RT-615s...anything I should know before buying?

[2QYK4U]

I am getting ready to buy some Volk wheels and RT-615s for my S. Both the wheels and tires will be used for daily driving and autocrossing. When I eventually enter the SM bracket, I will look at getting some R compound tires. Anyways, is there anything I should know (adverse comments) before I purchase these tires?

[jason]

Before buying the Falkens, you should know that you CAN run r-compounds in stock class. :cool:

[2QYK4U]

Before buying the Falkens, you should know that you CAN run r-compounds in stock class. :cool:
Really? I thought you could only run R-compounds (i.e., V710s) in SP and beyond???

[cshodges]

Nope. Any DOT-legal tire that fits on any rim that's the same diameter and width as your stock rim, and within 1/4" of the stock offset. DOT-R tires are DOT-legal. That's why the V710's have those 6/32" grooves in them.. to "evacuate water." :)

[2QYK4U]

Nope. Any DOT-legal tire that fits on any rim that's the same diameter and width as your stock rim, and within 1/4" of the stock offset. DOT-R tires are DOT-legal. That's why the V710's have those 6/32" grooves in them.. to "evacuate water." :)
Guess I am confused then...isn't the V710 considered a slick? Why would an R-compound tire be allowed in Stock but not ST? Isn't ST a class "ahead" of stock?

[2QYK4U]

...that fits on any rim that's the same diameter and width as your stock rim, and within 1/4" of the stock offset.
rut-roh...the Volks I am buying are 17x7.5 +50 (front) and 17x9 +63 (rear). The stock wheels are 17x7 +50 (front) and 17x8.5 +50 (rear)...

[jason]

Guess I am confused then...isn't the V710 considered a slick? Why would an R-compound tire be allowed in Stock but not ST? Isn't ST a class "ahead" of stock?

The V710 isn't a true racing "slick". It has that one tread groove in it and is DOT legal. The ST classes (stands for "street touring") run on street tires... well, technically any tire that has a tread rating of 140 or above. You can play around with more things in ST though (springs, wheel sizes, etc). Yes, the rules are weird. :rolleyes:

[MX5bob]

Guess I am confused then...isn't the V710 considered a slick? Why would an R-compound tire be allowed in Stock but not ST? Isn't ST a class "ahead" of stock?

The V710 isn't a slick.

Street Touring classes were added only the past few years and the idea is to attract sport compacts on street rubber.

[MX5bob]

rut-roh...the Volks I am buying are 17x7.5 +50 (front) and 17x9 +63 (rear). The stock wheels are 17x7 +50 (front) and 17x8.5 +50 (rear)...

Can't run those legally in Stock. Have to be the same width.

[2QYK4U]

Can't run those legally in Stock. Have to be the same width.
Guess that will put me in ST. :(

[rodger]

Guess that will put me in ST.

It keeps getting worse: there's no ST class for the S2000 to run in :(

IS1 or ASP(or BSP?) for you!

[2QYK4U]

Guess that will put me in ST.

It keeps getting worse: there's no ST class for the S2000 to run in :(

IS1 or ASP(or BSP?) for you!
Those classes aren't identified in my 2005 SCCA rule book???

How in the heck do I know for sure which class I will be in?

[Andrew]

It keeps getting worse: there's no ST class for the S2000 to run in :(

IS1 or ASP(or BSP?) for you!
It's BSP. I bumped myself up in the last event because I couldn't run in the morning.


Those classes aren't identified in my 2005 SCCA rule book???

How in the heck do I know for sure which class I will be in?
BSP is in there. Look for "Street Prepared" or somesuch.

The IS classes are San Diego specific classes. Get your hands on the supplemental rules or ask someone in the know nicely.

I am not someone in the know about the IS classes.

[woodrufj]

Guess that will put me in ST. :(
S2000 doesn't fit into any existing ST class. It's BSP, SM2 (not SM) or the local IS1 class.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[2QYK4U]

S2000 doesn't fit into any existing ST class. It's BSP, SM2 (not SM) or the local IS1 class.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota
Along with AS right? ;)

[froggy47]

Yes, so long as it conforms to stock class mods.

[woodrufj]

Along with AS right? ;)

the Volks I am buying are 17x7.5 +50 (front) and 17x9 +63 (rear). The stock wheels are 17x7 +50 (front) and 17x8.5 +50 (rear)...Not with these wheels.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[woodrufj]

The IS classes are San Diego specific classes. Get your hands on the supplemental rules or ask someone in the know nicely.

