Insight with 235/45R13 tires!

Guillermo · 06-06-2005, 09:24 PM

It's official,
235/45R13 Kumho V70 Race compound tires do fit on an insight without rubbing

http://www.insightracing.ca/gallery/TLMC/IMG_8092

Well if you remove the rear spats (skirts) and they do stick out the sides a little...
http://www.insightracing.ca/gallery/TLMC/IMG_8090

The diameter is about 10% smaller then OEM sized tires and the suspension is stiff enough that it doesn't compress enough to rub at auto-x events and track events.
http://www.insightracing.ca/gallery/TLMC/IMG_8093
http://www.insightracing.ca/gallery/TLMC/IMG_8094

The rims are 13x8 steel race rims that are heavy but it's hub centric and the offset is perfect because it's about 2mm away from rubbing on the inside

I bought these wheel used, and the tires are not very sticky anymore. But the wide tires sure help the Insight corner very well
:twisted:

These tires don't improve the fuel economy of the Insight

http://www.insightracing.ca/gallery/TLMC/IMG_8088

Rick · 06-06-2005, 11:55 PM

Now that is awsome! I bet she drives like she's on rails.

commuter · 06-07-2005, 01:37 AM

Guillermo,

Which tires do you like to run better, the V70's or the V710's? I absolutly love the 710's. I feel like I can drive up a wall.

Guillermo · 06-07-2005, 06:41 AM

The V710 tires are new I've only competed in one auto-x with them so they provide significantly more grip then the super wide but old V70 tires.

The V710 tires seem magical because I'm sure they can easily allow a stock Insight to pull over 1 G in corners.

I used the 235/45R13 tires at the Solo 1 track time trials and it was fun.
But the significant weight increase hurt my lap times. Specially since I later found that my lightweight 185/60R13 Toyo Rs on 8lb rims from last year have a rubber compound that is still soft and therefore has more grip!

Everytime I put these huge tires on my Insight at least half a dozen people tell me how awesome and agressive it makes the Insight look :twisted:

Guillermo · 06-07-2005, 10:29 PM

The 235/45R13 Kumho V70 Race compound tires on 13"x8" steel race rims weigh 36 lbs each which is less then I though they would.
The diameter of this tire is 21.1" compared to the 22.5" diameter of the OEM tire size, so it actually physically lowers the center of gravity of the Insight by 0.7" improving the handling even more