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      04-24-2014, 09:20 AM   #1
intoflatlines
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Autocross and wide wheels/tires - do you tape?

I swear I posted this last night but I may have closed out. If I did post and a mod deleted it for breaking a rule, please let me know and I will not post it again.

This year will be my first season of autocross with my wider/stickier tires and wider wheels with lower offset. 245/40/18x9+42 and 275/35/18x10+25. Not incredibly aggressive, but much wider than the stock setup.

Because of how much further out they poke coupled with the fact that one of the parking lots that we use is in pretty poor condition (lots of loose asphalt pieces and dirt/gravel), I'm worried that the tires will fling up a lot of debris, damaging the paint considerably.

Do you guys tape the sides of your car for events. Since it's autocross I'm not concerned about the headlights/bumper, but it makes sense to tape up the sideskirts, front fenders below the roundel, and maybe the back corner of the rear bumper... Thoughts?

I don't want to look like an idiot with my tape and I don't want to waste time/effort if it won't make a difference, but I don't want to have rock chips all over the side of my car either.

Some pics for reference:







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      04-24-2014, 12:04 PM   #2
The HACK
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First, who cares what others think? I'm pretty sure I've looked like a total douche to some random observers and other family and friends to go drive 8 hours to a track, then drive around in a circle some more wasting gas and consumables, then drive 8 hours back...And PAY for that privilege. Frankly if you're going to go through life worrying about what other think of what you do...Well, you won't be a happy man I'll just leave it at that.

Second, the majority of the chips and scrapes I get from driving on the track came when I go through turn 2 at Auto Club Speedway at over 120mph, having to closely tail the guy in front and can't afford to ease off the throttle. I don't think at AX speeds the rocks picked up will do much damage to the paint. With no traffic in front of you, and at a top speed of around 60mph, I don't think there'll be much of a chance of serious paint damage.

But then, what do I know. I don't AX that much, certainly not in the MZ4 Coupe. If it'll put your mind at ease, tape it to your heart's content.
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      04-24-2014, 05:12 PM   #3
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I've never taped for an autocross and I run a similar setup for tires. I haven't really noticed any paint damage on the side skirts and I have the slightly wider aero skirts. I've done a few at Maywood and a couple at Tire Rack.
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      04-24-2014, 07:28 PM   #4
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When was the last time you went to Maywood, have you been there lately? That place is getting worse and worse...
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      04-24-2014, 08:41 PM   #5
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I would tape the fender wells behind the wheels. I'll try to post pics, but I actually have clear bra here.

The HACK, I don't think he is concerned with front damage, just rocks getting kicked up by his own tires.

This is a pretty good example, this is the 3rd run/heat group late in the afternoon at autocross and you can see rocks easily getting kicked up...(all the specks)



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      04-24-2014, 11:43 PM   #6
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In 8+ years of tracking and some AX, and most of the last 7 with 245f/275r R comps, I don't have a single chip on my fenders behind the wheels. There are plenty of track rash on the front bumper, the fender in front of the front wheel, and the hood.

Maybe I'm just lucky. Or rocks kicked up by tires don't really do that much damage since they'll likely strike the paint at such a sharp angle that the chances of damaging paint is unlikely.

I would tape to avoid marring the side skirts and fenders when you hit the cones. Not from rocks kicked up by the tires IMO.
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      04-25-2014, 03:00 AM   #7
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on track i wouldn't on AX i think i would as the surfaces seem terrible, very loose and lots of loose rocks, you don't see this at the race track tbh..... i would for piece of mind, it takes 5 mins really to tape the edges up...
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      04-25-2014, 05:36 PM   #8
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I would tape up the front in case you hit a cone. Also, if you value the look of your paint, go for it. Tape is cheap, your time is free, getting repainted is neither.

This is me standing out like a mofo.
_ATE0732 by Nate4641, on Flickr
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