I am not someone in the know about the IS classes.
Here's how I see it:
ISX = Almost the same rules as street prepared, except you don't have to race against Gary Thomason, George Doganis or Joe Becket.

Seriously though, IS rules are very similar to SP rules but don't allow some of the high dollar low yield mods that nobody at a regional level does. Frankly I've forgotten why they exist.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[cshodges]

IS seems to me to be sort of a local STS/STX plus R-comp tires class.

[Tyson]

Guess that will put me in ST. :(

There is no ST class for the S2000. Use your stock wheels with R-rubber at aurcrosses and the Volks as street tires. That's what I'm doing--not with Volks though.

[2QYK4U]

There is no ST class for the S2000. Use your stock wheels with R-rubber at aurcrosses and the Volks as street tires. That's what I'm doing--not with Volks though.
I've thought about that. Problem is I'd have to buy another set of tires, R-Compound, and I'd rather use that money towards some other mod at this time.

[2QYK4U]

Back to the subject of the tire...RT-615...does anybody know of a superior tire for me to use for daily driving?

[Andrew]

I've thought about that. Problem is I'd have to buy another set of tires, R-Compound, and I'd rather use that money towards some other mod at this time.

Back to the subject of the tire...RT-615...does anybody know of a superior tire for me to use for daily driving?

I think there may be some confusion as to the purpose of this car. Is it meant to be modded into a monster autox car, or is it meant to be modded with "cool" bolt ons? I'm not saying there's anything better with one or the other, it's just that if you're looking to build the best autox S2000 possible, then the hesitation on R-compound tires doesn't make a whole lot of sense, especially since you can't play in ST. If it's the latter, then your hesitation makes a lot more sense.

Assuming the latter, looking at the tread pattern on the RT-615, I'd be worried about wet weather performance on the street. The OEM RE050s, BTW, work very well in the wet. And they work decently (as street tires go) for autox. Would the tires that came on the car fit on the Volks you're buying? You could transfer them over and save some money.

...And sell the stock wheels to some S2000 owner who has no desire to play in BSP or IS-whatever. *shifts eyes* :p

[2QYK4U]

I think there may be some confusion as to the purpose of this car. Is it meant to be modded into a monster autox car, or is it meant to be modded with "cool" bolt ons? I'm not saying there's anything better with one or the other, it's just that if you're looking to build the best autox S2000 possible, then the hesitation on R-compound tires doesn't make a whole lot of sense, especially since you can't play in ST. If it's the latter, then your hesitation makes a lot more sense.

Assuming the latter, looking at the tread pattern on the RT-615, I'd be worried about wet weather performance on the street. The OEM RE050s, BTW, work very well in the wet. And they work decently (as street tires go) for autox. Would the tires that came on the car fit on the Volks you're buying? You could transfer them over and save some money.

...And sell the stock wheels to some S2000 owner who has no desire to play in BSP or IS-whatever. *shifts eyes* :p
Apologize for any confusion...

First and foremost, the S2000 will be my daily driver. Therefore, I am not going to go crazy in any one direction (i.e., auto-x monster, 1/4 mile monster, etc.). My primary passion is autocrossing, so I will be setting up the car more for that than anything. I do plan to drag race it every once in a while.

For what it is worth, I am not all that concerned with RT-615s not performing well in the rain. It hardly rains here in San Diego. When it does it gets pretty messy, but I am willing to take on any associated risks.

[frosty]

For what it is worth, I am not all that concerned with RT-615s not performing well in the rain. It hardly rains here in San Diego. When it does it gets pretty messy, but I am willing to take on any associated risks.

Driver skill goes a long way in rain. Sadly, many drivers do not have said skill.

I'm willing to get inferrior rain tires for my car, but I've got AWD and ABS. I'm not sure I'd want to drive a torque monster (which is what you'll have after those mods) with summer tires in the rain.

[2QYK4U]

Driver skill goes a long way in rain. Sadly, many drivers do not have said skill.

I'm willing to get inferrior rain tires for my car, but I've got AWD and ABS. I'm not sure I'd want to drive a torque monster (which is what you'll have after those mods) with summer tires in the rain.
Understood. I am originally from Seattle...so I know a little bit about driving in rain. 6 years driving experience to be exact. The problem with driving in the rain in SD is two-fold: (1) since it doesn't rain that often the streets become extra slick as oil has built-up and (2) not many people in SD know how to drive in the rain.

