Wheel Directory: Sparco Assetto Gara 17x7.5 +48
 

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So, I've spent a lot of cash recently on my new motorcycle and car and my SCUBA addiction and I just took my son to Europe to see the Monaco Grand Prix :) So, I figured new summer wheels/tires would be a "luxury" that can wait until next Spring.

Then I found what I think is a pretty good deal at Tirerack, 17x7.5 +48 Sparco Assetto Garra (made by OZ) + Sumitomo HTRZ III 225/45/17 for $1000 shipped. I went ahead and get the TPMS sensors since I'll want them in the long run anyway.

Good enough that I can have my cake and eat it too. I won't even take much of a loss if I change my mind and get something different next Spring. Pics here! Oh and BTW, no TPMS light yet even though I've been warned it will require a dealer reset for the new sensors in the wheels.

Mate good work on taking your son the the Monaco Grand Prix - How was it? I bet you had a ball... to be honest, wouldn't mind seeing some pics of that as well :)

cheers for the pass along - seems very cheap. be good to see what they look like.

In for pics.

I'll post GP pics later, here's a quick GoPro video and yes we were up in the cheap seats!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcU9F5z9paE&feature=g-upl"]monaco_GP.MP4 - YouTube[/ame]

Updated with pics in the 1st post.

just started SCUBA... it sure is an expensive hobby! i am pumped that i will be able to go diving again.. mr2 has no room for tanks

What's the finish like on the rims?

Very nice looking. Just a warning, if you decide to autocross, bring a spray bottle of water and soak those tires after every run. They grip fine on the road, but turn into complete greaseballs when you get any amount of heat into them.

WHY DOESN'T THIS THREAD HAVE MOAR VIEWS

I like em.. just wish they had 17x8!

Interesting, I read probably a hundred reviews or more including from track day guys, Auto-X, and even professional comparo's and none of them had anything bad to say about these tires in the dry. The weaknesses noted were wet grip and wear in comparison to the top of the max summer performance tire heap at 2x the cost. Some of the professional reviews mentioned that the III is a big improvement over the II and the fact that Sumitomo is owned by and takes advantage of Dunlop technology.

Honestly, good but not great. They look great from 3 feet away but some evidence of orange peel up close in a few places, particularly near the stem. Of course almost all cars have plenty of orange peel as well...

I've also heard Dunlop's Star Specs get greasy.

I've autocrossed IIIs and Star Specs on my M3. The IIIs get greasier than the Star Specs and they get there faster. I have a fair amount of camber in the back on the M3, and the insides of the tires were getting hot fast (Louisiana heat doesn't help). But you should monitor temperatures regardless of the tire. You don't want to be giving up time to hot tires!