AX tires for AS/S class or CS w/2.0
 

first look, here's what I found. any comments, experiences, price sound OK? (Discount tire)
Falken Azinis 200 tread wear $87
Yokohama AVS 160 tread wear $106
Yokohama A022 120 tread wear $185

Ah......you're taking a knife to a gun fight with any of those.

Kumho Victor Racers or Hoosier A3S03s. The Kumhos are cheeper and last longer, but are a couple tenths slower.

they have to be harder than 100 tread to stay in my class. I have a set of Sumitos that are 80s
I can stick a bulls eye from 15 ft away with a knife

Azenis. They pretty consistently rate the best grip out of any of the hard-compound tires. The BFG Comp TA kd tire may be a bit better, but is quite a bit more expensive.

The A032 is a soft-compound tire. I'd be surprised if it had a treadwear rating of over 100. If it does, use it.

If the A022 is not just a typo for the A032, then it's a tire I haven't heard of. Might be worth a shot...

--DD

thanks for that fine advice! don't be scared just because I have a sway bar now.....did I mention the new Koni sports and the 140 lbs springs

I be liking my Falkens
 

As Dave implies, the Falken Azenis Sports are the flavor of the day on the AX circuit. Kumho is currently developing a tire to compete head to head with the Azenis (street compound, DOT tire.) The Ecstas can't keep up. I'm not sure how Kumho will be able to match the Azenis' price point though.

I used to have Yoko A509s (it's called the AVS now) and I loved them. Great stick but not much life. For my $$ the Falkens have a lot more durability with an equivalent level if stiction. Besides, if you don't run well you can always blame it on the "Falken Tires."

If you decide to go run in CS you can run the Sumitomos (you can go below the 100 treadwear rating in anything but the Street Stock class.) Truth be told, if you want to be competitive in CS, you'll have to put race rubber on the car. Both Doug Booth and Jess Osterberg run Victoracers and they're fast guys.

Put the 1.8 in and get the Azenis' and we'll let you play in AS/S! Come on and have some fun!

I don't know what As/S is but the 140 lb springs are not legal in SCCA CS (unless the rules changed for 04 or I missed a FastTrack)

and a non factory rear bar is not either.......................

But we can run full R compound tires as well, so I'm not sure what rules you are running under.

They're talking Zone 8 PCA classes. As you say, the 140s will not fly in the SCCA Stock categories.

--DD

DuckRyder;

Sean is referring to PCA Autocross Classifications. Specifically Zone 8 (other zones may have different classification rulings)

A = 914 1.7 & 1.8, all 356 and early 912
C = 914 2.0 and 912E
S/S = Street Stock (up to 4 points allowed and must have 100+ treadwear DOT street tires)
S = Stock Class (up to 6 points, race rubber allowed)

Sean has a choice of motors to put in his car. A 1.8 or a 2.0.

2 points for non-stock springs (the sway bar is a stock front) street tires and the 1.8 liter, he runs in AS/S.

2 points for non-stock springs, race rubber and the 2.0 and he can go to CS.

Just needs to make a decision!

arrrr!?!?!?! the 2.0 is free. the 1.8 requires more money (Ps&Cs)...but I just sold my white 74 1.7. I'm gonna miss that car, untill I get to race the orange beast, that is.

FWIW I used to run DOT-R rubber in PCA CS class; albeit a while ago (1999-2001). Yoko A008RSII's were a hot autox tire back then. I also used Kumho Victoracers a bit later.

The 205/50R15 has a gearing effect that is beneficial for most cars on most autox courses, if they will fit your car. Unfortunately I don't think anybody makes DOT-R rubber in 195/60 sizes anymore -- that was just about perfect for 914's with stock 5.5" wheels IMHO.

Last time I went to an AX in San Diego CS was a very, very competitive class. Those guys took it real serious. Not sure if that's still the case or not.
My favorite AX tire is the victoracer (early style) but I aint never been on hoosiers, I hear they are better.

If I were serious about AX in a 914 I'd bite the bullet and get some victoracers and take the ding on the class.

For me getting first in class is not very important. Being able to run within several seconds of the big boys means more to me.
If I were 10 seconds slower than TTOD that 1st place ribbon wouldn't mean that much. Obviously lots of folks think differently.
I've seen people get all excited over a 1st place ribbon when they were the only one in the class. Go figure.

Of course I'm also the guy who made so many engine modifications to his 914 he got stuck in AI even though his tires and suspension were all completely stock (and wore out), not even a front sway bar at first! Talk about being a non-competitor. My first time out I had way more power than anyone in the class and was 13 seconds off the pace.
(I got better ;)