Wheel advice

[Fast_Freddy]

Originally Posted by BrokenNocturne

Can I have some thoughts on these rims? I like the way they look, but I imagine there are folks here that know way more about choosing good rims for you vehicle than I do...

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...nt&showRear=no

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder...

[Shadow Blue]

Originally Posted by Fast_Freddy

I forgot to mention that I'm compromising some function for form too. Finish has to be hyper black. Current choices are Rota G-Force 17x8 +48, Torque +48 and Grid 2 +38. I have yet to find a 17x9 in HB that won't poke too much for my taste.

Where does your knowledge lie regarding fitment and function? What resources do you have regarding finishing work?

[Fast_Freddy]

Originally Posted by Shadow Blue

Where does your knowledge lie regarding fitment and function? What resources do you have regarding finishing work?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7535

I'm not questioning anyone's advice on which wheel is optimal for what they perceive my needs to be. I'm just looking for wheels that I like and couldn't care less if anyone else does. IMO hyper black will look great with my red FRS and I'm not a fan of the RPF1 style even if it was available in HB.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Fast_Freddy

Good job of finding that needle in a haystack! That example is far from the more typical 2-3lbs per corner. So much for the accuracy of Tire Rack's wheel weights.

??? You have personally measured RPF1 17x8 and 17x9 weights? 2-3 lb. difference is not any more "typical" than a .3 lb. difference. Typical difference is be ~1-1.5 lb. A difference you would never be able to detect, even with a stopwatch.

There is no avoiding some increase in rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag with wider tires.

Aero drag difference between 225s on 8" wheels and 245s on 9" wheels is negligible, probably small enough to be lost in the noise if you did wind tunnel testing (I studied this a bit before getting 245/275 Pilot Supersports for my Texas Mile run in the FD). It's even possible that aero drag would be greater with 225/45s due to higher ride height. Rolling resistance difference, likewise negligible/unmeasurable, and not necessarily in favor of the 225s either. I wouldn't be surprised if the actual difference between 225/45 and 245/40 were smaller than the tire to tire variability in the same size.
These are all the same make/model tire.

Thanks for your help but I have zero interest in RPF1s unless they're hyper black.

I forgot to mention that I'm compromising some function for form too. Finish has to be hyper black. Current choices are Rota G-Force 17x8 +48, Torque +48 and Grid 2 +38. I have yet to find a 17x9 in HB that won't poke too much for my taste.

FWIW, this site lists the same 19 lb weight for the Torque in 17x8 and 17x9. http://www.racinglab.com/rowht1.html 17x9 is +30 offset, though, but anyway...

In your example the extra contact patch is definitely not worth the extra weight, IMO.

Definitely worth the extra 1.3 lb. per corner. There won't be any detectable downsides to the 245/40-17 on 17x9 vs. 225/45-17 on 17x8 setups I mentioned, and there would be a detectable improvement in lateral grip and reduction in autoX/lap times. I would bet money.

[Shadow Blue]

Originally Posted by Fast_Freddy

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7535

I'm not questioning anyone's advice on which wheel is optimal for what they perceive my needs to be. I'm just looking for wheels that I like and couldn't care less if anyone else does. IMO hyper black will look great with my red FRS and I'm not a fan of the RPF1 style even if it was available in HB.

I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying. Anyway, best wishes on your search.

[Fast_Freddy]

Originally Posted by Shadow Blue

I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying. Anyway, best wishes on your search.

Probably so but thanks anyway. I ended up compromising on 17x8 +38 Rota Grids in hyper black. I couldn't find a 17x9 wheel I liked in hyper black with an acceptable (to me) offset.

[RehabJeff86]

Originally Posted by Shadow Blue

You need 9 inches on the pavement for maximum grip.

Not true for FRS, u get slower track lap time once u passed 8" width and 225 tire width, but for AutoX its better due to lower speed and more acute corning angles

[MightyMeeple]

Originally Posted by Fast_Freddy

Probably so but thanks anyway. I ended up compromising on 17x8 +38 Rota Grids in hyper black. I couldn't find a 17x9 wheel I liked in hyper black with an acceptable (to me) offset.

Please post em up on this thread once you have them mounted!

[Fast_Freddy]

Originally Posted by MightyMeeple

Please post em up on this thread once you have them mounted!

Not the best photos but all I could manage for now.

[mwjcyber]

Originally Posted by Fast_Freddy

For me at least, it's function over form. 18's look good but make a slow car even slower.

I'd like to see the data that supports your claim "18's make a car slower."

From what I've seen there are lots of 18's lighter than stock, so that argument is invalid. Plus if you look at the how "wheel weight affects performance" thread you'd see that wheels&tires only have a 1.7:1 unsprung:sprung weight ratio; which is hardly significant. Also, recently FT86SpeedFactory's FR-S posted up the fastest lap times at FT86Fest...on 18's. Lastly magazine testing of miatas with the same tire on wheels of different weights actually found the heavier wheels resulted in faster lap times.

I'm not advocating people to buy heavy wheels, but you might want to reconsider regurgitating the annoyingly rampant misinformation on the ft86club forums that +sizing your wheels or adding a couple of unsprung pounds somehow makes the ft86 substantially slower.

[Fast_Freddy]

Originally Posted by mwjcyber

I'd like to see the data that supports your claim "18's make a car slower."

From what I've seen there are lots of 18's lighter than stock, so that argument is invalid. Plus if you look at the how "wheel weight affects performance" thread you'd see that wheels&tires only have a 1.7:1 unsprung:sprung weight ratio; which is hardly significant. Also, recently FT86SpeedFactory's FR-S posted up the fastest lap times at FT86Fest...on 18's. Lastly magazine testing of miatas with the same tire on wheels of different weights actually found the heavier wheels resulted in faster lap times.

I'm not advocating people to buy heavy wheels, but you might want to reconsider regurgitating the annoyingly rampant misinformation on the ft86club forums that +sizing your wheels or adding a couple of unsprung pounds somehow makes the ft86 substantially slower.

Thanks for clearing that up dude! I had this crazy idea that heavier wheels had some negative effect on performance but now I see that's simply not true. Obviously if 18's perform better than 17's as your examples show, then 19's or even 20's would perform even better!

That's why I love this forum. So much expert knowledge.

[mwjcyber]

Originally Posted by Fast_Freddy

Thanks for clearing that up dude! I had this crazy idea that heavier wheels had some negative effect on performance but now I see that's simply not true. Obviously if 18's perform better than 17's as your examples show, then 19's or even 20's would perform even better!

That's why I love this forum. So much expert knowledge.

With that rational, why didn't you get 16's or even for that matter 15's?

Nice job making yourself look ignorant. Next time you try to debate a topic with someone, maybe prepare yourself with some facts or at least some intelligence.

[Fast_Freddy]

Originally Posted by mwjcyber

With that rational, why didn't you get 16's or even for that matter 15's?

Nice job making yourself look ignorant. Next time you try to debate a topic with someone, maybe prepare yourself with some facts or at least some intelligence.

LOL! What gave you the idea that I wanted to debate anything with you?

Anyway, thanks for the thread jack and better luck trolling elsewhere.

[Young_makaveli]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Enkei RPF1: 17x8 = 15.6 lb., 17x9 = 15.9 lb.

Michelin Pilot SuperSport: 225/45-17 = 22 lb., 245/40-17 = 23 lb.

1.3 lb. per corner

Ever so *slightly* better gearing and lower ride height with 24.7" 245/40s vs. the possibly/theoretically better mpg and ride with the 25" 225/45s!

This