Hello all!

Please no flames...I know this might come off as an amateur question...

I called Upgrade Motoring to get a quote on the new Volk RE30 wheels with tires for my 8. When I mentioned that many of you on the forum were running 18 x 9.5 with +38 offset and 255/40 tires, and that that was the best-looking setup (to my eyes) all around, they thought it was too aggressive and that I would have potential fitment issues.

He recommended 8.5's in the front and 9.5's in the rear with 225's and 245's or 245's and 265's max.

Will I have major issues with running 18 x 9.5 with 255/40 (+38 offset) all the way around? If so, why are so many people on the forum running this setup? What do I have to do to make it fit?

Or should I just go with 245's all around on 9.0's? I'm not a fan of staggering the wheels. I'm currently running Espelir GT springs which have lowered the car about an inch (seems like more in the front than the back).

Please give me some peace and understanding here!

Much appreciated,
Fil

the enkei rp-f1's some of us are running are 18x9.5 ET 45 not 38. tires for the enkei's are usually 265/35-18 or 275/35-18.

255/40-18 tires have a measured rim width of 9" (but the range is 8.5" to 10") so you'd be stretching them a bit, but i don't see why they wouldn't fit wheel wise.

So you're saying I can fit 265's or 275's in the front...that seems a little extreme...please explain.

i'm saying you can fit 255/40-18 all around on 18x9.5 ET 45. i'm not sure about ET 38. with a 38 offset you'd likely be in danger of rubbing since the wheel/tire edge extends out further.

some of us autox/track folk run wider tires as per the regulations in our classes. hence 265 or 275mm wide tires.

there is a lot of info on this topic in the archives so searching will help, but the noise ratio may be pretty high. ;)

I'm lowered ~1.1" front and ~.75" rear on RPF1s with 275/35 tires all around. No rubbing.

I'm lowered ~1.1" front and ~.75" rear on RPF1s with 275/35 tires all around. No rubbing.

thanks for the response... what size wheels? what offset?

thanks for the response... what size wheels? what offset?

www.good-win-racing.com/

Just find the RPF1s in the RX-8 section.

if the +45 rpf1 fits with a 275 tire all around then the +38 re30 should fit with no problem since the tire is 20mm narrower

the tire is 10mm narrower on each side and since the offset only pushed the wheel out an additional 7mm it will fit with no problem

should fit no problem

I don't want to run anything over 255...should I get the 18 x 8.5, 18 x 9.0 or 18 x 9.5 ?

Thanks for your help so far...I really don't wanna get the wrong wheels :)

I don't want to run anything over 255...should I get the 18 x 8.5, 18 x 9.0 or 18 x 9.5 ?

Thanks for your help so far...I really don't wanna get the wrong wheels :)


I will tell you this......... I am running 18 x 9.0 rims in the rear with 255/40/18's with Racing Beat lowering springs(1/2 inch) and I have a slight bit of rubbing when going over bumps of moderate size.

Right now..........upfront, I stayed with stock size 225/45/18 on 18 x 8.5 with same lowering springs and no issues.

Oh............my offset is +38 on all.

i have 18.95 40 offset in the back and once in a while i would get rubbing but its minor

likewise agree with everyone else here - should be fine!

the enkei rp-f1's some of us are running are 18x9.5 ET 45 not 38. tires for the enkei's are usually 265/35-18 or 275/35-18.

255/40-18 tires have a measured rim width of 9" (but the range is 8.5" to 10") so you'd be stretching them a bit, but i don't see why they wouldn't fit wheel wise.

So, then are you running 265s or 275s?

Do you have pics?

Mazurfer's pics look great with that +38 offset...do your wheels look much more "tucked in"?

I'm days away from pulling the trigger...

The GoodWinRacing +45 wheels http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/21-1051b.html are much more expensive than the Gruppe-S +38 wheels http://www.gruppe-s.com/Enkei/Enkei_rpf1.htm.

Also I wanted to go with 255/40/18 because it's the same overall diameter as the stock tires and it's almost a pound lighter than 265/35/18, as seen on Falken's website: http://www.falkentire.com/rt615_sizes.html .

I wanna start a business that makes wheel / tire buying easier...I'm not a stupid man and it manages to make me feel dumb...this blows.

a pound lighter tards make teh baby geezus cries

Really no reason to go wider than 225 on the fronts unless your adding weight.

^there's really no reason to own an RX-8 either :rolleyes:

Besides your speedometer being out of wack which can be fixed, I mean what are the pros & cons of a tire having more revolutions per mile?

I mean wouldn't you actually be a bit quicker :uhh:

please edumacate me!!!

yes, a higher tire RPM means a gearing advantage which means better acceleration, but also lesser terminal MPH per gear.

I ordered:
Volk RE30 18X9.5 +42 all they way around wrapped in 245/40ZR-18 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2.

They arrive today as soon as I get them on I'll post results and hopefully pics

The GoodWinRacing +45 wheels http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/21-1051b.html are much more expensive than the Gruppe-S +38 wheels http://www.gruppe-s.com/Enkei/Enkei_rpf1.htm.







Are you sure? To me it looks like goodwin racing is at 289 and gruppe S is at 306.

