V Vette

iTrader: (-1)

I want to go to a 17" wheel and tire.. Dont need speed/handling but want a more confortable ride.. Any suggestions for tire size and or wheels? Wanna try this one in a 17x 7.5, 5x100, any thoughts? Thanks

http://www.goldwingautocare.com/defa...6&wType=summer

Ike

I suggest a trade for a Buick.

chetrickerman

those look nice, but i believe the bolt pattern is 5x114

V Vette

iTrader: (-1)

Well, in my situation if I want speed I take out the Vette, If I want a winter car I take out the FX35, In this case I simply want a softer ride.

Wild Style

wouldn't changing the suspension setup create the desired effect?

Ike

And in this case you should trade your RX-8 in for a Buick.

You want to ruin the handling of your RX-8 by putting shitty tires and narrow wheels on it? Why bother owning one at that point? The great gas mileage? Seriously gramps, suck it up and go get yourself a Buick. It's not like you look cool in your RX-8, you just look like a silly old man. It happens to the best of us...

P.S. Go AD!

9291150

^ Do you really think that putting 17's with higher profile tires like a 55 would "ruin" the handling of the 8? Some cars are only as good as their tires, but the 8 still handles great with my 17' winters.

If there's anyone on here who should be desperately searching for something with a modicum of ride quality, it's you.

Ike

You might think it handles great but it doesn't handle nearly as well as with a good set of tires. Putting narrower and heavier (he's looking at 7.5" wide wheels heavy wheels) tires and wheels with a higher profile absolutely will compromise the handling of an RX-8 and any other performance car.

V Vette

iTrader: (-1)

I like Ike, you speak of much wisdom grasshopper. i love the 8 but realize handling wont help when I am looking at some one's exhaust pipes. With that said, I will use the 8 for "coolness factor only. When I want speed and handling, out comes the Vette...PS, AD is good but the Vikes suck!..V

chetrickerman

i would have to agree, it only thing im going to do upgrade the springs, sway bars, and lighter wheels. that should help with handling a lot, but not so much with comfort, but i dont care. For your sake, if you want comfort and also want a great handling car, i dont know if thats possible, you will have to sacrifice something.

Q-chan

iTrader: (1)

I use the Mazda 3 wheels on my RX-8 for winter tires. They have sufficient clearance to the breaks and work well with the original TPMS sensors. (I bought a second set of sensors for these wheels.) The winter tires are 215/55 R 17 size. You lose some handling qualities, but the fact that my Dunlop Winter Sport M3 are very good tires, but still winter tires, may contribute also to the handling. The ride is indeed more soft.

However, you might also consider other, non-runflat tires in the original dimension. I think most of the discomfort comes from the stiff runflat construction of the original tires. (Which are the greatest junk anyhow - I cannot understand why Mazda equipped this nice car with such lousy tires...)

Kind regards,

Manfred, a.k.a. Q-chan

V Vette

iTrader: (-1)

Thanks but our tires (Potenza) are run flats???????????

Juice

iTrader: (1)

^No they're not

cjwaggs

17? ug......

9291150

It's just that you're the same guy who's discounted the benefits of a lightweight engine, its compact dimensions, low center of gravity, etc. I think I remember you saying that perfect weight distribution is mostly a marketing ploy. Yet, your telling this guy that running slightly heavier rims would "ruin" the car's handling.

Cue the circus music, here's Ike the freak show!

chetrickerman

oh ****, here we go. anyways, there is a common misconception that low profile tires are also run-flats, which is not true, the run flats have a LOT thicker sidewall than normal low-pros

Silver_Surfer

Well gosh darn it. I would never have thought going to 17 inchers would make that much of a differents! After all the STI's and alot of other sporty cars comes with 17's What is it the weight or the the tire size? Sidewall height? 17= lighter wheel, heavier tire? Or 18" heavier wheel, ligher tire?

thecow135

were you trying to say fries?
there was this one show where this guy owned a subs and dubs store...
get rims and subs at the same place!

chetrickerman

I will take turkey, lettuce, cucumbers, bacon, mayo on italian bread. then a set of 26" gavinchi flares. (made that up)

Spin9k

If you put on 17s and use like a 245/45/17 tire (pls get a good one) you'll def improve the ride, the sidewalls are taller and will give you more pothole protection as well as more comfort. IF you get decent performance tire you'll not impact the perceived handling significantly, if at all, esp considering your goals for the mod.

Silver_Surfer

LOL! Tries

Ike

Ahhhh my little narrow minded buddy always trying to stir **** up with his poor reading skills... Actually, I'm telling you that putting narrower less performance oriented tires with flimsy sidewalls on narrow/heavier wheels will compromise the performance. But I'd never expect you to fully comprehend something I write. You can make every aspect of a car ideal in the handling department, but if you put bad tires on it it'll handle like crap. Don't you have an outhouse race to be at?

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

if you want to go to 17" tires. thats fine.

but dont use 7.5" wide rims. wtf this isnt a hyundai accent. all performance reasons aside (dead horse there) it will also look like crap.

if you can afford a vette, fx35, and an rx8 seems like corproate wasp (although the rims you want are chrome....) life did you a nice one. so you can afford some wider rims.

get 17x8.5

dont be a girlie man.

V Vette

iTrader: (-1)

Ok, ok..You guys are right..If I "downgrade", I will do 17x8.5..What tire size do you recommend for that wheel?

DOMINION

Ike likes telling everyone to trade in his 8. I think he should do the same and get that new DSG