AlexCisneros

OK, obviously I'm talking B-Stock SCCA rulez here so the 18 x 8 rims have to stay.

Though they will probably be replaced by SSR's

I've read in the forums that someone shoe horned a 275 30 18 on the factory rims.

I didn't catch if it was in the front... So question is:

Who here has replaced tires on the stock rim with larger sizes?

What is the largest tire that can be placed on the front wheels without rubbing at auto X cornering

syntrix

I did 245/40's on the stock 18's.

It seems like the stock 225' bridgy 040's are usually narrower than most tires that are the same size.

The 245's look like they were meant for the rim.

Someone else did....... I think 255 or 265's with a slick here on the board, and did look a bit big for the rim, but really not that bad overall.


If you are going to replace the rim AND compete, get some 17x8's. You will find that most slicks max out at 17's, and there's not much avail for the 18's.

tpryor

That was probably me that did the 275 fitment on the stock rim. We had been running the 245/40/18, and it was not enough tire for the car's weight. We have fitted a set of 275/35/18's just the other day (have yet to test them), and fitting them on the stock rim was NO issue at all, the tire mounter took all of 30 minutes to rmove tires from the stock rims and mount/balance all 4 Hoosiers. He said he could have gotten the 285/30/18 on there easily.

There are pictures of the 275 Hoosiers on the stock rims (on and off the car), as well as a side by side comparison to the 245's, at the link in the signature.

Also, remember that the Hoosier's have a MUCH stiffer sidewall than anything you will run on the street, so it may be possible to go bigger with a street tire (depends on the class you want to run).

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING! When they were fitted to the car, it was specifically to test the "interference" question. There is NO interference at full lock in either direction (while driving), and at full static lock, there is enough room for a finger between the tire and the lower control arm (the closest point). NO PROBLEM!

I'll let you know how they work out at our next event (Dec. 7th).

AlexCisneros

Please do!!!

and thanks for the reply.


As to the comment on using 17" rims... Yes there are many good tires for that size (Azenis). Problem is that B-Stock rules do not allow it unless it was an option on this car. Since it was an option on the Automatic, some places will let you get by with them but I doubt National events would.

Superfan

Tim, could you please tell me what wheels are on the black RX-8 in your solo2 picture archive? Thanks

syntrix

Well said!

tpryor

Those are SSR Competitions - 18x8 45mm offset (I think). He got those at Tire Rack.

The DO look nice, don't they? BUT, I bought two sets of stock wheels, one set with new tires and pressure sensors still in them for less than he paid for just the wheels........

I didn't like them that much.

AlexCisneros

Speaking of which.......

Was it a problem getting the sensors into his wheels?

compaddict

I wonder how the Kuhmo 285/30WR18 would fit?

Vince

slavearm

I thought the wheel size was 18x7.5 with 50mm offset. Man I am going to kill that lady at mazda customer service if they are 8.0

SLavearm

santino

Slavearm

you are gonna have to kill that lady at customer service.
stock size is 18X8 50 offset. hell, my FD's stock wheels are 16X8 with a 50 offset as well.

santino

tpryor

The sensors aren't fitted to those wheels, although they did test to see if they would fit (and they fit fine).

As he uses them for autocross only, he just has a regular valve stem fitted. Both of my autocross sets only have regular valve stems as well.

tpryor

Don't know. I'm POSITIVE the Hoosier 285/30 will fit, but the 275/35 and the 285/30 are built in the "cantilever" style, so it's not as big an issue. I'm not sure of the Kumho design. I will say this - look at the pictures (link in signature) of the black one (download the full size one) and notice that those are the 225 Kumho's! Look how wide they are on the rim, and decide if it could make another inch (almost) on each side......

Now, the NEW Kumho will be out in the spring (Hoosier copy), AND the new Hoosier (A3S04 and R3S04) will be out in the spring (it's available now in smaller sizes - 18" is being quoted as spring). It may ALL change by then....

compaddict

I'll be waiting for spring...

Vince

Spin9k

Link no worky. Love to see them.

tpryor

I just tried it, and it worked fine for me. Give it another try.....

eccles

So you found the tire store where the Incredible Hulk works, eh? :p

Didn't know Karter had picked up an '8 too. Cool!

tpryor

It's not his. The owner of the RX-8 works for the sponsor of our series (Jay Marks Mazda). We told him early on that our Mazda South RX-8 is MUCH faster than his Jay Marks RX-8, so he got someone who (he was told) was fast to drive it. After we beat him handily last month, he went after the best guys he could find, and put Karter and Richard Tomlin in the car to compete with us.

Karter is the only competitor to have beaten the "target" time at the Mazda "Rev-it-Up" events, and a VERY good autocrosser, so he wanted to give it a shot. Seemed like a good idea at the time.....

I would love to see Karter run one all of the time, it would keep us on our toes, but he will be back in the Mini in January.

eccles

There but for a couple of centimeters went I. I beat the target time earlier in the day at the Houston Rev-it-Up, but a late cone call blew it away.

syntrix

Farg, and some of those workers will call cones NOT outside of the marked box. That should be a friggin' requirement speach before the workers go out!!!!