17x10.5's on S13 Front

[2Fass240us]

Anyone ever seen them?

I would like to run these (http://www.americanmuscle.com/17x105-1995-cobra-r-black.html) all the way around.

[KA240SX808]

Didn't Jason Rhode (sp*) run something ridiculous like that w/ wide Flares?

[Umai Kakudo]

What's stopping you? Bolt them up and start making room!

[Scores240]

Will definitely need front wide fenders. I say dooo it.

[VQ35goofus]

prolly wide fenders and flares.....Andy is High to think hes going to do this tho. Do an event or two, then drop more money on the car, your becoming "that guy" andy. Yeah i went there, eat me.

[jmauld]

haha, Andy won't be doing events for a while, and when he does, he's gonna need more tire...

[McCoy]

17x10 +25, 275/40/17 V710's... test fitment picture, sold wheels recently afterwards.

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/959/medium/V710_front_fitment.jpg

[VQ35goofus]

see thats how my 16x8's fit since i pulled the hell out of my fender, and i still have only 3-5mm of clearance between tire and coilover.

[2Fass240us]

Thanks for the feedback. I am not opposed to running some very wide front fenders to accomplish it. Ideally a negative offset wheel would help get the wheel/tire away from the struts, but w/o going custom I am just going to have to run as wide a spacer as I feel comfortable with.

Casey and I were talking on AIM last night and texting today...I was talking about running a 315 on all 4 corners. Casey called me high and said that I would never get the r-comps heated in an HPDE session. I responded by saying that the 315's would be for street/auto-x, with something more like a 285 or 295 r-comp for track use.*

This is all theoretical right now. I may soon add tremendous amounts of power over my stock SR power levels, and am thinking about all the necessary mods to do so.

*For when I do track events 8 years from now. :(

[clutchguy]

Didn't Jason Rhode (sp*) run something ridiculous like that w/ wide Flares?

Jason ran 18x11 in the front, 18x12.5 in the rear.

[jmauld]

Andy, I thought I was your only late night aim dater.. I'm soo torn up about that, I'm cutting you off!

[jmauld]

VQ35goofus, have you started a swap that you're not telling us about, or did I miss the thread? :)

[VQ35goofus]

ive brought it up, but not actually exposed any info, clearly its happening. I have alot of parts accumulating, and i just need to sell all my old SR stuff after my last event next weekend then ill be able to do the whole shebang + some other goodies this winter. Car will be NASA PTA prepared and hopefully competitive without running 315's on all four corners :)

[jmauld]

Sweet. I knew you were considering it, but I didn't know that you were jumping in!

Looking forward to some pictures. What else do you have planned?

[VQ35goofus]

Kognition wing (on order), front splitter (in development as we speak) and aftermarket bumper for better splitter to chassis clearance, wider wheels to fit my freshly acquired 275/40R17 RA-1's, and fender flares made from the JUN molds i made 4 years ago.

[Bumnah]

Just wondering, but have you thought about changing the car?:p

[2Fass240us]

fender flares made from the JUN molds i made 4 years ago.PM me. I want.

[VQ35goofus]

i like driving this car. If i sell it and start over im out all kinds of money. might as well drive it till it dies. Why switch the chassis when things are working and so much fun. I am no S13 die-hard fanatic, but i know it would be a huge financially retarded decision to switch now.

[Just_Wanna_Drive]

i like driving this car. If i sell it and start over im out all kinds of money. might as well drive it till it dies. Why switch the chassis when things are working and so much fun. I am no S13 die-hard fanatic, but i know it would be a huge financially retarded decision to switch now.

your absolutely right... I did it when I bought my vert... haven't raced in a year. :o

[Def]

Those Cobra R wheels are heavy from what I remember. Like in the 25+ lb range each.

Why not just run some 17x9.5" MB Battles or 17x10 FN01R-C's? Not too much more money to definitely save quite a bit of weight.

The other big problem with 275/40-17s is that the sidewall is just huge. A 285/30-18 is a better tire if you want something seriously wide.

[jmauld]

The other big problem with 275/40-17s is that the sidewall is just huge. A 285/30-18 is a better tire if you want something seriously wide.

I've tried telling him that, he won't listen.

[VQ35goofus]

its not a matter of wide or not, its availability. The most commonly sold used r-comp is 275 R17, so im just opening up my options by getting wheels to fit the most available tire.

