13" tires that aren't race or Toyos

First of all, yes I have searched.  Second, don't laugh.  

We are prepping a 1st gen RX7 for Chumpcar, intending to race at Sebring in July with my Dad and brother.  I had a line on a set of 15" wheels for cheap but the guy has gone quiet since I asked about meeting up to pick them up.  I have 2 sets of 13" wheels for the car, so the simple answer is 13" tires.  Last year, I could find Federal 595s in 205 or 185 all day long...now, they are gone. 

So my options are random no-name 185s, some BF Goodrich in 205 that I trust more but will likely not be too grippy, or buying a set of Konig 15" wheels and getting some 15" tires.  The latter seems like the obvious answer but we don't want to throw too much extra money at a car that we may obsolete by going a different direction or modding differently.  

Thanks everyone!  

The BF Goodrich are an old design by the looks of it - they look exactly like the early 90s BFGs that came off my Maxton when I replaced them with new ones. Not sure if they changed the rubber compound. They're OK tires, but I haven't got any serious miles (and especially no track miles) on them.

Check these guys out.  Well run business that is reasonable despite the shipping.

I presorted 13" for you.

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/us/performance/tyres-accessories/tyres/shop-by/diameter/13_inch/

84FSP said:

Check these guys out.  Well run business that is reasonable despite the shipping.

I presorted 13" for you.

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/us/performance/tyres-accessories/tyres/shop-by/diameter/13_inch/

If anyone does or has gotten DT to ship to the US recently, please share how that experience went. They stock tires I want at decent prices, while the corp us distro for same tires never has any in stock.

I have bought GAZ coil over shocks from Demon Tweeks several times over the past few years, and I found them (DT) easy to work with. Make sure to get an estimated ship date from them when or shortly after your order. One time I had to query them when the expected date passed, but they were very apologetic and shipped promptly after my query.

-chris r.

Remember, ChampCar has no wheel size/width rule. The front-running older cars which are happy with a 23" tire are running 15x9/10's and a 245/40/15. The wider wheel/tire will last longer and run cooler, and as a bonus have more grip and be faster. I'd be looking at a 15x8 and 225 tire minimum.

4x114.3?  I have a set of 15x9s here in Jacksonville if you need to borrow them.

In reply to Stampie :

possibly, but more likely hes 4x110

In reply to 79rex :

4x110?  Y'all rotary types are a strange lot.

Yeah, 4x110.  Options for bigger wheels are custom, some steel circle track wheels, or the Konigs.  Again, I know I can go bigger in Champ if I feel like it, but we are looking for the easy/cheaper button initially until we know what we want to do after race weekend 1.  

If you find any, let me know. 

I'm currently looking at shipping some in from overseas. Not something you usually consider with tires!

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

If you find any, let me know. 

I'm currently looking at shipping some in from overseas. Not something you usually consider with tires!

I sent a message to Phil's Tire Service to check on the Nankang NS-2R.  I'll let you know what I find out.  

Shipping from overseas almost sounds reasonable right now.  Not sure the cost, but if it is under $70 a tire, then you could likely still get them for less than the aforementioned BFGoodrich tires from 1984.  

Would a 1-1.5" 4*100 adapter put you in Miata offsets?

nocones said:

Would a 1-1.5" 4*100 adapter put you in Miata offsets?

Probably, but a set of adapters and required wheels would be close to the Konigs.  Plus, I wouldn't be able to use the current 13s I have for rain tires.  

jmabarone said:

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

If you find any, let me know. 

I'm currently looking at shipping some in from overseas. Not something you usually consider with tires!

I sent a message to Phil's Tire Service to check on the Nankang NS-2R.  I'll let you know what I find out.  

Shipping from overseas almost sounds reasonable right now.  Not sure the cost, but if it is under $70 a tire, then you could likely still get them for less than the aforementioned BFGoodrich tires from 1984.  

I called Phil's last week, also about the nankang and they said they would ask but no guarantees. I haven't heard back yet, which I assume means bad news.

Speaking from experience....just move on from the rx7. Or at least upgrade to the GSL-SE brakes so that you're not blowing out the comically tiny front wheel bearings that get installed directly into the rotors every five hours. Bonus, that gets you a real five lug bolt pattern. When we went down this road we went with 4x100 adapters since we collectively had multiple sets of miata wheels laying around. That car lasted two races before we gave up on it after basically having to rebuild the whole car after each race, and the bearings in the rear end ate themselves towards the end of the second race.

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

jmabarone said:

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

If you find any, let me know. 

I'm currently looking at shipping some in from overseas. Not something you usually consider with tires!

