I was thinking about the whole tire thing and since I prior to my desire to get involved in autox I lowered my car putting me in DST I guess it would be a worthwhile investment for me to run R compounds rather then regular Z rated or whatever? Hrmm looks like running R-compounds would bump me up again? maybe not a good idea...

 

I am not sure what DST is (I think you mean DSP) but, tires will only change your class if you were in a Street Tire only class, STS, STX, ST2, or STU. You can run R compound tires in all classes except the 4 above; even in the stock classes.

If you are looking at getting started Autocrossing just come out. You dont need the "Hot" tire when you are just getting started. It is all about car control and its nothing you can learn on the streets. So just come on out squeel some tires and have some fun.

 

I def wouldn't buy r tires if you're just looking to get into autoxing. I've been autoxing for 3 years in SM, and still don't have r tires. Def makes you a better driver. IMHO. I lost to a 3000GT VR-4 by .14 sec on Sun, even though he's running 400+hp and 255 victoracers, and beat an old civic hatch with a B18c? and V700's by about .17sec. I was also the only one in the top 10 fastest times of the day on street tires.

 

I have a 99 Lude so that generally would put me in DSP however because of my suspension mods (Springs/Shocks/Braces) and engine mods (VAFC, CAI, Apexi WS) I think that would put me in ST and since I am in the D group I would be DST right? I guess what I am getting at is if I am going to get bumped up from the SP class I might as well modify my car as much as possible within that class to make my car as competitive as I can so that the limitation is the driver and not the car.... if you get my logic.

 

A 99 lude doesn't mean you're in DSP and be happy that it doesn't. With the mods you listed, you would be in STS. STS has a much more agreeable PAX. A stock Prelude (VTEC) is DS, a DSP Prelude has internal engine mods, R-compounds, yada yada yada. I would leave your car as is for a season of autocross, learn to push it as is and then consider (based on experience) what you need to make you faster. The car is already fast and its up to you to learn to push it. Again, I would wait on the Rs.

 

Ya, im not jumping into R compounds. I'm getting some Azenis as my "step up" from my street tires.

 

Ok I was reading the classifying thingy wrong is all so I am guessing as long as I stay away from internals and r's I will remain in STS?

 

if your a novice driver running on R compound tires wouldnt it just mask your mistakes. it would probably be better to learn how your car reacts and stuff with street tires and perfect driving skills then worry about Rs when the tires are the limiting factor and not your driving.

 

well the point was that I would modify my car as much as I could for my particular class so the weak link would become me the driver as opposed to the tires or something similar, and once it had been established that R's would bump me up a notch I decided against it.