[a_ahmed]

This is where my bn blister front fenders come in handy LOL... 315s easily fit in the front with 335s even 355s in the rear ;) Just teasing :P

Yeah jason ran 18x11 up front... its doable.

Man up and do some sick aero front and rear for some crazy downforce and itll all work itself out ;)

Only prob with 17s is... well... theres barely anything wide enough thats not record setting tall in size. 18s and 19s are the only bet for low profile/lower height wide tires.... 275/40/17 is the 'shortest' wide tire... after that u get what... 295/40/17, 315/35/17 and in limited tire choices? Not really good choices... 295/30/18 on an 18x11 should be pretty nice 25" tall just like stock tires... and plenty tire choices.. Then there is (albeit limited) ridiculous sizes like 335/25/19 and 345/25/19 for vettes, vipers, porsches, lambos, etc...

[2Fass240us]

I'm not running 18's.

[a_ahmed]

Then just stick to 275s. That's tall as is.

[McCoy]

I'm not running 18's.
X2... well unless Ahmed's buying my tires :)

[Bumnah]

18s are "ballin'" Andy

PS new cheese up. get now.

[a_ahmed]

and also the only tires worthwhile running wide that arent tall as a skyscraper.

Honestly i dont see whats the scare of prices when they are not that much more... unless of course you're intesreted only in used cheap 17s like 275s then yeah that is cheap.. but if ur buying new wide 17s vs 18s... not a huge difference. Brand new is expensive no matter what.

When I use up my 255s ill put some 275s in the rear and see how that goes since i have 17x9.5 all around... but beyond that im going to 18s.... just too much hassle to fit wider up front in 17... if im gona do the effort might as well go to 18s and have more choice

[Scores240]

Exactly what i want to do. Just the initial purchase is really high. Because i want to go 18's so i can run wide r comps.

No reason to go wide in 18's if your not going to run r comps because your'e not going to drive the stupid wide wheels on the street with street tires theres no point in that really.


and also the only tires worthwhile running wide that arent tall as a skyscraper.

Honestly i dont see whats the scare of prices when they are not that much more... unless of course you're intesreted only in used cheap 17s like 275s then yeah that is cheap.. but if ur buying new wide 17s vs 18s... not a huge difference. Brand new is expensive no matter what.

When I use up my 255s ill put some 275s in the rear and see how that goes since i have 17x9.5 all around... but beyond that im going to 18s.... just too much hassle to fit wider up front in 17... if im gona do the effort might as well go to 18s and have more choice

[2Fass240us]

Last time I looked, street tires were significantly more expensive in 18's.*

I thought 17" take-offs were more common.*

Anything larger than 17" on a S13 is clownshoes.**

* From memory, so probably flawed
** Fact

[a_ahmed]

Clown ey?

http://www.jrho.com/sm240/sm240eltoro.JPG

[SoSideways]

That car looks good, but the wheel gap kills it for me.

I don't know but I guess his car needed that gap for suspension travel or something, because I think I remember him saying the wheels rubbed or something under hard cornering.

See, if that car was road raced, it probably could have came down some to eliminate those wheel gaps, and it would have looked MEAN AS F**K!!!!

[2Fass240us]

Yes. What about that don't you understand? Sure Rhodes's car looks good, but he has flares and proper ride height. This is one of the only examples of 18's on an S13 that is actually attractive.

We have enough fitment problems with struts in the front...why would I create a diameter issue in addition to the offset one?

[SoSideways]

^ I wasn't talking to you?

You can do whatever the f**k you want to your car.

Put 13" wheels on it for all I care.

[2Fass240us]

^ I wasn't talking to you?

You can do whatever the f**k you want to your car.

Put 13" wheels on it for all I care.Don't get all bishy on me...I was responding to ahmed and we posted almost exactly at the same time.

[SoSideways]

I'm not getting bishy on you.

I'm still waiting for the reach around. I might get bishy at you if you don't give me the reach around soon.

As for getting bishy at ahmed... you may now return to your regularly scheduled programme.

[2Fass240us]

I'm not getting bishy on you.

I'm still waiting for the reach around. I might get bishy at you if you don't give me the reach around soon.nicely done

[a_ahmed]

http://rlv.zcache.com/spread_some_love_tshirt-p235991791555682317cbfg_210.jpg

[2Fass240us]

I love Crimmus.

