Got a track related question? I'll try to answer.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Kiske

Had my first track day today. Really re-fell in love with the car. For my first time out I decided to keep the stock equipment and tires. I was really suprised with how well the car did on them in a track enviorment.

Went out with all off (hold down trac for 3+seconds) and am glad I did. The car was very predicitible and I felt much better. Only had the tc light flash once when I had to yeild to another infront of me completely screwing up my rythem and line.

My question. On the track I was at there is one turn in which you come out of a "S" into a very slow left hand turn (around 30 degree angle.) In this turn I could hit the apex however to do so I had to drop into 2nd gear. All the instructors told me to just waste the turn, throw it away and just focus on getting through it slowly and back on the gas as quickly as possible. Making it though the turn I come put somewhere low 2500-3000 rpm range way out of the BRZ's idea rpm range. Should I go ahead and dropped into first gear? Comming out of the turn felt like the slowest thing on the track.

1st is fine if you're that low.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nyfries

Doesn't lighter rims really make that much of a difference to a beginner? Have a chance to grab a set of 17x9 rota torque. Seems to be slightly lighter than stock but def heavier than the rpf1 I wanted. It is also half the price. Does the weight saving of the rpf1 warrant another $600? Money that could be use to put towards nice tire?

You'll notice it, even street driving. Would you notice if you were driving a car with more power?

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by CSG David

Bent so many RPF1s...

I didn't know they bent so easy. I guess they aint no better than Rotas... not surprising as the RPF1s are only $1k too and also just mere cast alloy

...more reason to try and find some 17" RKRs

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by fooddude

I didn't know they bent so easy. I guess they aint no better than Rotas... not surprising as the RPF1s are only $1k too and also just mere cast alloy

...more reason to try and find some 17" RKRs

It's more a result of making a wheel as light as possible. When you're doing heavy stress testing, you're bound to break things, including wheels.

[nyfries]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

It's more a result of making a wheel as light as possible. When you're doing heavy stress testing, you're bound to break things, including wheels.

So really 17 inch rota are better for this price? It's cheaper only slightly heavier in some cases (most still lighter than stock) and this a little stronger? Not the mention this is cheaper? Can this be? I been saving up for the rpf1 the whole time

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nyfries

So really 17 inch rota are better for this price? It's cheaper only slightly heavier in some cases (most still lighter than stock) and this a little stronger? Not the mention this is cheaper? Can this be? I been saving up for the rpf1 the whole time

I'd never rock a Rota.

No, the rpf1 is still the best value.

I'd bet the lifespan of a Rota under our testing would be much shorter.

I've never bent a volk or bbs wheel before.

[mit_peid]

Assuming the use of the same high performance tire compound, what do you gain from going with the OEM 17x7+48 215/45/17 sizing to the popular 17x9+35 245/40/17 sizing?

[EAGLE5]

How does RPF1 toughness compare to OEM toughness?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

How does RPF1 toughness compare to OEM toughness?

I'd imagine marginally better. We haven't really used the OEM rims on track...

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by mit_peid

Assuming the use of the same high performance tire compound, what do you gain from going with the OEM 17x7+48 215/45/17 sizing to the popular 17x9+35 245/40/17 sizing?

More heat capacity, more cornering grip, more rolling resistance and more rotational inertia.

[mit_peid]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

More heat capacity, more cornering grip, more rolling resistance and more rotational inertia.

So in other words, you gain some capability on the track, but you'd probably lose some off-the-line acceleration and may impact MPG a bit (and I guess obviously the car looks better with the wider wheels/tires).

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by mit_peid

So in other words, you gain some capability on the track, but you'd probably lose some off-the-line acceleration and may impact MPG a bit (and I guess obviously the car looks better with the wider wheels/tires).

Precisely. You have to balance everything; more is not always better.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by fooddude

I didn't know they bent so easy. I guess they aint no better than Rotas... not surprising as the RPF1s are only $1k too and also just mere cast alloy

...more reason to try and find some 17" RKRs

I think RPF-1's are manufactured using MAT technology (i.e., flow-form cast). They should be about 10-15% lighter than a comparable strength gravity-cast wheel like Rota.

Whether that 10-15% matters is the question.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by fooddude

I didn't know they bent so easy. I guess they aint no better than Rotas... not surprising as the RPF1s are only $1k too and also just mere cast alloy

...more reason to try and find some 17" RKRs

Originally Posted by nyfries

So really 17 inch rota are better for this price? It's cheaper only slightly heavier in some cases (most still lighter than stock) and this a little stronger? Not the mention this is cheaper? Can this be? I been saving up for the rpf1 the whole time

While RPF1s bend, Rotas will crack. Pick a failure mode: engineered failure or uncontrolled catastrophic failure. Casting parts is an engineered manufacturing process. It's not as simple as just pouring molten metal into a mold and expect great results, the method in which you inject the metal into the mold needs to be thought out as it "cools" in the mold. If done improperly, you get air pockets and non-uniform cooling/hardening of the material. On top of that, heat treatment of the product needs to be carefully regulated to reduce/relieve the intergranular stresses that could cause epic dislocations resulting in a crack due to load paths from improper casting. While Rota is actually a slight tier higher than the other replica brands, it does not exactly have a stellar track record either. When people buy into failures, it just reinforces the fact that "it's okay to mess up for the sake of others' safety". That's a huge flaw in engineering ethics that's difficult to support.