Price and wheel width are not directly related.

 

Is this a fashion vs. function debate?

I've had this with a few ex girlfriends that try to explain to me that a designer purses and **** is not about function, but the way it looks, even though its a pain in the *** to use.

Soon after, I found a woman that was more functional and not a pain in the *** to use.

But for real, people will sacrifice one of the biggest handling advantages our car has to look better? I mean, if the 8 can't turn, it can't do anything except sit there and look pretty. I mean, rubber to the road is pretty important. I didn't like having my 17x7 snow tire wheels.

 

Wider rims give better handling than narrow rims, but at the sacrifice of ride. It all depends on what your purpose is - street driving, different types of racing (Autocross vs Track), drifting................

 

So, in practical purposes, you would want a narrower wheel for either more traction in the snow like I did, or because you think the 18x8 wheels create a ride that is too rough, correct?

Or it is cosmetic. . .

 

Cosmetics is a function of the design of the wheel. It would be very difficult to notice the difference between a 7.5 and 8 inch wheel just looking at them. The TIRE would deceive you.

Your tire choice will also dictate the wheel size needed to some degree.

 

Everyone seems to be able to notice my 1/2" though. *shrug* Handling wise I am sure that you loose some...but how much I would debate. You are paying for the pretty wheel and the powder coat though.

 

It's not just your 1/2 inch. It's also the design of your wheels and how the spokes aren't concave/convex and instead pretty even.

Steve - the short answer for performance is that you want your wheel width to be as small as possible to fit the tire width you want without stretching. Stretched tires tend to wear and perform differently. You want your wheel width to be smaller in order to provide less unsprung weight. So my wheels, at 18x9.5, can fit 275s without much stretching but weigh 19lbs. Had I gotten 18x8.5 I would only be able to run 255s comfortably but would probably have brought down my weight a couple pounds. However with my particular wheels there's also a cosmetic effect in that the spokes curve differently from 18x8.5 and 18x9.5 so there's a very different look on the same model wheel.

I still feel that the ideal wheel size for our car for all applications is 18x8.5 running on 25s or for track applications 17x8.5 or 17x9 on 255s or 265s. But that's just me.

 

HA!

The guy I sold my exhaust to posted a good guy thread about me! In your face, non good guys!

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...70#post2992270

 

Yes he did...figured I wouldn't bash you in there like Jon did.

 

TJ - Here's your chance dawg. https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-sale-wanted-44/wtb-navi-pop-out-hood-172640/

 

I wouldn't call that a bashing John... plus I ended it well.
I like it more knowing I can kid around with some people around here and they won't take it so personally.
Too many people take every little post so seriously.

 

I wouldn't sell just that piece because then it'll be really hard to unload the rest of the system. Esp. if its not working properly.

Thanks John, but you know you can bash me wherever you want. Still doesn't deny the fact that I am pretty awesome.


Also, I'm going to error on the side of safety and economics and postpone my first track/autocross experience until I get back from China. The point was made that if I break the car or break myself before that trip, it could be bad... So I'm going to hold off on that. I'll still get all my fluids changed and keep getting ready, but I am thinking late June or July. Stupid money.

Also, on that topic. As soon as Jon gets his tire situation taken care of, I'm going to be selling my winter wheels and tires. I saw StreetRx8 was interested in getting a price on some, but I would just announce that. PM me if you're interested.

 

Poppycock!



(Yeah, lets see you come back from that! Teach you to bash me on my own good guy thread!)

 

You might like it too much!
Plus, I have your intake manifold hostage... bastard.

 

Steve - you gonna come up on Sunday anyway? Then head over to that car club meet with us?

 

Strong letter to follow.....................

 

If you guys need some tires, let me know. I've got a couple extras.

 

I just may!
The girlfriend is in town this weekend always bugging me / making fun of me for the car club stuff, so that could be fun.

Doc, Sorry about my language, I'll change it to something more acceptable.

As for the tires... after the sideway blew out of mine, I ordered a new General from tirerack because those tires only have a few thousand miles on them and adding a new one right now won't be too bad. But I know Jon could probably use 2.

 

Changed in my quoted reply too

Jon could also use some money to afford two tires.

 

In my quest for dwell setting knowledge I came across this article and finally got the answer we've all been looking for...

Crankshaft!

http://www.myrotarycar.com/blog/inde...ally-just-13l/

Somebody needs to add this reference to Wikipedia.

 

Poppycock!

 

haha nice work steve, i cant believe someone actually paid that much to put that on my car. hmm wonder if any one would buy it off me

 

hah oh sweet thanks man ill PM that guy. but id need help taking the nav out of the car.

 

You aren't going to want to just sell the 'hood'. You are going to want to sell the entire dash including your top console piece that has the opening for the nav unit. Base models don't have that console piece.

Your best bet is to buy the top console piece without the Nav opening but with the Bose opening if you have a Bose center speaker (used from Mazmart, off a for sale thread, or new from a dealer) and then cut it to allow the gauges room. Then either get the Lotek gauge pod (that I have) or get in to the group buy on the adapted Lotek gauge pod. The adapted one is allegedly flush with the rest of the console pieces and is a piano black finish instead of the finish currently on the top piece.

If you need help with the top piece or pulling off the nav I'm sure plenty of people could help. Aside from one bolt in the radio it's pretty easy to take apart the whole console. Pulling the Nav itself might be a little trickier but I'm sure you can find info on how to get it out of there.

 

here's what it boils down to and would have settled the... topic last week. It physcially resembles a camshaft but functions more like a crankshaft.

good find though