STR in 2012

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:22 am

JasonWatts wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Yeah, don't squeeze ST* tires on wheels like you would r comps....sidewalls just aren't stiff enough.

I thought you were getting 17x9s Matt?

Thats contradictory to what i understood when i won the azinies. Was told to pick the 205's over the oem 195's. I gurss with all things it simply just depends on the specifics

Edit: but i agree with the logic in this statement.

What did you 'understand' when you got the azenis? Even at that time, the fasts STS miatas were running 195/50/15 Toyos despite the fact that the class allows 225s because they simply were faster, transition faster/crisper, and lighter. STS is limited to 7.5" wheels and I think your wheels are 7" right?

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:14 pm

Thanks guys, I've heard that the ST tires definitely aren't as effective for lateral grip with 'overhang' due to the sidewall flex, etc as you'd see with the A6's & V710's. James, I'm holding off on 17x9's because I'll be running stock suspension as it sounds like there'd be clearance issues with the stock setup/fenders.

I'll probably run with the 225 or 235's up front on the 7"ers (don't know why I thought AP2 was 7.5 & 8.5"). The Hankook Evo 255's that came on the rears don't look to be squeezed on to the rim, so even if the 255 Star Spec is a little wider, I'll be groovy.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:52 pm

JamesShort wrote:

JasonWatts wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Yeah, don't squeeze ST* tires on wheels like you would r comps....sidewalls just aren't stiff enough.

I thought you were getting 17x9s Matt?

Thats contradictory to what i understood when i won the azinies. Was told to pick the 205's over the oem 195's. I gurss with all things it simply just depends on the specifics

Edit: but i agree with the logic in this statement.

What did you 'understand' when you got the azenis? Even at that time, the fasts STS miatas were running 195/50/15 Toyos despite the fact that the class allows 225s because they simply were faster, transition faster/crisper, and lighter. STS is limited to 7.5" wheels and I think your wheels are 7" right?

More tire = more tire to grip with. When I went with the star spec's I went with the 205's (but I had already moved up to a 7in rim at the time). I also heard that they had a fairly stiffer sidewall.

In regards to the r1r's, I have also read forum talk about the 195's using a different, more grippy compound then all the other r1r's but no one was able to provide definitive proof of this. (i guess this is why you cant always believe what you read on the internet.) from what I have seen of my 225's, I can easily see there not being enough benefit of having a 225 on a 7.5 or smaller rim. (weight, squirm, and the unconfirmed "less grippy" compound). The weight comment though does remind me of the grassroots article last year stating that lighter wheel weight has negligible time differences in autoX. I would assume that would carry over to tire weight as well.

As I already said, I do understand and agree that to wide of a tire and not having a stiff enough sidewall will not be fast faster. and with street tires, this is most often be the case. I am quite interested to see if stuffing a 245/255xsomethingx15 onto a miata (would be about an inch wider for those who dont feel like converting) would give it even more grip then the 225 rs3 (or the r1r). but as already said, it will need to have a stiff sidewall.

Judi Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:56 pm

I somehow managed to pry the S2000 out of Stephen's hands and drive it to work today. It is just a weeeee bit more fun to drive then the FIT. Glad I don't have to go to the gas station though

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:07 pm

Judi Westerfield wrote:

Glad I don't have to go to the gas station though

Really? I get 250-320 miles per tank (10-11 gallons, 24-30MPG) depending on how I drive. Through the first year of owning the car when I logged every fillup, the overall average was 26MPG. While I'm sure that's less than the Fit gets, not bad at all considering the performance in my opinion. :mrgreen:

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:16 pm

Zach Hill wrote:

Judi Westerfield wrote:

Glad I don't have to go to the gas station though

Really? I get 250-320 miles per tank (10-11 gallons, 24-30MPG) depending on how I drive. Through the first year of owning the car when I logged every fillup, the overall average was 26MPG. While I'm sure that's less than the Fit gets, not bad at all considering the performance in my opinion. :mrgreen:

dont forget about the 10 to 40 (in some places) cent premium you have to pay for the premium fuel. it add's up quickly when your used to just paying for regular old pump gas.

