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I want to buy new wheels/tires soon, but the the ones that I want to buy would not allow me to run in HS. That means that I would have to buy autox tires for my stock 14" wheels.
Okay, so that brings me to the question - if I buy some type of DOT ultra-performance tire in a 14" size, can I expect it to handle well or would it be a big waste of money?
On one hand, I want my car to look nice daily with the new wheels, but I don't want to have to race in STS since I only have the Zetec. But, I fear that a 14" tire, even in "race" compound, might not handle as well as an allowed 16x6.5 wheel option might WITH max performance tires.
As I understand it, I could go up to a 16x6.5 wheel and stay in HS eventhough my car is a 2.0L Zetec with 14s standard - is that correct?
Anyway - your thoughts, comments, suggestions would be welcome!
Don Francis - 1999 Contour Zetec MTX -- Stock except for stereo mods & 20%/5% tint:
Sony MobileES head unit, Pioneer 6x8 in front doors, 3 JL Audio 10" in the trunk, RF Punch amp pushing the doors, JL 300x2 amp on the 10s
Auto X Novice --> NHS 11 (ya gotta start somewhere) - thanks auto x guys for your advice!
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Ok,
I believe you can use race tires in GS, dunno about HS. I'd buy some nice rims for day to day, and get the lowest profile, widest 14's that would fit on your steelies. Perhaps a 205/55-14 or 205/50-14 if it would fit on the rim. I dunno the rim width.
I wonder if you can "upgrade" to 15" wheels since they are an option on the Contour. You might be able to go with that.
Perhaps someone else could comment on the rules aspect of this (Andy AKA SVTSTS) and SVTCole can tell you about doing something like this with his SVT, using a 40 series tire on the factory wheel.
Food for thought.
TB
Tony Boner Personal: 98cdw27@charter.net Work: tony.boner@sun.com Saving the computer world from WinBloze as Unix/Solaris/Java Guru http://www.sun.com 1998 Contour SVT Pre-E1 618/6535 Born On Date: 4/30/1997 Now with Aussie Bar induced mild oversteer.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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dfrancis011,
Since the Zetec is a seperate listing in the stock classification from the Duratec, the largest wheel you can go to is the ones that were factory installed on the Zetec, whatever that is. It must be factory option, not dealer installed. I don't know all the Zetec wheel choices, so this is the best answer I can give you.
Respectfully,
Andy Hohl
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My daughter has a 2000 SE with the Ztech engine that came fadtury with 15" wheels. I'm not sure of the width though. You will be allowed in the stock classes since they did come from the factury with 15's.
John Alessi
Torredor Red #1915 of 2150
Born 21Jan2000
G/S No serious mods allowed
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My Zetec is sitting on 205/60-15s right now. The rim is most likely about 6" wide. They look a bit narrower then the 15x7s that I have in the garage, unmounted.
· Jon Miconi
· 96 Contour Zetec ATX
· 80 Ramcharger 360 ATX
· 77 Ramcharger 440 ATX
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Actually stay with the smaller wheels! The smaller wheels, the better gear ratios you will have. Kumho and others make plenty of race tires that will fit that car. I'd try and get 205/55/14's for it. I think the unshaved / non heat cycled Kumhos run about $107. So basically you get the best of both worlds, better gear ratios and cheap race tires. I just raced an SE-R at my last autox on 14's and it handled great!
Race tires have an extremely stiff sidewall so don't worry about them not handling as well as a street tire, they'll blow any street tire on the market away no matter what size. The worst race tire is better then the best street tire. With more sidewall (well not too much more) allows you to adjust the handling of the car more through tire pressures.
The 14's also have another benifit, they are light! Having less rotational mass is always a good thing. The shorter the wheel, the less rotational mass you have, therefore making the most out of your car.
Current Cars:
2000 CSVT #398 / 2150 - TRed
85 CRX si with a suspension harder then Ron Jeremy on Viagra.
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You can use race tires in ANY stock class. It's not limited to just GS.
Dave Andrews
Black&Tan 2000 SVT 225 of 2150
Bassani.. UNCORKED
davelandrews@comcast.net
"Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know." -Montaigne
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Ah, such wonderful replies - THANK YOU!!
I mean it - you guys have been very helpful! You've given me just what I needed.
At least I know that I can go with something that looks nice day to day and still have my factory 14s for autox.
Thanks a lot!
Don Francis
Don Francis - 1999 Contour Zetec MTX -- Stock except for stereo mods & 20%/5% tint:
Sony MobileES head unit, Pioneer 6x8 in front doors, 3 JL Audio 10" in the trunk, RF Punch amp pushing the doors, JL 300x2 amp on the 10s
Auto X Novice --> NHS 11 (ya gotta start somewhere) - thanks auto x guys for your advice!
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Originally posted by Qbert:
Actually stay with the smaller wheels! The smaller wheels, the better gear ratios you will have. Kumho and others make plenty of race tires that will fit that car. I'd try and get 205/55/14's for it. I think the unshaved / non heat cycled Kumhos run about $107. So basically you get the best of both worlds, better gear ratios and cheap race tires. I just raced an SE-R at my last autox on 14's and it handled great!
Race tires have an extremely stiff sidewall so don't worry about them not handling as well as a street tire, they'll blow any street tire on the market away no matter what size. The worst race tire is better then the best street tire. With more sidewall (well not too much more) allows you to adjust the handling of the car more through tire pressures.
The 14's also have another benifit, they are light! Having less rotational mass is always a good thing. The shorter the wheel, the less rotational mass you have, therefore making the most out of your car. Exactly what he said!
Matthew W. Campbell-- bigMoney Racing -- 1999 SVT #220 "NT4UA" /O.Z. Crono Evo\'s/ /Rear Deck Sub/ -- 1972 Chevrolet C/10 Custom Deluxe-- 1980 Camaro in fewer pieces-- "If I had invested...in IBM or something like that, I would certainly have been wealthy within a decade. Instead, I bought a Porsche...and got a life" Leon Mandel
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That's why I like my "15s. I don't get the guys putting 20s on an otherwise racy car. Just slowin yourself down. A guy at a shop in Tulsa told me the best thing he ever did to his Civic (ugh) was to put on 19s with Nittos. He said "It handles so much better and rides so smooth!" Whatever. Bear in mind he was also trying to sell me rims and later this same DA told me I was a nice guy but I "just have the wrong car". Yeah, way to make me want to buy some wheels. :rolleyes: Was he trying to pick up on me?
1998 Contour Sport V6, Black
*Cold air induction
*Powdercoated intake manifold (more powdercoating coming soon)
*Blue headlights, foggies, and signals (no reflectors)
*CEG stickers & removed door moldings
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1994 Ford Aspire 4-door, looks like a big egg
*64 hp 4-cyl
*5 speed
*"13 steel rims with go-cart tires
*74 mph top speed
*I'm going to auto-x the thing (but not compete)
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