Hello guys,

I'm a new RX8 owner and would like to upgrade wheels, but i'm concerned about the FEELING that stock wheel/Potenza tires that i may lose with 20" Chrome wheels (heavier) and Kumho 712 Ecsta Supra 255/35/20 tires.

Actually i'm not planning to lower the suspension. I will wait to see if the 20's will give a moderate smooth ride or something to crush by back.

I'm the type who prefer good handling v.s. HP, so do you think it will be an upgrade or a "downgrade" ?

Thank you very much

you have to lower it with 20's unless you want to look like jeep wrangler

also get the lightest 20s you can...they will put major strain on your suspension system

Thanks for the answer :-)

And what lowering spring do you recommend if i still want some comfort on our badly maintained Canadian roads ?

get the Tein H Techs, it'll only slightly lower the car. 1" in the front about .5" in the rear

Wrong! Get the Racing Beat.

Only a 1/2 inch drop.

If you want hadling don't go with 20 ". Go 17 or 18.

Don't go to a 20 inch wheel unless you just want to look like a rapper. Heavier wheels with a poor ride will be the result, not to mention it will look like a cartoon car. There are plenty of tasteful changes you can make using 17 or 18 inch wheels that will actually make the car perform as good or better.

Don't go to a 20 inch wheel unless you just want to look like a rapper. Heavier wheels with a poor ride will be the result, not to mention it will look like a cartoon car. There are plenty of tasteful changes you can make using 17 or 18 inch wheels that will actually make the car perform as good or better.

YOUR A DUMBASS
SO IM A RAPPER ?
AND MY 8 LOOKS LIKE A CARTOON CAR !
DONT TALK SHIT UNLESS U CAN BACK IT UP :mad:

I wasn't talking to you, numb nuts! You might be a rapper ... how should I know. I was talking to the person who wanted some advice. If you would like some advice about how to get the "caps lock" button unstuck, I can help you there!

:p

sorry no rapper here and im good on advice

Don't go to a 20 inch wheel unless you just want to look like a rapper. Heavier wheels with a poor ride will be the result, not to mention it will look like a cartoon car. There are plenty of tasteful changes you can make using 17 or 18 inch wheels that will actually make the car perform as good or better.

talking from your own experience or just a general assumption? :rolleyes:

Kel Rx8's car look just great for me with his 20's. I would admit that my futur girlfriend may prefer bling than high speed cornering. lol

Still... i don't want a worst ride than OEM (of course)

If you want bling, go with whatever suits your personal taste. However, 20 inch wheels, spinners and such all add unsprung weight. This taxes your braking system and your suspension components; so, be prepared for that. You will have to go with larger brakes to maintain the same braking performance as you have now.

Good luck with your decision!

I just ordered 20" Zenetti Mystics ..

Rubber -
285/30/20 Rear
255/35/20 Front

By the way I am located in Montreal Canada

I am in Mtl either ;-)

I will try the 20's but to be honest i'm also prepared to put back the 18's if the feeling change is too bad.

Best way to know sometin' is to try it.

thanks JO8
if u plan on autox then hands down not the wheel size
but street and comfort I have no issue's,nobody believe's they are 20' and i get no kick
out of telling anyone.but once they go for a ride then cant imagine how nice goo the ride is.

anyone who says otherwise is talking out there ass.choice the rigth setup for your taste.

my maido wheels/tire hook better than stock wheels.
wish you were in my area so we can go for a ride i positive you will be happy

I had Kumho 712's on my RX-7. While they handled great in the wet and dry for the money, they where fairly noisey and harsh riding.

I will wait to see if the 20's will give a moderate smooth ride or something to crush by back.

I'm the type who prefer good handling v.s. HP, so do you think it will be an upgrade or a "downgrade" ?

JO8,
Have a look at a couple of the sticky threads at the top of this forum:

Effects of wheel size/weight on performance (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=51865) and So you think staggered wheels/tires are a great idea? (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=50607) .

Unsprung weight is critical to keeping good performance handling characteristics and not ruining the ride. I'm of the opinion that the OEM 18" wheels are too heavy already, so unless you're willing to invest $$$$$ to buy 20" wheels that are lighter than the OEM 18" wheels, then 20" wheels/tires WILL downgrade your ride quality significantly. They will also downgrade the responsiveness of your handling significantly, the car will feel more sluggish.

20" wheels/tires are an appearance mod only - Unless you get the ultra-light megadollar wheels, they won't do anything good for performance or ride or responsiveness.

Regards,
Gordon

What is the weight of the Stock 18" wheels?


JO8,
Have a look at a couple of the sticky threads at the top of this forum:

Effects of wheel size/weight on performance (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=51865) and So you think staggered wheels/tires are a great idea? (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=50607) .

Unsprung weight is critical to keeping good performance handling characteristics and not ruining the ride. I'm of the opinion that the OEM 18" wheels are too heavy already, so unless you're willing to invest $$$$$ to buy 20" wheels that are lighter than the OEM 18" wheels, then 20" wheels/tires WILL downgrade your ride quality significantly. They will also downgrade the responsiveness of your handling significantly, the car will feel more sluggish.

20" wheels/tires are an appearance mod only - Unless you get the ultra-light megadollar wheels, they won't do anything good for performance or ride or responsiveness.

Regards,
Gordon

What is the weight of the Stock 18" wheels?

i dont know how many times i have seen that questions but search is your friend buddy :)

stock wheel = 23 lbs

Average chrome 20's would be at least 35lbs (guess)

I don't know the weight difference of Kumho 255/35/20 v.s. Stock 18's Potenza...

I decided to TRY, and if the ride is that bad, i'll sell the kit. It's that simple.

I will let you know

stock wheel = 23 lbs

Average chrome 20's would be at least 35lbs (guess)

I don't know the weight difference of Kumho 255/35/20 v.s. Stock 18's Potenza...

I decided to TRY, and if the ride is that bad, i'll sell the kit. It's that simple.

I will let you know

stock rims are 18.5 pounds...23 is with tires/TPMS monitors (valve stems) included

but even these numbers may be wrong since there were minor changes in the production of the wheels

If you're concerned with horsepower, 17" is the perfect diameter. The larger/smaller you get, the more you lose. I remember reading the technical data regarding the perfect wheel size and the scientific explanation, just can't recall the specifics... 17 was the ideal size though.

Hello guys,

I'm a new RX8 owner and would like to upgrade wheels, but i'm concerned about the FEELING that stock wheel/Potenza tires that i may lose with 20" Chrome wheels (heavier) and Kumho 712 Ecsta Supra 255/35/20 tires.

Actually i'm not planning to lower the suspension. I will wait to see if the 20's will give a moderate smooth ride or something to crush by back.

I'm the type who prefer good handling v.s. HP, so do you think it will be an upgrade or a "downgrade" ?

Thank you very much

^

The above bold don't go hand in hand. Wrong choice.

Stick with the 17"/18" suggestions along with the typical decent-handling plethora of UHP or Max Performance tires available and you'll be very pleased with the level of handling available.

I think "architect" gets the "Thread Archeologist" award for the day. We can let SouthFL be his research assistant :)

I think "architect" gets the "Thread Archeologist" award for the day. We can let SouthFL be his research assistant :)

Lol. I hadn't looked at the date. The irony is that I am an architect.