And many threads and stickies to read of course. But the bottom line is to have fun with the car.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

man, so glad you're finally doing what you set out to do with that car! it's what, 6 years in the making now? lol. did you get any vid or pics?

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

I coudlnt convince any friends (who werent actually running) to go with me to film it, and they're pretty strict about cameras/phones while doing corner working (for obvious reasons) so no videos or pictures of the car in action, but everyone said it sounded great. I never got out of first gear so I spent most of the course going 2500-5500 RPM, which does sound pretty cool winding up and down.

I was pushing really, really hard in the afternoon and I never lost control of the car but I definitely reached the traction limits. But I was looking for feedback and mainly what I heard is 1. I was too conservative, 2. I was smooth 3. I had good lines

Given how hard I FELT like I was pushing on my afternoon runs, I imagine the car must LOOK very, very settled because I definitely had it sliding around in various places. These were my times:

52.390
47.811
45.586
43.602

43.212 (lost a lot of speed sliding into an S bend)
43.245 (Lost a lot of speed applying full opposite lock coming out of a hairpin sideways. Fun though, I got a lot of hoots and hollers)
42.254
41.575+1

I apprently hit a cone the last run, but I didnt notice and my buddy said he didnt see me hit one, so I must have barely clipped one enough to knock it out of the box. Trending the right direction at least.

I just gotta figure out how get faster... Im gonna need tires in no time. Also you can see the new ground fx really are a huge improvement on the looks of the car as a whole.









I dont think there was a single American car there besides mine and a Ford Focus. We had about 30 people enter.

DesertFox

Don't compare your times to the Miatas.
Your times showed significant improvement throughout your runs (don't worry about the +1 at this point, your raw time was good).
G-force sports are decent ( I use them as DD tires on one of my rides).
At this point worry about seat time, that's the biggest factor.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

Agreed. That's a good and steady time drop first to last. And, as they say, practice practice practice. Which is fun as well as making you a better driver. If you can get an experienced driver to ride with you and give tips or ride along with them that'd be good. Schools etc. If you can get a really good driver to drive your car while you ride along it can be instructive to see just what your car can do. First few times I didn't think the car could do what it really can.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

the car looks great kyle! next time have a designated videographer, lol!

paul_huryk

As a wheel manufacturer, I can give you some sound advice:

There is a 4% to 7% increase in grip in all 4 directions when you move up to a 275-40-17 sized tire from a 245-50-16 sized one in the same exact pattern and compound. While that may not sound like much, CMC cars making that upgrade will pick up in the neighborhood of 1 to 2 seconds a lap with no other changes.

The two most important items to increase your time at the mechanical level is a set of 275-40-17 wheels and tires and a set of adjustable shocks and struts dialed in perfectly. This could be worth multiple seconds on a course like yours.

BTW, the G-Force sport is the best street tire you can get in 245-50-16 right now. 275-40-17 has over a dozen choices.

Miata has the advantage of being physically narrower - works wonders on a autocross. The BMW has better weight distribution (around 50:50), which makes the cars easier to control and therefore drive fast.