Just picked up an 09 sport and am setting it up for BS Solo. I have Konis comming in today and its time to choose a tire.

Question is with the new gearing of the 09 would it be better to go with a 275 or 295 for the added height or stick with the 285. I don't want to try the new 255s untill the issues are resolved.

 

How many sets of tires do you plan to buy this season? Will you be competing at any National Tours, Pro Solos and/or Nats?

If you're just running locally, I'd buy a set of 245/35/18 V710's and "learn" the car. The tires should last for more than 120 runs which will give you the ability to do several local events and T&T's and get plenty of seat time in the car.

For National events, if you want to be eligible for tire contingency, Hoosier is the only way to go now. Which size you go with is up to your personal preference and driving style.

My co-driver and I prefer to have a tire fit squarely on a wheel rather than squeezing the biggest rubber possible on there. So we've always run a 245 tire on my RX-8 (we are *considering* the 255). Several fast/solid drivers like Isley, Eric Jones, Jim Fossum have also gone with this size (Eric is now on the 255). Then there's the other group of fast solid drivers like Harvey, Carter etc. who run 285's or 295's and can make them work (Bryan H won on 285's at San Diego NT last month).

So there's no clear answer as to which size is fastest...

 

I might make the Puru nt later in the year. I would buy a new set for that. Untill then it will just be local events.
I just worried about too much gearing with the new rear end with such a short tire.

 

How big are your local lots?

On a smaller lot where speeds may only reach 50-55mph, the short tire with the shorter '09 gearing could be killer.

 

I only used 3rd 1 time in my bsp sti. I would hit redline pretty often. About 60 or so mph. Of course that was with 335wtq.

 

I'd start off with the V710's. 2nd gear should still get to ~60mph (maybe 1-2mph lower) but you may not even see speeds that high locally. Get to know the car, do as many events as possible and then you may want to consider the 275 or 295 Hoosier (for the longer gearing) at National events.

Good luck and enjoy your new car!

 

I'm strongly considering that. I can do track days on the v710 also. There's a track about 20min from my house.

 

I was in a similar situation to you and have a new 09' that we ran for the first time two weeks ago. The first event we ran on 285 kumhos and the car was an absolute blast to drive. I have it bone stock with the exception of an alignment. For the next event we will have the bar drilled and whiteline bushings. It was either that or the hotchkiss miata bar. I chose free with $30 bushings first. We ran three drivers in the car at a our first event with the car and all three paxed within top 20. Gearing was not an issue and the car was a blast to drive. My only issue was i am not quite used to the brakes on the car. I went with the tr motorsports wheels at under $600 and 20lbs per wheel were a steal. We plan on trying a couple of different tire combinations including 285 hohos and 245 hohos to try to see the difference.
+
Sacha

 

Just got my Konis about 20 min ago. Already ordered the whitline bushings and plan to drill the stock bar befor my first event. That's the wheels I'm going with also. Just got to make up my mind on those tires. I'll probably go with the v710 245s for my first set and see how I like them.
Off to start wrenching on those konis.
Anyone k ow where I can find the torque specs for the suspension I will have to take off for strut swap?

 

Just drilled the bar. Was originally gonna take off and have my buddy put it in his drill press, but its a pita to get off the car, so instead raised on the lift at work(its great working at a dealer and having everything at your disposal) loosened the bar and used an air drill to drill.
Took about 45 minutes and the car seems to corner flatter on the street with the oe tires. The bushings will hopefully be in soon. Ordered the bushings from mazdaspeedstore.com about $30 shipped. S0L08 where did you get the koni's from, also has someone been able to verify fitment on the 09' nobody lists them as fitting 09's

sacha

 

Got them from Tire Rack, they are on sale at about ebay prices. So I picked them up. I posted the question on here about 09 fitment and someone replied from tire rack and said they do fit. Also on Konis website they list as 04-09 by the part numbers.

 

Ordered the TRM wheels with 245/35 710, they would not install the 285s. They also did not have any Hoosiers at the warehouse closest to me and I would have had to pay an extra $100 for shipping. So that kind of sealed the deal.
Installed the Konis last night. About an inch higher in the front than in the back. Hven't had a chance to try and fix it yet. But Konis definately fit on the 09.

 

The wheel gap in the front is more than in the rear - not sure if it's a 1" difference though. Have you driven the car around to get everything to settle?

 

Did you mix the front and rear springs?

 

No, only had one end off at a time so thats not possible.
I'm going to loosen the UCA bolts and take a ride down the block just to make sure they are settled. Just havn't had the time yet. I did preload everything befor tightening anything up. It might just be the way they sit. I might get to it tonight.

 

As a reference, these are my ride heights:

Stock:


On konis (sorry cell phone pic):

 

Thats pretty close to what mine looks like. I'm going to make sure they are settled and then take some after pics and compare.

 

Full of fuel ? The extra weight will change the wheel gap.

Thanks for the Biz...

Chris H

 

Yes filled up yesterday. Going to work on it now.

 

Front came down a little. Its where I think it should be now.
I don't think I can handle it day to day on full stiff. Why would anyone make an adjustable strut that you can't adjust when its on the car?
Does taking the rears off screw up the aignment? Only thing being undone is the UCA bolts.

 

The rear shocks in the 09 are 2" longer than the 04-08s. Thats why the rear of your car is lower.

 

Well here are some before and after.
Before

After

 

if true, this would likely make the current Koni not legal for an '09 in Stock

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...25&postcount=7


.

 

Saini reported they were the same... I wonder if the R3 uses the 04-08 length, while the rest use something different.

We need pics.

 

I will be installing mine hopefilly this week and will take pictures and measurements when i have them off the car. Mark are you still running doubles like the ones that were on Mark Allen(now Carter's car) or are you running somthing else.