Thinking whether i should go 17" or 18"

Grant Monkhouse · December 08, 2012, 10:52:40 AM

Quote from: m1tch;835595The question you need to be asking is: how big are my brake calipers?

15"-16" = optimal for performance with regards to acceleration (smaller rim helps with acceleration and keeps the weight down) - why do you think Mazda chose to run a fairly wide 16" on the FD?
17" = Compromise between looking good and grip performance
18"+ = show only (unless you have massive brakes fitted and need the extra clearance)

This isn\'t exactly true, you can keep the overall circumference of the wheel tyre combo on an 18" rim the same as a 16" rim tyre combo. You have to choose the the correct size profile, different widths also effect the overall size of the tyre so if you have a 235 on the front wheels and a 265 on the rear the profiles have to be different to achieve the same overall size.

The new GTR runs 20" rims iirc and that goes around corners better than any rotary.

However if I was racing a car I would go with 17" wheels and a good tyre combo to keep the overall size as close to the original FD sizes. Plus the costs of the tyres is less

Grizzly · December 08, 2012, 11:59:05 AM

Quote from: Grant Monkhouse;844023The new GTR runs 20" rims iirc and that goes around corners better than any rotary.

Wo wo wo Cowboy, Sorry did i read this right

Grizzly · December 08, 2012, 12:03:50 PM

Quote from: m1tch;83559515"-16" = optimal for performance with regards to acceleration (smaller rim helps with acceleration and keeps the weight down) - why do you think Mazda chose to run a fairly wide 16" on the FD?
17" = Compromise between looking good and grip performance
18"+ = show only (unless you have massive brakes fitted and need the extra clearance)

All about Unsprung weight, Don\'t forget the stock FD rims and Tyres don\'t weigh allot at all so to keep good performance it don\'t matter if there 15-19" as long as you don\'t add any more weight. There is a task for you right there

If you can keep the Rim/tyre weight the same then all you are doing by going between 17-19" is reducing the side wall so there is less tyre distorsion through corners.

Imho about 24" arch to floor and 24 1/4 at the rear then put what ever wheel combo you want on that keeps it there (shouldn\'t matter what Rim size you pick as you drop the side wall to compensate)

Grizzly · December 08, 2012, 12:38:48 PM

Remember the middle number 225/45/17 (45) is a Percentage of the width (225) so 45% of 225 is approx 100, so you need to keep that about the same for the rear (or as close as) so 245/4017 would be 98 and 255/40/17 would be 102. So ether would work together without looking daft. If you didn\'t drop the % so you had 225/45/17 and 255/45/17 rear the Rears would be 15mmx2 (30mm) fatter side wall hence the reason you drop the Aspect ratio (% of the width of the tyre)

Grant Monkhouse · December 08, 2012, 12:41:23 PM

Quote from: Grizzly;844026Wo wo wo Cowboy, Sorry did i read this right

The 787B doesn\'t count

Grizzly · December 15, 2012, 10:51:58 AM

Bone stock maybe but Places like Revolution and ReA might have some thing to sat about that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd-AnG3LYUg in fact its so fast they put a TV in so the Driver has something to do once he\'s spanked them all and Cruising

Grizzly · December 15, 2012, 11:29:50 AM

Quote from: Grant Monkhouse;844023The new GTR runs 20" rims iirc and that goes around corners better than any rotary.

All the new Tech in the world can\'t beat Gravity

The FD has a Very Low COG and 1260kg, the GTR does have a Low COG but not in the same ball park and it has 1700kg to deal with, its why the GTR still struggles to beat the FD on the Touge etc when it comes down to Handling and can\'t be covered up with Power.