Figured it might be more appropriate here, so asking again...
So I'm looking around trying to find good tires for the AX for the $1500 E46 Convertible that I'm hoping I'll be able to take to the Challenge this year, and unfortunately with the state that things are in these days I'm not finding a whole lot. I'm hoping to get tires for the AX cheaply enough to fit into my budget (i.e., as cheaply as possible since once I have the windshield replaced and resolve a few issues I'm going to have very little left in budget) so I can use the free set to get tires for the drag since I KNOW I'm not going to find those in-budget. Unfortunately as far as finding cheap tires goes, the 330Ci has the disadvantage of not being able to fit anything smaller than 17" tires over its larger brake calipers, and most things I've found are 16's or smaller. But, there's a decent set of Sport Maxx RT's that will fit the original wheels that came with the car for $100- are they worth trying to snag, or not enough better than regular tires? Thanks!
Can't help you on the Sport Maxx RT's but you can always use 2 drag tires and 2 autocross tires as your 4 free ones. Then just need to put 2 autocross tires in budget.
Do you really need drag tires? I would much rather drag race on autocross tires than the other way around. In fact I won the $2000 with that strategy. I had tried autocrossing on drag radials at a few local events...it was way worse than any decent 200TW tire. I doubt your E46 will be limited by traction in the drags, but everyone's autocross time is helped by good tires.
In reply to maschinenbau (I live here) :
Too be fair I think that is car dependent. I'm sure the Nelsons would much rather have good drag tires in a car capable of running 9s. A stock powered Miata can't overpower a set of A7s in the drags but sure as hell would use them in the autocross. Great thing about a budget race is making the best compromises that fit the car and it's capabilities.
maschinenbau (I live here) said:
Do you really need drag tires? I would much rather drag race on autocross tires than the other way around. In fact I won the $2000 with that strategy. I had tried autocrossing on drag radials at a few local events...it was way worse than any decent 200TW tire. I doubt your E46 will be limited by traction in the drags, but everyone's autocross time is helped by good tires.
If I can find a way to get both AX tires and drag tires I definitely want to- both previous cars I've taken to the Challenge (Caddy 500-powered Fiero & turbocharged Rampage) had traction issues on AX tires on the drags (as well as other issues, but both spun the tires considerably). If I have to choose only one though, it would obviously be for the autocross since that's more in the E46's wheelhouse (especially mine, which appears to have been previously modified with it in mind).
