Choices - Rims/Tires OR Coilovers
 

Alright, this summer im going to treat myself. But i'm torn between rims/tires or coilovers.

Info:
04 MT WB. Decent power mods, all N/A. I enjoy spirited driving.

I'm looking for a more aggressive look for the car as well. I do not compete in AutoX but I may take it to the track once a year.

Choices:

O.Z. Alleggerita HLT Gold Painted with Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec Blackwall
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pc/oz-gold.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...spec_ci2_l.jpg

OR

MazdaSpeed Coilovers
https://www.fluidmotorsports.com/ima...edium/1105.jpg

Which and why?

wheels and tires. i haven't looked at the direzza's but nice wheels and tires trump coilovers unless you're tracking your car IMHO. it freshens up the look and nice tires feel so much better than the OEMs.

^2nd - Plus the rims will hold their value a little better (as long as you don't curb them) if you ever trade the car in. You'll only get your moneys worth out of the coil overs if you track the car.

Also - new tires are always a solid investment. Safer, better performance, etc. I couldn't believe the difference when I peeled off my OEM Bridgestones - it was like a new car. And I got a bargain tire to replace them (Generals)

Nice, thanks for the comments. Yea the rims will definitely hold their value w/o rashing them.

Keep 'em coming.

I would say just do the Dunlop Z1's on your stock wheels. $400 a piece for those OZ's in OEM size is not worth it for only 2-3lbs loss in weight per corner. Just get some nice 245/40 Z1's and call it a day. Save the rest of the money for car payments or if you feel you really want to upgrade your suspension spend some of the $1600 you saved by not getting the rims on a good spring/strut combo or if you plan to track it the Mazdaspeed coils or Bilstein PSS9's.

Im a total noob when it comes to tire sizes and wheel sizes. Aren't the stock rims 225/45R18?...so i'd want 225/45R18 tires...right.

Also, my current stock rims are loaded with curb rash...thanks to the previous owner.

Yeah... thats why i said what I did. I gathered that you're after more of a cosmetic gain with the rims and tires than really lightened performance.

Am I right?

245/40 are cheaper sometimes, fit the rim better, and handle better. That's why he said 245/40.

Well I like the fact that those rims are lighter. And yes i love the cosmetic appeal.

Nah you said 245/40. No worries.

Gotcha, I just don't fully grasp how a 245/40 tire will fit on a 225/45 rim.

There is no such thing as a "225/45" rim. The stock rim is 8" wide and can fit a variety of sizes. The rim you are getting could even be wider, like 8.5" if you wanted and would therefore take wider tires. A 245/40 is a good size for either one of those. There is also something called offset which adjusts how far out from the center of the car that the wheels sits also. Offset, rim width, and tire size all affect how good the combo looks and performs. Coilovers are a bit more complicated lol. They all work, but they are not all created equal.

Your stock rims and the OZ's are both 18x8. You are correct that the stock tires are 225/45-18, but they are really narrow even for 225's. The 245's area much better fit for an 18x8. I guess I should have asked you why you wanted the OZ's, whether it was looks or performance. Main reason I question them is because they aren't really an upgrade unless you are trying to stay within an autocross class spec. Personally I would go with a wider wheel if it were my money being spent, $400/wheel is not cheap. I assume you just really like the way they look? I know not everyone likes the looks of the RPF1 and they are "played" but I paid $270/wheel for my 18's and $235/wheel for my 17's which are both wider and as light if not lighter.

What kind of benefit are YOU looking to get from this upgrade? If you answer that question it will be easier for us to help you make the right choice.

I want the Gold on WB scheme, and if I am shelling out that much cash, i want it to be wider then stock. Also, a more aggressive look is a plus.

But as you know, i know nothing about tire sizes and all of that fun stuff.

I did look at those RFP1's, they are cheap...and I could get them painted the OZ gold color...

I am not opposed to a staggered setup either.

Get the dunlops and keep the stock rims, if you really want the gold theme, the look in to powder coating your wheels. I also would look into a different brand of coilover than MazdaSpeed.

I'd actually drop it first if you plan on doing rims in the future, wheels will make a difference, but will look like ass with wheel gap no matter how nice they are.

Tires will make a bigger difference in reducing your laptimes & increasing lateral Gs, but a good set of suspension mods will make a bigger difference in your subjective impression of how the car handles. So, what floats your boat? Sheer Gs or reducing roll & brake dive?

Before you buy MS Coilovers, read this:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-sale-wanted-44/wts-mazdaspeed-coilovers-broken-168916/

Best bang-for-the-buck is a set of shocks (Tokico, Koni, Bilstein - take your pick) and good tires on the OEM rims. The shocks will reduce roll, dive, and squat and will make the car feel more "buttoned down." Not as cool as a set of coilovers, perhaps, but the stock suspension is very good and a good set of shocks will tighten up the car without compromising the suspension geometry.

I voted wheels/tires. My friend has the star specs on his miniS and that thing grips like no other. A VERY good tire

I voted for the wheels and tires but you should try to get something wider than 8". You don't want to be kicking yourself later because you don't have massive amounts of grip (or at least the option to go bigger than 245). I didn't read the whole thread so you may have your reasons but this is just my .02.

Well i decided. Tires only.

Same tires but 245/40/R18. I'll probably get them around early july.

Well, if you are waiting until July watch the reviews. The Kumho XS (which just came out) may turn out to be as good if not better than the SS, and it's about $30 cheaper per tire in the size you want.

Yea i was lookin at those too! It has a very interesting tread pattern. In the meantime, I'll get the most out of the stock tires.