Appearance and Performance
 

I autox all the time now with my 8. I am looking to get new tires, and might as well get new rims with them.

I am stuck between the Work Emotion CR and XT-7 (feel free to give your opinion on the looks). This is mainly because they are nice, not TOO expensive and light weight.

Question is, should I stay stock size 18x8 or bump up to something like 18x9? I do not want to roll fenders, so advice would help. I also want to try to do a semi flush offset, but I want to still be able to have good turning radius to autox.

So, basically people who autox, what are your guys dimensions? And if there are any suggestions on autox tires for the rx8 that would be awesome. I want something sticky, that can also be a good DD set.

Depends what class you want to run. Different classes have different restrictions. So figure out where you want to run and then we can give you better advice

I have been running in C-stock but RWD class. As I have no actual mods on my car yet that would bump me up to STU / STX.

With that said, according to the rules, the width of the rim must be +/- < .6 mm (or so I read). The majority of the rules go around the tires more than the wheels/rims.

Here are my two options I think:

WORK Wheel Emotion CR Ultimate : 18x8.5 (5x114.3) - TF Works - Real Racing Parts
WORK Wheel Emotion CR Ultimate : 18x9.5 - TF Works - Real Racing Parts

I just don't know too much about the offsets. I want something flush that looks good, but also performs and doesn't mess up the suspension geometry for the rx-8.

I think you are likely offset restricted as well. ... anything narrower than 9.5in and +35 offset or more will fit...better figure out the rules :)

The offset is either 48 or 50 I don't remember which. To run in stock class, you can run a 45 offset. I don't think you can change the diameter or width dimensions. You should be able to run a 265 tire.

I haven't competed in autocross in 10 yrs when the car was new. Do a search in the Competition Forum for stock class. You will have to change the settings to search over 1 year for results. You will hear from others that are more serious in their competition.

Here are the '14 draft rules for SCCA. http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/...%20reduced.pdf

On here go to page 71/72 for wheels and tire rules.

It is the same width as standard and as installed it does not have an
offset more than ±¼” (±6.35mm) from a standard wheel for the car.
The resultant change in track dimensions is allowed.
B. Wheel (rim) diameter may be increased or decreased 1” from the
standard part.

So you sir, are correct. Well, do you think they would really notice a .5 / 1.5 increase in width on the wheel, if I still plan to keep the tire around 265?

I really like the Work Emotion CR but they only come in 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5

If you plan on being competitive you will be DSQ'd if protested. If you get that serious you can go back to stock or get a set of rims.....buy something you like :)

For competition, everything is for funtion. Looks are nothing. The only reason you would want to change wheels is if you can loose a couple of pounds on each corner. The oem wheels aren't bad but you can get lighter. Run oem on the track and get the ones you want for the street or save them for winter tires. You won't want to drive on the street with your competition tires anyway. You have lots of options. They just cost money.

I don't plan on getting serious, this is only the second season; I started half way through last season. With that said, if I can run the local ones and just have fun with it, awesome.

I am in a pinch, because I don't have the money to drop on new race tires as well as get new all seasons for my car. So, I heard there are a few tires out there that can be good for the mix, for at least the time being.

I will probably have the stock ones turn into winter tire set this coming up winter. After that, maybe I will drop for another set and get lighter rims and proper track tires.

So, does this help in maybe some way you guys can help me learn more than? Any good advice?

I am not a pro racer anyways after 6 autox races, and probably won't be after this season too. So, if I get DSQ'd, so be it.

I do want to go more with looks on my car verse autox performance. The big question is, with stock suspension, what can I get away with in wheel width and offset? Or what would you guys do that will allow me to still have proper turning?

Does having a thicker tire in the back look proper on the rx-8? If so, would the 18x8.5 in fronts and 18x9.5 in back make sense or should I just go same width all the way around?

The next question after that, is offset. Like I said, I prefer not to roll my tires, but would like to look as flush as possible, while allowing me to actually turn.

Something around 18x9 to 9.5 with +35ish offset with 245-40-18 tires should be flush and not require modifications. ....