Judi Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:21 pm

I completely agree with your point. Just glad Stephen who has a 3 mile commute is driving it daily. I drive at minimum 30 miles a day. So 87 octane and average 32mpg around town means there may be a few more leaves on the tree for S2000 shocks

Gas Mileage was my #1 reason for selling the G35 years ago. All this said, while I was driving back from lunch there was a moment of thinking maybe we could sell the FIT and get another S2000 for me to drive

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:21 pm

JasonWatts wrote:

dont forget about the 10 to 40 (in some places) cent premium you have to pay for the premium fuel. it add's up quickly when your used to just paying for regular old pump gas.

Yeah, good point. I just don't think about it since I've been buying it for 4+ years now...

Maybe you should talk to Noah and Keith Q. about fuel economy. :lol:

Judi Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:26 pm

Yes, we were real close to getting an RX-8. We just didn't find one in good condition at the right price when we were looking.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:29 pm

Zach Hill wrote:

JasonWatts wrote:

dont forget about the 10 to 40 (in some places) cent premium you have to pay for the premium fuel. it add's up quickly when your used to just paying for regular old pump gas.

Yeah, good point. I just don't think about it since I've been buying it for 4+ years now...

Maybe you should talk to Noah and Keith Q. about fuel economy. :lol:

yeah, when money is tight and I look at an s2k driving down the road, I then really enjoy my regular pump gas I am pouring into my vechical's. of course then I look at the $70 I am putting into my truck (was closer to 100 at one point) and have a heart attack. :soap:

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:07 pm

I hear you Judi. I've logged 19/20 around town and 27 highway in mine which is nothing stellar but more importantly, with 1100 miles, I'm only down 1/8 qt. of 5w30.

Zach, 24mpg+? That's impressive my friend.

Totally unrelated, if anyone's needing a trailer hitch for a tire trailer or bike rack, et cetera let me know. I found a reputable place selling the Curt brand for $129 shipped! I just ordered one this morning so I can take the bike with me to Uwharrie in a few weeks.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Mine's averaging about 24mpg, on 75mi round trips through the country roads to work. Includes several trips to 8krpm each way. Mostly driving the STi now that the new has worn off the S2000, though. (it gets 22mpg now that it's back to stock exhaust/ecm tune)

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:44 pm

Matt McGrain wrote:

I hear you Judi. I've logged 19/20 around town and 27 highway in mine which is nothing stellar but more importantly, with 1100 miles, I'm only down 1/8 qt. of 5w30.

Zach, 24mpg+? That's impressive my friend.

That seems low... I have never had a tank below around 23MPG, maybe. Usually in the upper 20's, even the way I drive! :shock:

Maybe it's the K&N intake I have... I know my economy improved when I got it, which was I think less than 6 months after I got the car.

Matt McGrain wrote:

Totally unrelated, if anyone's needing a trailer hitch for a tire trailer or bike rack, et cetera let me know. I found a reputable place selling the Curt brand for $129 shipped! I just ordered one this morning so I can take the bike with me to Uwharrie in a few weeks.

Too funny... I recently got a Chase Race hitch for mine from a fellow friend who sold his S2000 (that's another story...), and then last week picked this up: http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Deluxe-3-Bi ... B001M4KXDM
It is very well made and works well, although I think I'll have to bungee the bike to the rack to keep it from swaying and bumping the car bumper.

EDIT: MATT!!! Very awesome "location: ...just dropped in to see what condition my condition is in."!!! :sing:

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:35 pm

Zach Hill wrote:

JasonWatts wrote:

dont forget about the 10 to 40 (in some places) cent premium you have to pay for the premium fuel. it add's up quickly when your used to just paying for regular old pump gas.

Yeah, good point. I just don't think about it since I've been buying it for 4+ years now...

Maybe you should talk to Noah and Keith Q. about fuel economy. :lol:

It's not so bad to DD one. I get 280 miles reg and I commute 15 miles a day. I like it

Jeremy Ellison · **Joined:** Fri May 13, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 186

I get 18-22 MPG usually. I almost never get more than 250 miles on a tank (about 11 gals.) 200-220 is pretty standard for me. I'm not especially easy on the gas peddle and it's almost all city driving.

Maybe an AP1 vs. AP2 thing? All those extra torques are killin our mpgs!

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