Non-FI with 18x9.5 fronts?

[Namuna]

I'm thinking about the RPF1 18x9.5 +38 in square config. My car is a DD, running NA (not going FI anytime soon, if at all) with ST Coilovers and a 1" drop.

I know usually going to 18s is a hit to performance due to being heavier, particularly in 18x9.5 fitment, but these RPF1s at 18x9.5 are lighter than the stocks so that seems negated.

All thoughts, opinions and concerns welcome, more so if you're actually running with 18x9.5 fronts and non-fi.

thanks.

[gramicci101]

Are you going for performance or looks? What size tires are you looking to run? A number of people in the meaty tire thread are running 255 square, some of them are running 265 square.

The weight of the tire matters, too. A 255 is going to be heavier than a 215.

[Namuna]

Good point about the tires. I'm thinking 245s all around.

I'm going for looks...But with the absolute least amount of performance hit.

[gramicci101]

A 9.5 is a lot of wheel for a 245. You could do an 8.5 or a 9 and be just fine. Unless you want them slightly stretched. I don't think the RPF1 comes in an 18x8.5 or 18x9 though.
@Jive Turkey can probably shed more light on stuffing large wheels and tires under the car.

[Rocket.BRZ]

If your going for mostly looks I would just go with a width of 235 max preferably 225 and just space it out. I have 255-35-18 on my car but I am running about 300whp. Your going to take a huge it running a tire that wide.

[sdemo]

There's an entire thread dedicated to this topic.


I have 255s on my NA BRZ and it's fine. It's no different than having wide tires on a FI build - your steering will feel heavier and you'll have significantly more traction.

EDIT: Be aware, I saw a 3mpg decrease moving from stock tires to 255 Michelin PSS. If this is your DD and you require high MPG, wide may not be for you.

[Roxy86]

going from 225 to a 245 won't make much of a difference.

Depending on what type of tire, 245's are perfect for that wheel and offset with a drop.
My friend has the 245/35/18 S.Drives, and they're almost square with 9.5. I've seen few fr-s with 245/35/18 V12's where the stretch is more visible.

He did say this is mostly DD... being as slow as this car is... maximize the grip and have fun.

[hanabie]

Originally Posted by sdemo

There's an entire thread dedicated to this topic.


I have 255s on my NA BRZ and it's fine. It's no different than having wide tires on a FI build - your steering will feel heavier and you'll have significantly more traction.

EDIT: Be aware, I saw a 3mpg decrease moving from stock tires to 255 Michelin PSS. If this is your DD and you require high MPG, wide may not be for you.

this...
also used 255 squared on 9.5
9.5 too much? lol if you want the concave, you better look for 9.5. Less than that, they are pretty much flat.

[Namuna]

thanks for all the input everyone.

Originally Posted by sdemo

There's an entire thread dedicated to this topic...

The other thread doesn't specify for non-FI though. If I was going FI, I wouldn't be as concerned about any performance hits with going bigger/wider wheels vs. stock.

[s2d4]

Originally Posted by hanabie

if you want the concave, you better look for 9.5. Less than that, they are pretty much flat.

??

[Jive Turkey]

non-fi vs fi, that argument is pretty dumb IMO.

you're adding more rotational mass, period. so its obvious some negative effects will be felt. what does it matter if its FI or not...the car will feel differently in both applications.

a 245 will be stretched unless you get a brand of tire that runs wide. i would go ATLEAST 255.

i was one of the first to run a very aggressive meaty setup and sure there is some performance loss that is felt, its mostly in 1st-2nd. but i'm hardly ever in those gears going WOT. on a entrance ramp, twisty road and especaily on track it really does not feel slugish by any means. i love it dearly and the amount of speed i can carry through a corner is mind boggling.

bottom line is...stop focusing on being so nit picky, and setup the car to how you want. in this case you're going for looks, and it will look good if you have a meaty tire, not a stretched tire. if its stretched it will jsut look off unless you slam the car (something i dont recommend if you like to drive)

feel free to look thorugh my thread, and there is an entire thread dedicated to meaty tire fitment. so check that out.

[Namuna]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

non-fi vs fi, that argument is pretty dumb IMO.

you're adding more rotational mass, period. so its obvious some negative effects will be felt. what does it matter if its FI or not...the car will feel differently in both applications.

Yes, but how much of that difference in feel is because of the added power from being FI? What matters (or what I'm asking if it matters) is the extra power that's at play when you've got an FI 86.

I know someone who just recently swapped out his wheels from staggered 18x9.5/18x8.5 down to 18x8 square, because he felt like he'd lost the nimble feeling of his 86 going that wide. I just wonder if having a more powerful 86 (via FI) would've offset or altogether negated that feeling. if so, then there's bias going on when FI folks give opinions on their wheel setups vs. what folks would think if non-FI with the same setups.

I apologize for asking a dumb question, but seeing as how expensive buying wheels/tires is, I'd rather ask the dumb question and learn what I need to...Than to keep guessing and buy out of ignorance and regret it.

[Jive Turkey]

all i have is a tune/intake/catback. the big wheels/tires and a lot done to the suspension/bushings and i wouldn't trade it for the world. i have an absolute blast and its not slow by any means IMO.

if your'e local come for a ride in mine to get the idea for yourself. i'm at @AZP Installs every saturday as well.