Are you sure? To me it looks like goodwin racing is at 289 and gruppe S is at 306.

Damn it! You're so right!

a pound lighter tards make teh baby geezus cries

stop being a dilt

I can sympathize with TeamRX8. You asked for advice, got some recommendations and seemed to ignore those recommendations and ask if something else would work instead. Those situations are frustrating to people trying to help.
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Extreme Vaporizer (http://extremevaporizer.info)

f*"k UPS only delivered two of the wheels. They say tomorrow I'll get the rest.

265's are good on 9.5 =)

but i would say 255 is more practical

265's are good on 9.5 =)285's are better.
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COACH HANDBAGS (http://icoachhandbags.com/)

but i would say 255 is more practical
From Merriam-Webster:
practical: capable of being put to use or account

How is a 255 more practical than say, 285? And please don't tell me because it's cheaper. Cheap is not the same thing as practical.
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Lovely Wendie (http://www.lovelywendie99.com/)

285's are better.

with that offset they better come with a fender rolling tool ...

I haven't tried it myself, but Brian Goodwin claims Advan 285s will work on the RP-F1s.
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Yamaha Raptor 660 (http://www.yamaha-tech.com/wiki/Yamaha_Raptor_660)

the 285/30-18 ad07 minimum rim width range is 9.5" so it should indeed fit albeit squooshed. ;)

I can sympathize with TeamRX8. You asked for advice, got some recommendations and seemed to ignore those recommendations and ask if something else would work instead. Those situations are frustrating to people trying to help.

Ok, let me make myself clearer then...I'll explain my situation more fully...

My car is a daily driver, but I do go to the track about 3 or 4 times a year with SpeedVentures (road racing). I haven't taken the RX8 yet, but used to take my WRX and then my STi which I've sold.

I want new wheels for two reasons:

1) APPEARANCE -- First and foremost, to get a more agressive offset...I dropped the car and the stock wheel offsets just look silly IMHO (read too much fender gap).

2) PERFORMANCE --Finally, I want the car to perform well on the track when I go next month (California Speedway), so I don't just wanna get a wheel for looks.

I respect TeamRX8's practical experience as an Autocrosser, but my situation is completely different from his. I understand that he's joking when he talks crap...I was just joking back.

So, as you well know, those two "reasons" I listed above give rise to all kinds of conflicts when picking a wheel / tire combination.

I spoke to John Stokes (Stokes Tires) and he reminded me that going with an ultra wide tire isn't always the best choice...there's rolling resistance to worry about, unsprung weight of couse, and even tire temps not reaching their full potential. I don't know much about tire temps but I plan on buying a tire perometer (I think that's what they're called) so I can start learning.

I have to admit that 275s look freakin mean on the car and that satisfies APPEARANCE above.

I was just trying to get more info so I can make up my mind. And if I came off sounding aggressive or "not taking advice" it's because I don't want to buy new wheels and tires for these reasons:

1) THE PRICE!!!!!! I'm doing well but not wealthy yet :)

2) The I WISH I HAD factor... It's so easy to get the wrong wheels / tires and then have to lose money on selling them

I hope you can identify with that...So ease up and let's keep discussing our options and sharing knowledge...and making fun of each other

Appearance is a personal matter that I can't help you with. Overall performance can only be helped with wider and/or stickier tires.

You didn't mention two possibly important factors:
1. One set of wheels/tires for both daily use and occassional track days?
2. Eventual upgrade path. What "works" now may not once you add other stuff. If you don't want to "repurchase" stuff then keep your end goal in mind.

Minor note: "road racing" is different from "track day". Races are timed, wheel-to-wheel and usually require sanctioning bodies.

If you are doing a track day, then top speed on the straight should not be as important as braking, correct line and speed carried through a turn. Again, wider/stickier tires can only help with this. In that respect track days and autocross are no different.
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GLASS BUBBLERS (http://bubblers.net/)

285s fit in the fenders with the right wheel offset just as I'm able to fit 10.5s, but he's planning to use a 38mm offset, not +45

my 265/35 Advans rubbed the rear lip with a 9.5 +38 wheel (received two wheels from Goodwin that said +45 on the box, but had +38 from Enkei), Polak had to roll the rear lip on his using the same

285s fit in the fenders with the right wheel offset just as I'm able to fit 10.5s, but he's planning to use a 38mm offset, not +45

my 265/35 Advans rubbed the rear lip with a 9.5 +38 wheel (received two wheels from Goodwin that said +45 on the box, but had +38 from Enkei), Polak had to roll the rear lip on his using the same

I've seen posted a few times around here that the 265 width advans are wider than a few other companies 275 width offerings. Can you confirm or deny this?

Congrats on the RE30. really nice wheels. I'm excited to see pics.

I've seen posted a few times around here that the 265 width advans are wider than a few other companies 275 width offerings. Can you confirm or deny this?

Yes, that info comes from me ...

my bad, missed the post about purchasing +42 offset

Yes, that info comes from me ...




Thanks man.

Thanks man.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=76896

and they're shorter too i.e. gear ratio advantage ...

255 is fine on a 9.5 but you need to get 255/35/18

^^^^ Hahaha Good Luck!!!