So I just made my first purchase ever specificly for racing only. Im pretty excited. (well technacally 2nd but blue painters tape last year doesn't count) After jumping back and fourth I have decided to set my car up for STX.

So I bought tires. I went with Falken Atenis RT 615.


I know it seems kinda backwards but I work at a tire shop so I was able to get these pretty cheap and right now.

Next, with any tax return luck, will be coilovers and wheels. The wife already agreed to buy me a good helmet before the season starts.


I'm sure there's a few seasoned racers in here. Do you remember what your first racing purchase was and how excited you were to use it?

 

Don't be so quick to start throwing parts at the car before getting some track time. The RX8 is more than capable of handling a track day for someone with limited or no track experience and you'll find it very rewarding to operate it as such.

Tires are very much in the same situation. I've seen people quickly go to a very sticky tire with little to no experience with less grip prone tires and I feel their technique suffers a bit. Learning to drive a car with limited grip teaches you good car control and smooth inputs.

Glad to see you're getting into racing! You won't regret it.

 

Very true and I absolutely agree with you however over the years I have spent countless dollars on "go fast" goodies on stupid cars that I never did anything with. Im just excited to finally have a car with building and actually having a cause for it.

 

I think you will like the tires. Best thing to do is learn to listen to them talk. The more streetable ones typically talk louder, and are easier to start with. The better ones think you already know how to listen. I did tires last, but I know folks who have done it the other way. Just be ready for the brakes and the suspension to self identify as the weaker links. With these you will be able to pass them a lot more force than you could with street tires.

Good Luck.

 

I agree. Improve the driver first (which includes technique, feeling the car and GUTS). Yet, don't hesitate getting entry level Hawk brake pads and bleeding brakes regularly... And if you live in Texas like me, focus on cooling upgrades before Summer gets here (March?) - The oil cooler back panel slots DIY is worth every penny!

PS: I know nothing about STX, so check with your friendly neighborhood rule book.

 

These were one of my 1st purchases too many moons ago along with Whiteline sway bars. Have no idea if they're any good for STX work, but they were pretty decent on the race track, and certainly protest quite loudly if you push them. They did tend to overheat under strong abuse, and there are certainly gripper tires out there, but they'll communicate what they're doing. After my OEM Bridgestones wore out, they were a welcome change. If you need replacement tires, you can do a lot worse. I was excited and happy with them at the time. Enjoy

 

^They were decent in STX about 4 years ago, now they won't hold up against the Hankooks, Dunlops, and Toyo's.

 

I think the guys recommending cooling and pads and talking about the track. For autocross, you'll be fine as is. I still run in my region's street tire division in stock. My first year was one axle of worn out OEM's and one axle of hard all season Toyo's (they came with the car). Last year, I bought Star Specs and they were fantastic. The next event I got a sportier alignment and the car was even better. The star specs seemed to break away much more gradually, which helped me push harder. I think you made a good puchase.

 

Thats what I was thinking too. I hope to get into track too but we will see how the funds come along when summer hits.

 

You better get some different tires then as you will have a hard time keeping them from overheating for autox. They won't cut it at the track unless you are doing parade laps.

 

Yeah from what I have read there certainly are better choices. But I got a really good deal on these tires, 100 each delivered. So for now I'm not complaining. We will see if my tune changes in the spring. But I have no basis for comparison save for the OE Bridgestones.

 

That's utter rubbish. Track days at Watkins Glen, Mount Tremblant, Loudon prove otherwise. What it is ... is an inexpensive performance street/trackable tire, w/benefits....ergo no need hauling track tires.

 

he can go to the track in his Dad's Buick with 600TW all-season OE tires, that doesn't make my statement rubbish.

IMO cheap tires at the track make as much sense as cheap brakes and cheap safety equipment.

 

"Cheap" tires are an effective teaching tool and one that is often overlooked when starting your first few track events. There are a lot of drivers who have gone full tilt into racing that could have benefited from learning smooth driving habits driving on tires that lose grip if you look at them cross-eyed.

You can have the best prep'd car at auto cross with none of the "cheap" stuff and still be last in competition because you lack the necessary skills to use what you have.

All that aside, the 615's are far from a crappy track tire and sport a 200AA rating which (GASP!) is the same rating given to the Direzza Sport Star Spec which I know is a fantastic auto cross street tire. Yes, rating differ between manufacturers and no doubt the compound is different. I doubt any season'd autocross driver would suggest a new driver show up in a set of Hoosiers.

If the OP can get the 615's for $100 a crack then run those. I doubt you'd want them as a street tire since you'll chew through them quickly but when it only costs $400 for a set I wouldn't care much.

 

We are going off-track on this subject ..

He wants to run in STX. The seasoned competitors in this class all recognize it as not an ideal choice, but he got them cheap and is starting out. The same for the track. He can run them there, but if they are run hard they will overheat and get greasy fast. The TW rating is not relevant. They get greasy at the autox in the dead of summer. My own opinion is to àutox on that set and when they are done, then get a new better set like Hankook R-S3. With some better tires and experience under your belt then you are more ready to chance your daily driver street car to get some track time.

I did misread a post and thought he is in Texas, but I see he is in the NE. It doesn't get as hot there as it does in TX. We had a 45 day 100+ streak this past summer. It would still be 90 at midnight. Ugh. So how hot and greasy they get may not be as bad up there as it is in the SW.



.

 

I don't by any means expect to be on a competitive level yet. I've only autoxd 3 times ever. But I plan to run with 2 local clubs this year. Should equate to almost every weekend.
I don't want to get bored with c stock half waythrough the season and want to switch classes. So I figured just start in STX to start

 

Yes, that's why I recommended as such. I would really hate to see your car end up in a wall, tire barrier or tree because you get in over your head too soon. Even the world's greatest instructor cannot necessarily prevent this, assuming you even have one. There are a lot of assumptions being made. I know this is your daily street car and you have limited experience. My take on that is to be very conservative and assume the worst case scenario, mostly because over the years I have either witnessed or known about many worst case scenarios happening, including people having a total loss and the insurance company telling them it's not our problem.

.

 

I do take your advice to heart. Within my learning process I can only hope something catastrophic doesn't happen. Being cautious is definitely one of my main priorities. Along with having fun and learning the most I can. Even if it means learning from my mistakes.

 

Congrats! I'm assuming they're 615K's which seem are their new compound. As most have stated they won't handle heat well so just have a sprayer handy. Hopefully you have a good STX turn out in your region. Competition always adds to the fun.

I still remember getting my first full exhaust system for an RX7. Nothing beat that... but then again it also added about 50hp due to the increased boost. Not so sure I would've been as excited about tires back then. Now with my RX8 I'll be probably be in the same boat.

 

No unfortunatly they are not the "k". Previous model. That's why they were so cheap

 

the early version was even worse WRT heat

 

does not mater, learn. you are really not racing. you are just trying to go faster, and if you are just starting, less is more. stay out of stx...

learn the car stock.. that will take you farther faster..

beers

 

I started autocrossing on crappy all season tires. Then purchased the RT 615's and ran them for a season, the following season I ran the Dunlops at a national level, then upgraded to the Hankook RS3's last year...

You will enjoy the RT 615's at the level you are currently at. I was able to be very competitive locally on them.

 

beers

 

So today I did my first even of the season on these tires. They did pretty good. My only complaint is that they are absolutely silent on the course. I wish they made more noise so I could have more heads-up when they are going to break traction.