Nevertheless I am willing to take the chance. If worst comes to worst I'll just drive the Civic that day. ;)

[Neal]

The V710 isn't a slick.

Street Touring classes were added only the past few years and the idea is to attract sport compacts on street rubber.

I guess that makes sense. It's nice to attract the street races to do some legit driving. But I also found it weird when I went from GS to STS and couldn't use my R-comps anymore. I got rid of the rear sway bar and went back to stock;)

[MX5bob]

The 615s are better in the rain than the 215s were.

I wouldn't worry about making the S2000 into a torque monster with bolt-on mods. Exhaust and intake aren't going to do all that much on the low end. Change where the V-tec kicks in and now we're talkin'! That's legal next year in SP, BTW. :D

[frosty]

He was talking about a supercharger on another thread...

[Andrew]

First and foremost, the S2000 will be my daily driver. Therefore, I am not going to go crazy in any one direction (i.e., auto-x monster, 1/4 mile monster, etc.). My primary passion is autocrossing, so I will be setting up the car more for that than anything. I do plan to drag race it every once in a while.
If you have the patience for it, here's what I would do: Leave the car bone stock for a year. Play in AS on your OEM RE050s until they're gone, and learn how to drive the car. Then buy some nice street wheels and tires, and some R-compound for your stock wheels. Play in AS until those tires go away. In the meantime, figure out what class you really want to play in, and buy go-fast parts accordingly.

If the car is to be primarily a daily driver, I would play in AS since that has the least effect on the day-to-day livability of the vehicle. Some would say that makes me old. I would counter that I'm just cheap. But whatever.

The nice thing about this upgrade path is that you will get to see how much the individual bits improve the car from a handling perspective. And you'll get a year on not-as-grippy street tires, which are better for learning on. And when you first put R-compounds on the car (and you will want R-compound if autocross is, indeed, your primary passion)... boy howdy!

[2QYK4U]

Exhaust and intake aren't going to do all that much on the low end. Change where the V-tec kicks in and now we're talkin'! That's legal next year in SP, BTW. :D
Exhaust and intake upgrades are allowed in AS. :rolleyes:

[2QYK4U]

If you have the patience for it, here's what I would do: Leave the car bone stock for a year. Play in AS on your OEM RE050s until they're gone, and learn how to drive the car. Then buy some nice street wheels and tires, and some R-compound for your stock wheels. Play in AS until those tires go away. In the meantime, figure out what class you really want to play in, and buy go-fast parts accordingly.

If the car is to be primarily a daily driver, I would play in AS since that has the least effect on the day-to-day livability of the vehicle. Some would say that makes me old. I would counter that I'm just cheap. But whatever.

The nice thing about this upgrade path is that you will get to see how much the individual bits improve the car from a handling perspective. And you'll get a year on not-as-grippy street tires, which are better for learning on. And when you first put R-compounds on the car (and you will want R-compound if autocross is, indeed, your primary passion)... boy howdy!
I really like what you have said. My biggest obstacle will be remaining patient. We'll see how long that lasts. Also, I am working on picking up some sponsors, and when and if that happens my patience won't be the issue. ;)

[woodrufj]

Exhaust and intake upgrades are allowed in AS. :rolleyes:
Cat back exhaust only (stock Cat and forward).

Only an air filter change.

Stock class is very restricitive. For the most part, it must remain stock.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[2QYK4U]

Cat back exhaust only (stock Cat and forward).

Only an air filter change.

Stock class is very restricitive. For the most part, it must remain stock.
The rules for the stock class are kind of silly. I can't install a cold air intake, but I can install Koni yellow shocks and a Comptech adjustable front sway bar. Now that makes a lot of sense. :rolleyes:

[MX5bob]

Exhaust and intake upgrades are allowed in AS. :rolleyes:

Yeah, I didn't say they weren't. But from a torque standpoint when driving in the rain AND autocrossing, those mods aren't going to make a heck of a lot of difference. The SP allowed partof what I said is just about the V-tec adjustment. But doing that won't be cheap.

Andrew's advice is good and I'll add that before spending money on mods, spend it on local Novice school, Evo driving school and X run entries.