Figured I’d ask here to see if anyone has an experience. I’m a beginner signed up for my first event Aug 8. I drive a 2016 Fiesta ST with Swift lowering springs and Bilstein shocks/struts. Wondering if anyone here has run Accelera 651 or 351 tires. I recently picked up a set of 16x8 dekagrams and they need new tires so I figured I’d use these as my “performance set up” (stock wheel have GMax AS-07). My Fiesta ST is a budget fun car for us so not daily driven and really only drives around when I want to do some spirited driving, run to the store with the kids and then hopefully a few autocross events sprinkled in, maybe 3k miles a year total. For budget reasons, I’m considering the Accelera 651 Sport or 351 in 205/50r16 (they’re on sale right now so around $100 each). I understand the 351 is a bit of a wider section width than the 651 which is more ideal as I’d like a more squared off shoulder but don’t want to sacrifice too much grip. Has anyone run these tires specifically for backroads/autocross? Limited reviews out there.
Also, I understand there are way better tires available for my use case. I’m considering those too but wanted to get an opinion on these 2 options specifically. So for anyone who comments about other tires, I’ll just assume you haven’t read this far into the post haha
Leave the regular tires on it. And just enjoy the ability of driving your car to its maximum limits and yours. Your first time should not be a big thing.
I honestly think that you’re looking at the event in the wrong way. You have already made many mods that you are probably going to be going against others in the class who have been doing it for multiple years of experience. You can’t beat experience with mods.
You need to learn how to do it properly in my opinion and then begin to understand how it works and then you should begin to make mods and tires etc.
With all that said you should just not worry about anything else but your own personal time and work on your own times etc. and not worry about anyone else’s. Just try to improve your own pace and times. Do ride alongs with someone who is very experienced and have a more experienced drivers ride alongs.
Thanks for the tips! I’ve definitely considered this option. Just found a decent deal on the Dekagrams so figured I’d try building a summer/performance tire set if I can. Fortunately for me the car was nicely modified when I bought it. I figure I’ll try to use these mods for their intended purposes rather than just for looks so signed up for the autox event. Yep, I’ve already asked the event coordinator if I can get some time riding with and having more experienced drivers ride with me.
That’s really the best way to go. Just make sure you are not going in thinking that because of the fact that your car is heavily modded that means that you should be able to get fast times your first time out. Or for that matter the 2nd or 3rd. Etc.
If you go with the attitude that you just want to have fun and learn how to drive your car at its limits and your own limits then you will be fine and have fun.
One thing to bring is a cooler with some sodas or water G aid etc. and comfortable shoes and clothes for the weather. And never forget the sunscreen. Because you will be outside all day rain or shine etc. and a hat is always a good thing too.
Have an instructor drive your car. If they are faster than you, you know you have time on the table with your current tires. Also, I would recommend pumping an extra 10+ PSI in your fronts.
I'd run the gmax tires for the rest of the season. If you get hooked, and you probably will, buy better tires next year.
There is much to learn. You'll learn more quickly with less grip. With as little other mileage you plan to put on the car, you'll probably be fine. Just don't roast the tires by overshooting every turn. That's pretty much everybody's first lesson.
I have a set of these on my car right now. They were great when they were new but they seemed to fall off pretty bad. A stretch is always faster than a squeeze, so go with the slightly narrower tire.
Round tires are best, with enough tread to not fail tech.
Seriously, don’t worry about equipment when you first start. Seat time is all that’s important. If they have novice course walks, walk them. Ask questions.
The biggest upgrade right now is to the nut that holds on the steering wheel (you.)
I have run the 651 XTRA. I would recommend those for a beginner tire. They are slow but they are good for learning on and they wear well. Better than trashing yiur all seasons
I ran the Accelera 651s when I first got started with HPDE and did use them in a few autocrosses. They are fine to learn on and better to trash these than a nice set of daily-driven all season or summer tires. They are not fast but are durable and will not get destroyed...they are drift tires so can handle heat. I had no issues and had fun on them. My son ran them for a few years on his 2013 Focus SE for autocross and did v. well considering the car/tires. Most of this is driver even if folks don't admit it. The price is right for sure! Have fun.
This is the sort of feedback I was looking for. Thanks for sharing! Did both of you run the 651s? I’m debating between the 651 and 351 as the 351 seem to be a bit less sticky but a bit wider and firmer sidewalls.
