I currently have the standard 18" chromes on my 8. I am considering to get the car lowered with some new shocks / springs and some 19"s.

How is this going to change the handling of the car?

 

It really depends. The RX-8 was designed to take wheels of the same size and width. So for example, if you get 19x8.5 in the front, you should have 19x8.5 in the rear. Although there's lots of members on this forum who's not following that thinking that wider tires in the rear and smaller tires in the front will increase performance, it actually upsets the balance of the car. (I'm going to get flamed, I know I am)

Now, there are a lot of members running wider wheels in the rear because of the looks. It just looks a lot more aggressive.

Now you also want to drop it and want to know how it affects performance? It really depends on what you're dropping it with and how you're dropping it.

 

what type of driving are you talking about for "handling of the car"... or just wondering how the car will act with just normal day driving and a bit of fun??


=/

 

When you go 19", you get thinner tires. So stock 225/45/18 are about the same diameter as 245/35/19.

You aren't going to notice much change unless the 19" rim are heavier that what you currently have (stocks are either 22 lbs or 24 lbs, depending on when your car was made).

 

Wider tires in "performance wise" handles better because of more ground contact...so yea of course its agressive looking but it is for handling . but now when you say smaller tires in the front and wider tires in back for handling thats just retarded [unless it has to do with all-out tuning reasons and preferences] , you obviously gna get oversteer because the front and back traction ratio is completely off..... and also depending what type of tires you are using too..soft , hard, mild.

 

^ +1 well said~

 

Now you're saying that's retarded? You're the one who's not thinking, sir. First off, the RX-8 was designed for one width tires. If you're going to out fit the 8 with different size tires in the front and back, it will change the handling characteristics of it. It will upset the balance of the 8, the whole 50/50 ratio. That's what I am merely trying to state, please don't go in and assume "it's retarded" for some odd reason. Considering your post count, you don't read too much, do you? Do you know how to run a search and research this matter before you actually post? So the only thing that's "retarded" is... Do I dare say such words? No, RX8club.com do not approve bashing on another member so I dare not say.

 

the 19's will most likely make the acceleration a bit more sluggish but the handling will probably feel crisper due to the thinner sidewall of the tire. You're going to notice alot more of a difference though by doing shocks/springs so don't worry about it.

Staggered fitments are not retarded, people have the right to do whatever they want to their 8's. Almost all of us who run a staggered setup know that it affects the handling but we do it anyway because of the aesthetic appeal of running staggered wheels. Its merely a trade off and BTW you get buttloads of understeer with a staggered setup, not oversteer.

 

I would want it for normal everyday driving, country lanes etc and the occasional blast.
I dont understand what you guys are saying. If I get 19"s shall i keep them exactly the same width as what I have now with just the larger diamater wheel? or get wider wheels but just keep them all the same and it will be fine?

I wouldnt mind If I had to get spacers and get the arches rolled. What do you reccomend to look good, but have lower than standard & handle either the same or better as standard.

Thanks, James.

 

Hey what's up. I Don't really have an exact answer but I can tell you what Ive got. Right now I'm running 19" Tenzo R's. 8" in the front and 10" in the back, and I just have the car lowered with tein S tech springs for now. I've also got alot of audio equipment in the back so I don't even car about the 50/50 weight distribution anymore. I already screwed that up. But with the 19's I've been told the car should handle a little better due to the slight negative camber. It feels like it handles a little better with the new springs and rims. However the one thing that sucks with wider tires in the back is you can't rotate all tires. I will be autocrossing my car next weekend, even though it's mostly a show car, and I will let you now how it handled in that kind of situation. Peace out and I hope this help with you decision.

 

yes with a staggered setup it should understeer due to losing traction in the front, i really doubt anyone is going to push it that hard on the street to notice a huge difference..

 

im running staggered now, but i plan on going 275s all around one day.

 

I found the opposite - at least a heavy 26 lbs 19" rim vs 17 lbs 18" rim ... handling, such as changing lanes was more sluggish because of the centrifugal force as the wheel rotated. Lighter rims turned far easier and quicker.

If the rims were similar in weight, then this might be a moot point.

 

the thinner sidewall only makes you feel more of the road and less tire flex.

 

They are talking about staggered fitment, for example 8.5" wide front and 9.5" wide in back vs. same width all around. Doesn't have to be the same as stock, there are many members who run 9.5" wide on all four corners (stock is 8" if you didn't know).

Serious track heads will tell you not to get 19's but stay 18's or even got down to 17's, but for the kind of driving that you are talking about sticking with some light weight 19's and keeping them the same width all around shouldn't effect handling.

There are many threads on the forum on aftermarket wheels and most mention the weights. Rays Engineering (Volk Racing, G-Games, etc.) tends to keep their wheels light, but be prepared to spend a bit more for the higher quality. I plan on getting 19's sometime too, G-Games 99B's are what I'm planning on.

 

renesis se3p, calmmmm downnnnnnnnnnnnnn~

geeez man, u obviously jumped the gun and claimed too soon of me calling you retarded... miscommunication dude* are you insecure about yourself?? bc that was a very very "thoughtful" comment to me...

 

and to Acemastuh too...lol CALM DOWN!! u obviously read it wrong too.... i said 'for HANDLING' its retarded....[think about autoX] damn.......

 

I had the stock rims in chrome, and went to 19" staggerred setup. To be honest if I had to do it all over again, I would have stuck with the 18". The 19" does transmit more harshness to the ride (i.e. stiffer) and the handling is not as good as when I had the lighter 18" with uniform wheels/tires. If I were you I would just wait until your tires wear out & buy a nice set of 18" Falken 245/40/18 RT-615's for much better traction, and get a set of lowering springs.

 

eibach 1.2 drop
tokico d-spec adjustable shocks
ssr d5r 19x9.5 et 40 with 255/35 19 bfg kdw tires

handles awesome

 

well i am enjoying mine
my tires are awesome
staggered setup ftw!
hrmm handling wise +
otherwise... "acceleration sluggish"

 

you can consider my offset and tire size

 

good luck with lowering it ^

 

ooh.. if you havent done so yet.. go shave your fenders if u wanna go 19s with aggressive offset and tires. cuz i have S-Tech drop and i'd rub so badily if i didnt shave so yeah but once you shave it.. its good to go

 

agressive offset check (et40)
lowered check ( ive seen "2 inch" drops that werent as low as my 1.2)
shaved nope
rubbing nope (it rubbed 2x the first 5 miles, then never again, even with myself, 2 friends, and luggage for a weekend at the track, and we arent little people)

 

I'm running 19's 10" wide in the back with tein S Tech springs and I haven't rubbed so far. Not saying it won't happen, but when we were considering rolling the fender, me and another guy bounce on the back and the fenders never rubbed. I've also got about 150lbs of audio equipment in the back. When I drag raced my car, I was launching at about 5000rpm and I never had any rubbing. Still something you should look into, but if you don't have to shave your fenders, why do it.