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Car info:
1997 Civic DX Hatchback
Maybe 90 whp if you wish hard enough (stock non V-tech SOHC 1.6L motor with CAI, header, exhaust...about it)
Stock interior save for more supportive driver side aftermarket seat
Footwork:
Hyperflex master polybushing kit
Eibach Prokit strut and spring combo, basically a good street upgrade nothing fancy.
stock front swaybar, no rear swaybar
No braces or strut bars or anything like that front or rear
Stock brake calipers and drums but stainless braided lines.
The catch:
I have been trying different wheel/tire combos for the last year to see what would be the most comfortable, predictable and easy to control. Today I think I found it.
In the past I've used (4) 205-50-15 Kumho street dry performance tires on 15x7 rims which worked ok for what they were but lacked grip and understeered a bit.
I switched to (4) 205-50-15 Kumho Comp tires on 15x7 rims which yielded excellent grip but rather severe understeer.
I switched back to the street tires for comparisson to see if I missed anything, but they behaved as before.
So I came to the idea of trying comp tires in the front and street tires in the back.
Todays setup:
Front - (used) Hoosier R6 205-50-15 on 15x7 +30 offset (unconfirmed) 32psi
Rear - Kumho ASX 205-50-15 on 15x6.5 +40 offset 36psi
Clearly this setup was odd but oh so much more fun to drive. No understeer at all, if fact it felt very balanced and predictable. Very easy to control and recover from a bit of overexcitement without snap oversteer. I'm glad to have finally found something simple that works for my equipment and driving style without spending a mint. I can't get the smile off my face!
1997 Civic DX Hatchback
Maybe 90 whp if you wish hard enough (stock non V-tech SOHC 1.6L motor with CAI, header, exhaust...about it)
Stock interior save for more supportive driver side aftermarket seat
Footwork:
Hyperflex master polybushing kit
Eibach Prokit strut and spring combo, basically a good street upgrade nothing fancy.
stock front swaybar, no rear swaybar
No braces or strut bars or anything like that front or rear
Stock brake calipers and drums but stainless braided lines.
The catch:
I have been trying different wheel/tire combos for the last year to see what would be the most comfortable, predictable and easy to control. Today I think I found it.
In the past I've used (4) 205-50-15 Kumho street dry performance tires on 15x7 rims which worked ok for what they were but lacked grip and understeered a bit.
I switched to (4) 205-50-15 Kumho Comp tires on 15x7 rims which yielded excellent grip but rather severe understeer.
I switched back to the street tires for comparisson to see if I missed anything, but they behaved as before.
So I came to the idea of trying comp tires in the front and street tires in the back.
Todays setup:
Front - (used) Hoosier R6 205-50-15 on 15x7 +30 offset (unconfirmed) 32psi
Rear - Kumho ASX 205-50-15 on 15x6.5 +40 offset 36psi
Clearly this setup was odd but oh so much more fun to drive. No understeer at all, if fact it felt very balanced and predictable. Very easy to control and recover from a bit of overexcitement without snap oversteer. I'm glad to have finally found something simple that works for my equipment and driving style without spending a mint. I can't get the smile off my face!
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