Butters

iTrader: (1)

I am planning on getting the RPF1 18x9.5 and running 275/35 tires on them. Someone has mentioned that unless you do a drop, it will look pretty stupid. I guess I can kinda see that. But I really plan on keeping my stock height.

Does anyone have pictures of this particular setup? Thanks in advance, guys. I tried searching and didn't come up with anything.

nate340

why would it look stupid?. these rims are about performance. not looking pretty. i feel that having a set of rpf1's on a car says form over function this cars a track car not a Friday night cruiser.

Butters

iTrader: (1)

^^^ Agreed. However, in the case of the RPF1's I feel that the form that has followed the function is beautiful. Specifically, it looks beautiful on a purposeful, lower-center-of-gravity car. I am just wondering if they look just as good on cars retaining stock height. Just because something is about performance, doesn't necessarily preclude it looking good.

I am considering lowering my car in the future, but for now it's stock height for me. So just wondering if it will "look retarded" as some have warned.

turborx8

iTrader: (1)

Here are my black rpf1's in 18x9.5 +45 on all 4 corners with stock ride height.






HDR pic for fun

swoope

iTrader: (5)

the overall dia of the 275 35 18 is ~25.7 inches. the stock tire is ~25.9 inches.

so it will look the same as far as fender gap is concerned. offset is a different story.


beers

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

that is true, looking at the pics, you can tell the wheels/tires are flushed, looks good though.
not as bad as i thought it would look, though stock height is incredibly high for my taste

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

If you can afford the +/- $2000 for RPF1 + Tires you can afford $220 for some Tein S Techs to lower your car. Dont buy starbucks for two weeks and there you go.

RickA

iTrader: (2)

agreed

stock ride height is for stock wheels, period!

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

As much as I'd like to lower my car, my experience with my general area (and NYC basically) is that lowering the car is suicide. I know NYCGPS rocks his car lowered, but unless I have an additional 1200-1500 for adjustable coilovers, I would not lower this car.

With that being said, I think the RPF1s look alright on stock height. That's what I'm going for anyways.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Your going to run stock ride with 17s? Someone kick this man in the *****. We have someone locally with 17 RPF1 on stock ride and it looks so bad. Your car will look like its on rollerskates. Dumping it on 17s will give you a amazing look, but stock ride...sorry.

Just go with 18s you will have a much better look. Dont get 17s they just look retarded.

If you cant afford it, save up for another 6 months and buy them right.

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

And I have had people who said 17" looks perfectly fine. It's 17" in theory right now, of course I'm going to have a good look at things before I buy.

But my statement towards the body drop remains the same. Unless it's adjustable coilovers, some people have local conditions that doesn't allow for your car to be dropped all the time. I know I'm definitely not driving in Flushing with a dropped car.

Butters

iTrader: (1)

This is my main reason for keeping stock height as well, the roads in Seattle and especially in my area are crap. It'd most likely be a nightmare. I don't think I'll do enough track days to justify it. But you never know.... I may find the looks of a low stance to be too enticing.

On the subject of adjustable coilovers, are they pretty easy to adjust ride height on the fly?

RickA

iTrader: (2)

If by "on the fly" you mean 10-20 minutes then yes

Jack up car
Remove wheels
Use wrenches to adjust height
Mount wheels
Lower car

The front can actually be done without removing the wheels but it's so much easier with the wheels off

turborx8

iTrader: (1)

I would love to run coilovers but I drive my car all winter so the threads would rust and they would no longer be adjustable.

RK

iTrader: (1)

They look fine to me tho H-techs did clean up the gap quite a bit.



Lots more pics of the 18x9.5 Enks with 275/35s on stock suspension here:

http://www.cleveland6club.com/phpBB2...pic.php?t=1547

If you keep stock suspension and put on some htechs you'll be fine - even in NY. You're potholes aren't any worse than the ones in Cleveland.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

yea,

all that alignment stuff is over rated anyway!

and to the op, be careful with your offsets on this size tire.

beers

RickA

iTrader: (2)

haha I don't drive the car enough to warrant anything but "eye" precise alignment until I have it sitting at the perfect height

rodjonathan

iTrader: (6)

lol eye precise huh? you much have a great eye

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

This is how retarded the gap looks running 17 RPF1s. Sorry Nick I have to bash on your car some more LOL.



I live around Seattle and I have yet to find anything but if you drove back and forth over railroad tracks to even be a problem. You just cant monster truck over anything on the road.


Butters come out to one of our Dick's meets dont be shy.

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

What sort of tires was he running? I've checked the math out, and running 245/45/17s will keep the total diameter to just under .6" less than stock. So the gap shouldn't be as large as that.

turborx8

iTrader: (1)

We are not talking about the distance from the tire to the fender.

The rim is further away from the fender so the gap looks much bigger.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Just a tad over half inch will visually look bad. You can buy them its your car just giving my opinion because I been bugging Anjio to get coils or spring/shock combo because his car looks so retarded stock ride.

Butters

iTrader: (1)

I'll have to do that one of these days.

I work in the SODO area and the roads there are crap. But like I said, lowering might be in the future. Just not right now. In the meantime, I just don't want my car to look TOO "retarded".

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

To be honest if you dropped what I have you have zero problem. Just dont roll JEEP style flying over bumps. You just have to learn how to drive with a lower tighter suspension car.

Keep tabs in the NW section. We do a lot of stuff together. Hope you like putting Dick's in your mouth.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

i run the 245/ 45 / 17 as a track tire. and the 245 / 40 / 18 as a street tire. the difference is .2 inch.

you would be hard pressed to tell the 17 and 18 inch wheels apart from more than 10 ft.

i will see if i can get some photos up later tonight..


beers