T'is the Season...

"JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t" (jawzx2)
03/30/2015 at 14:52 • Filed to: None

For tire purchase conundrums:

I'm running 15" MSW Type 23 wheels on my FieSTa with Michelin xIce xI3's mounted as my winter combo. It works. But I think that next year I will get a more aggressive snow tire. The Michelins have several faults (which I have ranted about before), the worst of which is extremely poor braking performance... but that can wait. Soon, however, the mud and snow will be gone and it'll be time to but some sticky summer meats on it again! I have the factory wheels with the Bridgestone RE050's mounted on them in the basement. The RE050s are "OK" right now, but will not pass inspection by the time August rolls around and the car is due. So, what to do?

1) Run the RE050s on the (delicate, and expensive, and heavy) factory rims (of note: one is slightly bent, but will balance true) and then replace them just before inspection with 1a) another set of RE050s (205/40-17) -They're a nice tire, I have no complaints, really- 1b) A set of much cheaper Pirelli P-Zero Neros, whith which I have no direct experience.

2) As above, but replace the tires (a or b) before the summer driving season starts.

3) Sell the 17" factory wheels and tires (sans TPMS sensors, which I will transfer)

and either 3a) Get a set of Dunlop Direzza Z-II Star-Specs or 3b) Toyo Proxes R1Rs in 205/50-15 to mount on the (15.7lb, and VERY strong) MSW wheels.

4) as above, but buy a set of either 4a) Sparco Drift 15" (15.2lbs) wheels, 4b) Enkei J10 15" (14.75lbs) wheels, or 4c) Sparco Asetto Gara 15" (13.8lbs) wheels.

4* No OZ Ultralegeras. Too expensive and delicate for Vermont roads.

5) ???? Your suggestions here!

DISCUSSION (13)

Textured Soy Protein > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 15:09

Keep your 15" wheels for winters. For summer, get 16" wheels and 205/45-16 Hankook RS-3s.

daender > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 15:13

Spacro Asetto Gara with ZII stars on them.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 15:15

I got 16" MSW type 85s and some BF Goodrich rubber. Keep in mind, stock classes for SCCA autocross require 200 TW minimum so your stock rubber is illegal to use. Mine have 340TW and have some nice tread design for the wet so I'm very much DD spec but it will still throw down on the track when called on.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Textured Soy Protein
03/30/2015 at 15:17

Heavier wheels. Though, I've had Motegi MR125s before, nice durable wheel... And the MSW Type 85s are both cheaper and lighter than I remember...

heh, tirerack Has 16" Asseto Garas in red on sale for only $99/ea. Red wheels on Molten Orange FieSTa... that might be just obnoxious enough to work ;)

The Ventus RS-3s are not cheap... it's amazing how much more expensive the 16" tires are than the 15s. :/

jariten1781 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 15:31

Wouldn't run 15s in the summer. Rumor has it they don't evacuate enough heat when you're pushing leading to lots of fade. I'm going to run the factory wheels until I kill the tires (at least one more full season, maybe two) then go to 16s. I hate 17s on this car...too heavy, too subject to pothole damage...

Textured Soy Protein > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 15:32

Hey $134 each at Tire Rack ain't bad at all. Well, I'd gladly pay that for tires for my 135is. Surprisingly I was able to get down in that range for my Grand Cherokee.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > jariten1781
03/30/2015 at 15:37

hmm, I hadn't thought of the heat dispersion angle... I wonder if it's really an issue? There's still quite a bit of air-space around the brakes with the MSWs, and I cant believe there's enough heat transfer to rim for the extra mass of aluminum to make that much difference...

but yes, I hate the 17"s too. Too heavy and prone to pothole warpage. The big wheels and narrow rubber look nice, if that's your thing, but It rides better, resists rim damage better, and lowers unsprung weight with a smaller wheel.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Textured Soy Protein
03/30/2015 at 15:41

I am a cheap bastard, and I just moved, so I have less budget than I might otherwise... But if I sell the factory wheels and tires for any sort of reasonable amount that will help...

jariten1781 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 15:46

Yeah, apparently when the ST rangers (or whatever they called those assholes who got free STs for a few months to drive around and make youtube videos) asked why the official winter package and recommended size in the owners manual was 16s rather than 15s when 15s fit with room to spare, the engineer said that they were getting noticeable fade in aggressive drive cycles in the heat and stated something to the effect of 'don't ever put 15s on the FiST'. Which of course I ignored and got 15" Asseto Garas as my winter wheels haha. Of course I don't plan on pushing my Blizzaks in 90 degree weather so I figure I'll be alright.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > jariten1781
03/30/2015 at 15:50

Interesting. I wonder if they mean 15" steelies? I could see the restricted airflow in a 15" steelie causing issues vs the more open 16", but a thin-spoke alloy will have much freer air flow... What are the rally guys putting on them?

edit: it looks like Team O'Neil is running 15s on dirt, and 16s on tarmac... i still find is a little hard to believe, but there maybe something to that...

jariten1781 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 16:17

Nah, the official winter package is alloys, pretty open ones too.

These are them:

Kinja'd!!!

ST Supplement says: 194/45 R16

And yep, I found it weird as well, but since I'm not willing to toss a set of wheels I'll let other people guinea pig it or just live with 16s as the engineers say.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2015 at 16:29

By my math the MSW type 85's with the Hankooks mounted will be about 2oz per corner lighter than the factory wheel and tire combo. The Motegis knock it down to a pound and a half lighter, and $200 more expensive) but if I go with 15"s I can knock of almost 4.5 lbs corner...

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > jariten1781
03/30/2015 at 16:45

The Fiestst.net track rats largely seem to run 15" wheels, but with stainless lines and racing fluid. There's a lengthy discussion that talks about melting the slider dust boots and getting some noticeable fade on a 90 degree day with 15" wheels around stock lines and fluid but potterfield race pads and r-compound tires. The guys who run stainless lines and ultra-temp fluid aren't having any problems with 15" wheels. Some of them run 16", but they all seem to agree that the cost savings on 15" tires is worth the expense of braided stainless flex lines and racing fluid.