I will be autocrossing this sunday and may borrow my friends kumho mx tires. He has two 245's and two 225's mounted on 8.5" and 8.0" rims. I was thinking of trying the 245's in front to help combat understeer but do you think this will be too much and cause too much oversteer?

I'm not concerned with rubbing as I will be checking for that prior to the event and I am more worried about the oversteer because this event is held on a small parking lot. I would hate to oversteer off the track and hit something over than cone.

 

What kind of suspension set-up do you have? I've tightened up the rear as much as I can and still rarely have oversteer problems at the track. I'm just guessing because I've never tried that with the Maxima, but I think you would be OK depending on your suspension set-up. If it was too much you could reduce the rear anti-sway bar a bit or remove it all together if you have one.

 

So far I have only experienced understeer but I have since added an LSD and will be trying these tire sizes so I thought it might be overkill but probably not. I guess I'll find out on sunday. BTW I have a front strut bar and progress springs mounted on KYB AGX. No sway bar yet.

 

In a slower speed confined course all I do is plow. So I say go for it, and seriously let us know how it worked out.

 

definitely try it at least. if you don't like it, make sure you have a lugwrench and jack handy.

 

I doubt you'll spin. The Kuhmo MX's really stick and you'll be hard pressed to brake rear 225's loose. Take slaloms easy for the first run and see how it goes. If you get any heat in the rears they might stick even more.

I'm running S-02's 225f/205r myself and can't brake the rears loose because the rubber's just too sticky for my driving style. Gonna try some real low pressures since 34lbs-44lbs doesn't seem to make a diff.

 

I too have doubts about spinning it, at least not as long as the front and rear tires are of at least similar performance intent (hint: there's a possible tuning feature hiding in there). With a beam rear axle on a FWD car there isn't normally anything else going on back there to compromise the cornering grip (e.g. significant camber change or acceleration tractive forces). I suppose that you could spin it in a turn using the handbrake, but that wouldn't really be a tire issue.

Norm

 

Too much oversteer? No such thing

 

My point exactly. Loose = fast. Handling that *makes* you have to get on the throttle (instead of lifting) is a lot of fun if your car is set up correctly. Or better yet, a little throttle lift oversteer followed by stomping on the throttle (on FWD of Course). Woo Hoo!

Damn! Now I want to the track

 

Try running bald T1-Ss in the back and almost new ones in the front, that will get you to spin if you aren't careful hehe. I've got quite a drift exhibition on video from my last time at the track and it wasn't even on purpose.