Is anyone thinking of upgrading their tires to 235/40 or 245/40/18??
There are better quality tires which will get more mileage than the RE040 and some tire dealers will let you trade your Bridgestone's in for something better!

Also I've noticed that the 350Z has different tire sizes on the front and back. Is this a possiblity on the RX? It looks like there is lots of room for an increase in tire size according to the wheel wells.
Looking for your thoughts!

JayDee

 

"Better" tires is a relative term.
I want grip from my tires, not mileage. Tread-wear is my 3rd or 4th factor when tire-shopping.
I hadn't thought of swapping tires though... I'll give my dealership a call and talk to them this afternoon. I'd like something with some more stick.

As for the different size tires, don't do it. If the suspenion of the car has not been set up for different size tires you are just going to throw off the balance of the car.

 

I've already contacted the local tire store (Frisby for those in Ottawa) and gave them heads up on wanting to upgrade to Bridgestone S-03s. Had S-02, 245/45 16 on my FD and loved them. I'm torn between 245/40 18 or stock sizes because I'd like to stay in stock class for autocross, yet a wider tire would provide a little more flush wheel to fender line (yes, asthetics) and a little more meat for performance - although 245 on an 8" rim can in fact negatively effect performance (lateral tire movement on the wheel due to bulging sidewalls). No quote in price difference yet on the trade-in so this whole swap still might not happen. Uhhh, actually I've got to get the car first as well eh?

 

Actually, you hit my problem exactely.
I'm registered for Slemon next weekend (the Eastern Region Solo 2 National championships in PEI) and my budget is not going to allow for my to pick up a dedicated set of AutoX wheels and tires between now and then. So I have try and figure out how to get the best tires on the stock wheels that I can. Ffor the least money, of course.

 

I would definitely be interested in switching from the RE040 to maybe S03's .. Which tire or Mazda dealer would do that though?

 

Redshift,

I don't know if the Solo regulations are different in your province or what class you want to be in but you will want to be mindful of potential points charge to your car for non OEM tire sizes. For Ontario to stay in stock, the main significant changes we can do are tire upgrades (keeping stock sizes), shock upgrades (but not springs), air filter replacement element with OEM air box, and any kind of cat-back exhaust. Some basic things like alignment have to remain within OEM specs though.

Honestly, with my tendancy to upgrade (not exclusive to cars, ie: Moutnain bikes), I'd like to use the stock category restrictions as a means to limit my non essential spending on the car. I will most likely stick with with 225/45 18 S-03s. We also have a neat feature in our local series where a street non-R tire will give us a 2% time discount. It does not quite cover the gap to R compounds, but it does allow me to stay competitive and maintain the "run what you brung" mind set that I like.

 

Well, I competed in SuperStock last year, which is likely where I will end up again with the RX.
At the Nationals next weekend though, the best I am hoping for is a same-sized upgraded tire, but otherwise stock.

Thanks for the heads-up though. I'm going to have to pour through the rulebook in the next couple days, as I'm used to the SS restrictions, not the stock class restrictions.

I hear you on the "run what you brung" mindset. I like that too. I ran lighter, stock sized rims on my Civic wearing Toyo T1-Ss. I like the show up, empty the junk out and tweak the pressures method of competetion... seems to pure to me.

 

Hey JayDee... I thought you were giving up the car in the interest of getting a house... did something change?

On the other hand, maybe you were influenced by "8_wannabe's" comment: "...that is silly... you can sleep in a car, but you can't drive a house..." :D

... or maybe you are just looking for thoughts for the heck of it...

 

JayDee is "still " looking for a house! I just can't seem to find the right one but when I showed my wife the e-mail I received yesterday from my dealer saying that the car is "on rail", she became very excited. I told her that we will eventually find a house but for know let's have fun driving this new car!!

JayDee

 

That's the spirit!

I know the feeling... I should be getting my car this week.. and I'm closing on my house Aug 15th.

I needed a house so that I could have a secure garage to keep the car in!

 

Same here, more or less.
I closed on the house May 22nd.
The car is probably sitting next to Redshift's.

And I plan on buying groceries again in 2006, maybe 2007...

 

He, he that's the idea. I tore out my heated work shop in the back of my garage last fall to prepare a new "shop" for the RX-8. It took a full load from the cement truck, but I've now got a 20' by 40' concrete floor in the garage. I'm in the process of insulating it so I can do work in there over the winter.