I sent a message to Phil's Tire Service to check on the Nankang NS-2R.  I'll let you know what I find out.  

Shipping from overseas almost sounds reasonable right now.  Not sure the cost, but if it is under $70 a tire, then you could likely still get them for less than the aforementioned BFGoodrich tires from 1984.  

I called Phil's last week, also about the nankang and they said they would ask but no guarantees. I haven't heard back yet, which I assume means bad news.

Email back from Phil's said that the US only gets the AR-1 now.  So back to square zero, the scary square.  

You may want to look again at the GSL-SE brake design, dps.  84-85s have the "big bearing" design but the SE hub area is actually weaker than the standard style hub.  It is also 4x114.3, not a 5 lug.  There was a vendor that made an adapter for bolting on 2nd gen hubs onto the 84-85 hubs, so that is how you'd get 5 lug hubs. 

Your point is well heard though, hence the search for 13" tires.  I would rather use what I have and see if upgrading the RX7 is a rabbit we feel like running.  Going to the Konigs is looking like my best option right now.  Thanks everyone!  

dps214 said:

Speaking from experience....just move on from the rx7. Or at least upgrade to the GSL-SE brakes so that you're not blowing out the comically tiny front wheel bearings that get installed directly into the rotors every five hours. Bonus, that gets you a real five lug bolt pattern. When we went down this road we went with 4x100 adapters since we collectively had multiple sets of miata wheels laying around. That car lasted two races before we gave up on it after basically having to rebuild the whole car after each race, and the bearings in the rear end ate themselves towards the end of the second race.

GSL-SE have the same inner bearings as all other 1st-gens, same spindles and outer bearings as all '84-85, too.  And in 2022, your options for brake parts are used or nothing.

Bending all of the spindles I could locate was one of the reasons I changed the front suspension entirely in the black car.  Between two different parts stash purchases, I have about six or eight spare spindles for the red car, if I ever manage to get to drive it.

I have been working with Darkside developments in the UK over the past week or so. Their rep has been wonderful to work with via email, and he confirmed they both will ship me the tires and that they are in stock ready to go. 

So I ordered some a052's in 185/60r13. Shipping is a bit rough but overall it's not bad for a set of great tires. 

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

I have been working with Darkside developments in the UK over the past week or so. Their rep has been wonderful to work with via email, and he confirmed they both will ship me the tires and that they are in stock ready to go. 

So I ordered some a052's in 185/60r13. Shipping is a bit rough but overall it's not bad for a set of great tires. 

Do they have DOT stamps and 180TW?  

jmabarone said:

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

I have been working with Darkside developments in the UK over the past week or so. Their rep has been wonderful to work with via email, and he confirmed they both will ship me the tires and that they are in stock ready to go. 

So I ordered some a052's in 185/60r13. Shipping is a bit rough but overall it's not bad for a set of great tires. 

Do they have DOT stamps and 180TW?  

A052s are 200tw here. But I don't know if the incoming tires have the same stamps. I'll look and report back.

bluej (Forum Supporter) said:

84FSP said:

Check these guys out.  Well run business that is reasonable despite the shipping.

I presorted 13" for you.

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/us/performance/tyres-accessories/tyres/shop-by/diameter/13_inch/

If anyone does or has gotten DT to ship to the US recently, please share how that experience went. They stock tires I want at decent prices, while the corp us distro for same tires never has any in stock.

Also interested in DT experiences.  The Toyo Proxes CF2 in 185/60-13 looks like a potentially good Spitfire/GT6 tire.  Bummer that tire isn't offered in the US.

This just in:

Dot stamped 200tw yoko 185/60r13.

Ordered 4/28, recieved yesterday 5/8. Shipping worked out to about $60 per tire.

Overall I'm very happy.

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Doing God's work out here Robbie. Thank you for this. 

dps214 said:

Speaking from experience....just move on from the rx7. Or at least upgrade to the GSL-SE brakes so that you're not blowing out the comically tiny front wheel bearings that get installed directly into the rotors every five hours. Bonus, that gets you a real five lug bolt pattern. When we went down this road we went with 4x100 adapters since we collectively had multiple sets of miata wheels laying around. That car lasted two races before we gave up on it after basically having to rebuild the whole car after each race, and the bearings in the rear end ate themselves towards the end of the second race.

Huh.  We ran the stock brakes on our 80 and won a few races.  Did wheel bearings once a year when doing 3 races a year.

Car is still mostly competitive.  Ran a 219 at Watkins geln with a 13b swap.

Buy the Konig and then you can sell them for almost what you pay for them new.

You won't regret it.