I'm shopping for a good dry weather single purpose autox tire for my 95 integra gs-r currently preparing for STS. I think I'm steering toward 16" wheels w/205-215/45 profile. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

 

Not going to find much in 16s. Everyone who runs STS uses 15" wheels and tires because there is a bigger selection of tires to choose from.

But if you want to stay with 16s: 215/45x16" Falken Azenis (old style - Rt-215), I think Kumho MXs also come in 16s, Toyo T1S in 205/45x16"

 

I'm pretty flexible at this point. I was leaning toward 16's just for looks but I have noticed the lack of selection of 16" tires. I see that edgeracing.com has a nice bundle package of 11.9lb flik wheels w/ 205/50/15 Falken Azenis sports mounted and balanced for $599 w/ hardware.

 

nevermind that price it was to good to be true. More like $769, and if I go with the better looking 5zigen wheel it'll be $999

 

Looks has nothing to do with how fast you drive. Although it might help you pyschologically. I've seen people with pretty crappy looking cars runs some impressive times.

 

The tire war isn't as significant to the EF hatch crew as it is to those of us running in STS/STX with a rather heavy (2800lb right now) car, ANY extra tire width is necessary. (no 225/35/15 unfortunately :P ) There are SEVERAL choices currently available and many more on the way...

Your choices:
The Falken Azenis RT-215 is available in 215/45 from vulcantire.com, and also most Discount Tire stores for around $98-110/tire, currently these are the benchmark tires in STS. Super responsive, but to people new to the sport the edge of adhesion comes and goes quickly, once off they are more difficult to recover. Require a water sprayer to keep cool, they last about 130-140 heat cycles, and then grip goes away FAST.

Hankook has rolled out the RS2 Z212, and it comes in a 225/45/16, the gain in sidewall height is 1.4-1.6mm. As grippy as the RT215s, not as responsive, sorta numb...but very easy to keep on the edge: they howl like a banshee, and very easy to bring back once over the limit. Reports from a local national caliber STS driver say they can overheat, but not as bad as the RT215s, they are available installed at your local Discount Tire @ $98/tire + disposal fees and 1/2 shipping.

Kumho MX's, I've never been them so I can't say first hand... unshaved, they aren't close to anything currently out, but shaved they appear to be really good, love high temperatures, and are virtually immune to heat cycling out.

The 'New' Azenis RT615 won't be out until Sept if we're lucky in 16", but they'll some in the 215/45/16 again, and if they are like their predecessors, they'll look like a 225+ tire. Again, they seem to be heat sensitive, but not as much, grip/responsive about the same as before, marginally more communicative about impending forays into the extreme.

The 4 tires I listed were flogged over a weekend (tested Sat, autocrossed Sunday) by the local ST* crowd, as well as by a professional test driver at a test center in San Antonio Texas. They were mounted on a Sentra Spec V with 17x7s.

Locally we have 2-3 Integras in STS, most run the 15's, for gearing reasons, but one swears by the RT215s in 215/45/16. There are other much much costlier options from Toyo and Advan...but at 150+/tire...I haven't bothered to learn more, so I can't share.

 

I appreciate the help you guys have provided. The reason I'm shopping for rims and tires so early in my autox experience is the fact that my Integra currently has 130k on the odometer and is still running w/ original everything (shocks, springs, axles, clutch, ect.....) I know to work on the driver before the car but I think getting my car back to a level of solid performance would make my driving experience much more enjoyable. I have a job that pays really really good, no kids, no girlfriend, no responsibilities outside of myself. WHY NOT!? Beside tires I'm thinkin new axles and new suspension (bushings, rear anti-roll bar, springs, shocks, the works) any suggestions there?

 

Ok, so you know the driver part....well obviously a year or two of working on the guy behind the wheel is good.
Otherwise, its how much ya got to spend?? I'm a fan of anyone that chooses to go their own route and develope what they got. So, for STS:

Get the engine checked out, replace all the wear items there:
All gaskets (including the head), timing belt, refresh the head maybe if ya got the time/money. My engine is at 144K (The last 30K have been to/from events, and track days), and right now I'm scrambling around hunting down leaks I never thought about when I started. Replace your pulleys with something lighter/underdrive while you are at it.

Wheels: the lightest, smallest diameter that are wide enough to support the widest tires you can find in that size...IE 15,16" by 7-7.5".

Tires: see above....something 215-225 wide, to keep up with the uber light EF HBs.

Suspension: Front and rear strut bars (skip lower tie bars not enough gain for the $), the biggest honkenest Rear sway bar you can find if its adjustable even better.

Koni yellows with GC coilovers: its been reported/understood you can maximally use 450lb/in springs on the off the shelf Koni's but a Koni sales rep claims, they can handle 550 for 2yrs. Get a complete set of the polyurethane bushings

Brakes: Some Brembo Blank rotors and Hawk HP+ pads'll work great and are reasonably cheap. Flush braking system with ATE super blue regularly and it'll be good all the time....

Intake/Header/Exhaust- whatever is out there for your application will do, I have no idea for 'Tegs.

Racing seats and a harness'll make a huge difference in your comfort at speed, but totally unnecessary...

 

the falken fk415 shaved is also a good option

<----contemplating 17x7.5 + 225/35/17 shaved hmmm...

 

For what car? Going that route on a Honda will just kill your torque and acceleration.