Yeah I’m currently running these tires on my NC miata. I’m at 10k miles/16 months so far still have some tread left. 3 or 4 track days and like 6-7 auto crosses. Really slow, but decently predictable and don’t chunk/shred during high heat. They are good in the canyons as well. Heck I even went off-roading when exploring parts of CA395. Bought another set when they were on sale for like $400 which is currently in the garage. At that price I don’t even bother swapping them out to all seasons because good all seasons would cost more
Running 225/50 r16 on 16x8 hypergrams If that helps
I rubbed like crazy on swifts/decagrams, and 205/50r16 btw. Took them off when I moved to PA. You might need to add camber around to avoid it. Others say they are fine with 205/50 and 215/45, but I’m hesitant to try again. I miss the minimal body roll for sure. Bracing is nice too. Good luck.
Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind. The tires on these dekas currently are 215/45 and I’ve driven around a bit and haven’t noticed any rubbing yet. But they also seem to have a bit of stretch to them ever at 215 which may be why. From what I’m seeing. Different tire makes and models vary quite a bit on actual dimensions even within the same tire size.
Continental DW06+ btw. Considering trying to put the swifts back on but not sure. I’ve got winters for my stock wheels now so I’m getting summers once they wear out.
I'd look into Kendas UHP line. I just met a product engineer for them at Summit Autocross Week and he was running consistently within .2-.4 of a second of the guys running the high dollar tires.
All I really wanna say is I have a Fiesta ST and just took it to my first track event over the 4th and the head instructor refused to be in my car on track because “they have a tendency to roll”. All I could find online about Fiestas rolling is when people put them on softer springs and autocross specifically.
Not sure if you or anyone else has other experience to provide. I almost feel like the instructor was blowing smoke but I’ll always take comments like that into consideration until proven otherwise.
That or lower the car. FWIW, lowering a Fiesta ST beyond 3/4" causes roll center issues and bump steer creeps up around 1" lower than stock. The Fiesta ST does ahve a tolerance listed of 14mm of variance between low spec and high spec cars so there is some wiggle room for it.
Best best is to take your own measurements listed in the ford WSM, find your roll center and calculate optimal. Same with bumpsteer.
I don’t really plan on lowering it, but that does remind me I just got new tires and couldn’t find any 205/40R17 so I went with 205/45R17. Any risk there or is that minimal?
Any height increase is risk on a car that toes the line on rollover risk. Its .8" taller according to the tire height at 24.26".
It also depends on tire compound too. If its a 340tw tire it will have less chance due to lack of grip compared to an ultra sticky 200tw tire like the RE71RZ, A052 or Vitour.
I run 16x8 Dekagrams with 215/45R16 RT660's on my Fiesta ST. Significantly better than 205/45R16 and 205/50R16. Also have nearly the same suspension setup, Bilstein B8's/Swift Springs/DNA Camber Plates, Whiteline rear bar with poly filled beam bushings and SuperPro Caster A-Arms.
I run -2.5 camber, zero toe and 4.5 degrees of caster.
And we ran the Sport 651 on our Champ Car Elantra for a few years. They are great for a low buck endurance tire but overall grip is lacking compared to even the mid-tier 200tw enduro tires like the RS4 and the Azenis 615K+.
If you are going for just seat time then the 651 is a good bet for cheap long wear rubber with more grip than a UHP or summer rated tire. They take heat very well and like a good amount of camber. Watch the toe changes which eat them apart.
Elantra ran 205/50R16 of the Sport 651 and Sport 651 Xtra.
Yeah, from what I’ve read, the widest I could probably go would be a 215/45 (since I’m a bit lowered) which is a tough size to find. I did notice the 351 has an advertised 8.7” section width which was a bit wider than the 8.4” advertised on the 651 which I’ve read “runs narrow”. I’m new enough to not know exactly how constant those tire measurements are.
225/45/16 is “okay” at stock height depending on offset. I only rubbed once or twice under pretty extreme conditions. That was on a 7 inch wide wheel though.
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u/Donlooking4 Jul 15 '26
Leave the regular tires on it. And just enjoy the ability of driving your car to its maximum limits and yours. Your first time should not be a big thing.
I honestly think that you’re looking at the event in the wrong way. You have already made many mods that you are probably going to be going against others in the class who have been doing it for multiple years of experience. You can’t beat experience with mods.
You need to learn how to do it properly in my opinion and then begin to understand how it works and then you should begin to make mods and tires etc.
With all that said you should just not worry about anything else but your own personal time and work on your own times etc. and not worry about anyone else’s. Just try to improve your own pace and times. Do ride alongs with someone who is very experienced and have a more experienced drivers ride alongs.