rim width for Hoosiers

[trekkor]

I have a new set of new A3S04 Hoosier's. 205/50/15's.
I have a set of 5.5" wide rims I would like to use.
I have my R3S03's of another set just like them and have had good results and wear.

What should I expect if I mount these on a 1" narrower rim than recommended?

thanks

here's the R's mounted.

KT

[J P Stein]

Will the tires work?...yes
Will you get max performance out of them?...no
Will they turn in/transition well?...no
Will you know the difference?.....

If you're gonna get serious about AX, don't try to cut corners (NPI)....cause your competition isn't.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Run 'em, Trekkor. That's the standard autoX setup around here, unless you wanna go with big-buck rims or go five-lug. People have been running R-compound 205-50-15s on 5.5s on local 914s since the A008RS was king of the hill... They're running the same sizes (now with Hoosiers, Kumhos, etc.) today.

You'll get better grip and response if you mount them on a "correct" sized wheel, but they should still work pretty well on the 5.5s.

--DD

[trekkor]

thanks, JP and Dave.

I don't want to create a potentially dangerous situation by using a narrow rim.

What is the advantage of using the wider rim? I guess I don't fully understand how such a small width increase or decrease can alter the tread contact patch on such a stiff side walled tire.

thanks...

KT

[Bill Verburg]

The A3S04 Hoosier's 205/50/15's design rim is 6 - 8". You will derive maximum benefit from the maximum rim width because it will be able to support and transfer the loads to/from the tire most efficiently.

Can they be used on narrower rims? yes, But should you? as JP said, No! you are leaving a lot of performance potential on the table by doing so. If your competitors choose do do so that is going to be too bad for them.

There are or at least were cantelever tires designed to run on narrower rims, Goodyear used to make them, don't know if they still do.

[nebreitling]

honestly trekkor, i'd save the extra 60-100 bucks it'll cost you to mount these on your westerns (the tire guy will hate you) and put that towards a set of rims. you don't need super fancy expensive wheels. used 15x7ish steel wheels come up for $2-400 from time to time.

these are NOT normal 205's like victoracers or others, even my R3SO3's look different than my A3SO4's. they're more like a 225, seriously. hoosier wants minimum 6.5". kumho wants minimum 5.5".

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Depends on your priorities, I guess.

Yes, the tire monkeys will not be happy. The Hoosiers run quite wide for their listed size, and fitting them on 5.5s will be a challenge.

On wider wheels, the sidewalls will not bulge out as far. This gives you more predictable response from the tire, and usually less deformation. It also widens the contact patch, which tends to give you more lateral grip.

I forget, are your fenders modified to fit wide rubber? If not, you may not be able to run the Hoosiers on properly-wide rims.

The tires will very definitely work better on wider wheels than the 5.5s. Running them on wide heavy steel rims sounds to be a win over narrow but lighter wheels (especially because you've got some torque to push the weight around). If you really want to go for maximum performance, find some 7s or 8s that are nice and light and use them. Not cheap, though.

Or you could just run them. Says the guy who drives to the autoX on hard-compound street tires (in a sticky-tire class), doesn't even check the pressures, and just runs them.

--DD

[Grantsfo]

....You know you want some lightweight 7" or 8" wheels.







Because this car has 8" wheels now. Will have them back from Kraus Racing early next week in plenty of time for Marina.

[}{arlequin]

damn... who makes those??? "Kraus Racing"? have to look them up. nice.

[Grantsfo]

Originally posted by }{arlequin
damn... who makes those??? "Kraus Racing"? have to look them up. nice.

Those are 15x8" 10 lb race wheels from Keiser Wheels. I have them over at Kraus to have tires mounted.

[trekkor]

I had 'em put on the Western's.
They look fine to me.

If I find a different set of rims before these tires wear out, I'll swap them over.

KT

[Grantsfo]

Originally posted by trekkor
I had 'em put on the Western's.
They look fine to me.

If I find a different set of rims before these tires wear out, I'll swap them over.

KT

Good decision. Better to use them now and enjoy them than wait!

[trekkor]

Thanks, Grant.

They have the same appearance as the track tires I posted, and you used last week.
Just better looking rubber.

KT

[Joe Ricard]

Don't want to touch this topic without one.
Pretty much beat this in the ground on the other board. Grants wheels are light and have a better offset. My steelies are cool sit out wide and took TTOD by 2 full seconds. Lancer Evo owner was hanging his head in shame.

[Grantsfo]

Originally posted by Joe Ricard
My steelies are cool sit out wide and took TTOD by 2 full seconds. Lancer Evo owner was hanging his head in shame.

The guy driving your car would have had 3 seconds over that EVO if you had lost 40 lbs of rotational mass from your steel wheels, Those steel wheels are 10lbs more per wheel compared to 9.85 lb race wheels. Makes a big differnce for a low hp (115 HP?) car like your 2.0 4 cylinder.

Trekkor is trying to beat times of real fast 914's. I think staying with his lightweight 5.5 Westerns until he can get lightweight 7" wheels will be the way to go. I would have gone with 7" but do to mix up the manufacturer made 8". If I decide to run race tires I'll have to go up a class as 7" rims is as big as you can go in FM.

I think those Diamonds are a good cheap solution for a higher output (200 hp +) 911 track car, but a 914 AX car with less than 175 hp is going to be penalized by 20 lb steel wheels.

[Joe Ricard]

I imagine if there was money involved with winning races I might be inclined to get some light wheels. However the car is faster than I can drive it and my buddy says the only thing holding him back is the confidence that the car will stick while holding it wide open.
SO if I got wheel that made my car faster I still couldn't go faster. Maybe in a couple years experience. However each year I will be even slower in the reflex department. I saved enough money to race all year. finished my 11th Autocross this year with a school coming up next week.
115 HP is probably being very generous THANKS

[Grantsfo]

Originally posted by Joe Ricard
I imagine if there was money involved with winning races I might be inclined to get some light wheels. However the car is faster than I can drive it and my buddy says the only thing holding him back is the confidence that the car will stick while holding it wide open.
SO if I got wheel that made my car faster I still couldn't go faster. Maybe in a couple years experience. However each year I will be even slower in the reflex department. I saved enough money to race all year. finished my 11th Autocross this year with a school coming up next week.
115 HP is probably being very generous THANKS

Losing rotational weight would benefit you regardless of driving ability. With less rotational weight you can accelerate and brake more quickly. You can always afford to go faster off the line and out of slow corners and slowing down more rapidly helps too.

There are affordable lightweight used wheels for 914's floating around if you look. I recently sold a set of 15x7"aluminum wheels for a couple hundred bucks.

But as you say we are all out just to have fun. If youre having fun and winning your local AX no need to go any lighter. However I am a lieghtweight junky - comes from years of racing 18lb bicycles. Funny thing is I spent same on the wheels for my car then I used to spend on my racing wheels for my bikes! My little stock 1.8 engine needs as much help as possible, so pulling weight off the car has been a very cost effective approach for me to improve my cars performance until I build a race engine later this year.