New wheels/tires have transformed the car

[SmartBill]

Thanks for the info and pics David V! Looks great.
SmartBill

[dblreeder]

Did you notice any change in mileage? It strikes me that with that much more rubber on the road resistance may significantly decrease mileage. Thanks. Looks Great by the way!!

[smartskate]

sweet looks nice

[pabille]

Originally Posted by DavidV

We recently replaced the staggered factory 15" alloys with wider 15"x6" all around and are now running 195/50/15 summer performance tires.

I just tried your idea, DavidV. Rials and Generals. I took these pix just after I bolted them on in the driveway then went tooling around town testing them out. Excuse the colors. It was late afternoon and I lightened the pix to show detail. DavidV was right. No rubbing. They even turn well at low speed even without power steering. On the freeway, the car feels more sure footed. I haven't tried any high speed cornering, yet. I wanna scrub the factory finish off, first.

[DavidV]

Originally Posted by pabille

I just tried your idea, DavidV. Rials and Generals.

They look great - now take the car out on some twisties and let me know if you notice a difference! ;)

** DavidV

[factor9]

Originally Posted by DavidV

They look great - now take the car out on some twisties and let me know if you notice a difference! ;)

** DavidV

David, I had the same question that dblreeder had. Have you noticed any change in mileage with the extra rubber on the road? Relatedly, are you sticking with the factory recommended tire pressures, or with the improved handling, have you thought about upping the pressures a little in order to help offset the increase resistance?

No matter what, the wheels look fantastic! And, I'm really looking forward to meeting the guys from The Works when we have the rally and listening to their ideas. Any closer in coming up with a June date?

Great job! Bob

[DavidV]

Originally Posted by factor9

David, I had the same question that dblreeder had. Have you noticed any change in mileage with the extra rubber on the road? Relatedly, are you sticking with the factory recommended tire pressures, or with the improved handling, have you thought about upping the pressures a little in order to help offset the increase resistance?

No matter what, the wheels look fantastic! And, I'm really looking forward to meeting the guys from The Works when we have the rally and listening to their ideas. Any closer in coming up with a June date?

Great job! Bob

As expected, my mileage did suffer a bit from the increased rolling resistance of the wider, grippier tires. However, since the air intake netted us a bit of efficiency over the factory air box, as between the two it seems to be roughly a wash. Hopefully with the new exhaust (prototype) I'll be back on the positive side of the fuel efficiency curve with the reduction in pumping losses.

As for the tire pressures, I haven't messed with them too much just yet. I think I have them set at around 32 psi all around, and am pretty pleased with road feel/handling. I suspect that the next big set of gains will be realized through changes in the alignment spec with some of the suspension tuning bits we are working on. I am particularly keen to experiment with different toe settings and more negative camber in the front.

** DavidV

[RussBarnes]

Don't forget that these are probably larger tires. My original ones measured 71 1/8" around the center. My new Michelin 185/60-15's measure about 3" larger (I say about because wheels at powder painters and only had one mounted for a short time and did a quick check). That is about a 3% greater roll-out and when I do mpg calculations I will have to multiply by 1.03 to get actual mpg. Measure your new tires and calculate the difference in size and then let us know if your mpg has suffered.

[RICHARD GILLEN]

The car looks quite normal, what do you figure this change over would cost.

[pabille]

I had a chance to make the Rial/General setup perform on Turnbull Canyon Road between Whittier and Hacienda Heights and on the Palos Verdes Penninsula. Fun, fun, fun . No where as quick as my '03 Miata but very smile inducing.
It rained today and I tested what could be the enhanced aquaplaning tendencies of the wider setup. It passed. I was always in control. The ABS kicked in when I "pressed" it into service on slick patches but everything was in control. Cornering gave me no surprises.
The look is definitely quite normal. Those who were not car people did not even notice my custom setup. It's a lot of (lateral) go with not too much show.