If you just want to drive autox for the fun of it, buy what you want and do whatever to your car and run time only. No rules for time only ;)

So with that said, should I go with the

18x9.5 (WORK Wheel Emotion CR Ultimate : 18x9.5 - TF Works - Real Racing Parts) but with which offset?

+38, +30? I think +20 or +12 is pushing stock way to much. Like I said, I would prefer not to roll fenders right now but do like something close to flush, but with performance in mind.

With that said, what size tire am I allowed to grab on those? Wouldn't a 9.5 allow me for something like 255 - 275?

+38. With a slightly roll and plastic trimming, 275/35-18 shouldn't be a problem at all.

Awesome, I think I might go with a tire like 245 or 255. Should I still go with the +38 offset or move up to +30, or is that pushing it? I kind of don't want spacers either.

I would stick with the 38 personally...30 could be an issue depending on tires. Spacers would move the wheelb out...so wouldn't help with the fit if they rub on the outside where the issue would be with too small an offset

I have seen 18x9 +30mm on a 8 with 245/35 tires without rolling the fenders. I am going with those rim specs but 245/40 tires. He said I should not have any issues.

Use the tire calculator in the tools drop box at the top of the page to see how far out each setup will push you.

That set up gives me 1/4" more clearance inside and pushes it out 3/4". I should be fine.

18x9 +30 with 245/40 is very common and not gonna rub. Please tell me the car is lowered a bit

I have the sport suspension on mine according to Mazda. I bought my car used so I am not exactly sure if it is lowered. If not, I have a set of 1.5" drop springs.

Just so you kinda understand what your getting into.
18inch X8 with the wrong offset = STX
18inch X8.5 = STX regardless of offset
18inch X9 = STX
18inch X9.5 = go to DSP
You may not care right now, but the more time you spend autocrossing the more you will want to find a class.
If you go over to the racing section, most are running a 17inch wheel 9inch rim. There is a reason for that. Tires are cheaper, RX8 is competative in STX, lots of widths will fit on a 9inch rim.
Do yourself a favor and think it over long and hard. I would think its going to be couple of months before theres an autocross up there and you seem to want some pricey wheels.

AutoX actually is starting May 29/30 for the first club and I already registered haha. Reason I don't really care about these wheels is because I want something nice on my car all around. The tires I am going to get are going to be semi track but still for DD.

Maybe when I get another few grand to spend, I might grab a REAL set of race tires. Since the offset tires I bought my car on (two different sets of tires are on front and rear) and tread is kind of going, I don't want to get two sets of tires right now, one for DD and one for tracks.

With that said, I am compromising with a nice look and that will still let me run fine in AutoX.

I think I am giong with the 18x9.5 verse the 18x8.5 and probably the +38 offset. I wish I could visually see the difference between +38 and +30 on an 8.

I just need to decide now if I want to go with 245 or 255.

Well, I keep going back and forth with stuff. I will post pictures obviously once I get the setup going.

I think instead of the Work Emotion CR's, I am going with the Work Emotion XT-7's because they look nicer on the 8. I will get matte bronze because those look sick, especially against the VR:

http://www.workwheelsusa.com/media/g...0/546_full.jpg

Still debating between 8.5 and 9.5. I might do 8.5 just to stay in stock anyways. I also am going to probably wrap them with Dunlop ZII's;

Anyone run with the ZII's and have feedback? These will be autox'd and DD'd.

You and I are almost in the exact same boat...im trying to decide between +38 or +30, ill probably go 18x9. I have eibachs (~1-1.5 drop) and track and autoX all the time, I have always run STX though

I might go with +38, as long as I get the look I sort of want that is fine. The farther out you go from stock, the more you mess with the suspension geometry and possible handling.

Mine is on stock struts and springs right now, suspension work might come out eventually.

So, I think I might just stay with 18x8.5 just because. This leaves me with whether I want +38 or +30. Tires, I might go with 245/40/18; Would it be better if I went 18x9.5 and get 255/40/18? Would there even be an increase?