[jmauld]

Andy. You won't increase overall diameter by going to an 18 you bastard.

[ecugrad]

Andy. You won't increase overall diameter by going to an 18 you bastard.

Quit trying to reason with him, it wont work.

[2Fass240us]

Andy. You won't increase overall diameter by going to an 18 you bastard.I realize that, but the tire price difference, need to change wheels AGAIN, and the fact that I really believe they look bad on a S13, and I really just don't have much interest.

Aside from searching eBay, RR-AX, and RacingJunk, where else could I look to compare take-off prices between the two diameters?

[SoSideways]

Maybe talk to your local Porsche or BMW race teams? See if they have anything in those sizes that you're interested in, and see if they'll do a take off programme with you.

I'm sure they wouldn't mind, unless they run their tires all the way down before they retire those tires (no pun intended)...

[jmauld]

Check out sccaforums, nasaforums and your local scca club. There are a lot of people running the 285/30/18s these days, as they seem to be a hot tire size. Have Aaron keep an eye open for you as well.

However, they are very expensive like you said, but I believe that will be the case with any wide tire.

I honestly think you will have a harder time fitting a wide 17 than you would have fitting that 18" tire. At least the last time I looked, there were no wide 17s that had a small enough diameter to work on our cars.

Before you invest a lot into rims, make a spreadsheet and do the overall diameter comparison.

[2Fass240us]

Check out sccaforums, nasaforums and your local scca club. There are a lot of people running the 285/30/18s these days, as they seem to be a hot tire size. Have Aaron keep an eye open for you as well.

However, they are very expensive like you said, but I believe that will be the case with any wide tire.

I honestly think you will have a harder time fitting a wide 17 than you would have fitting that 18" tire. At least the last time I looked, there were no wide 17s that had a small enough diameter to work on our cars.

Before you invest a lot into rims, make a spreadsheet and do the overall diameter comparison.Thanks Jason.

I need to look at gearing anyways, so tire diameter is an important input. And assuming the diameter is consistent, I could always run 17's on the skreets and 18's on track.

[ecugrad]

https://www.fossport.com/Default.aspx

[jmauld]

Tire diameter doesn't just effect gearing. It has a big effect on low you can get the car. You can change the gearing through the rear-end, so I would still opt for running a 17" or 18" tire with the smallest diameter possible*.


*That's only for cars that need more brakes. For an autocross car, that doesn't have/need big power, you'd have a hard time convincing me to run anything other than that 275/15 tire.

[2Fass240us]

Sifting through SCCAForums, first 10 pages of Classifieds, dating 6.8.09 to now, yields the following sizes with >1 FS post:
225/45/17 (25.0" dia) - 2 sets, 2 pairs
245/45/17 (25.7" dia) - 3 sets
245/35/18 (24.8" dia) - 6 sets, 1 pair
275/40/17 (25.7" dia) - 4 sets, 2 pairs
275/35/18 (25.6" dia) - 3 sets
285/30/18 (24.7" dia) - 5 sets, 1 pair

(diameters calculated using the Miata.net tire size calculator (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html))

FOSSPort (the link Ryan showed above) carries Koni Challenge tires, and the 245/45/17 is rather plentiful (and cheap too, at $85/ea).

If I were sticking with 9" wide wheels ala the Cobra R's, the 245/45/17's or 275/40/17's would be great, but the overall diameter is an inch larger than the 285/30/18 Jason mentioned. Damn you, Jason. It looks like I need to source some 18" wheels for racing.

[jmauld]

I told you, the 17s just don't work well for us. IMO, the 285 is more tire than you will ever need unless you're playing for money or fame.

[ecugrad]

Also, ebay always has a set of Mustang Challenge tires, 245/40/18 and 275/35/18 BFG R1's

[2Fass240us]

The latter is appealing.

[McCoy]

Also, ebay always has a set of Mustang Challenge tires, 245/40/18 and 275/35/18 BFG R1's
Yeah, but these are about the same OD as a 275/40/17 :poke:

[Def]

Thanks Jason.

I need to look at gearing anyways, so tire diameter is an important input. And assuming the diameter is consistent, I could always run 17's on the skreets and 18's on track.

Oh, so NOW the 285/30-18s are a good idea? :p

Really though, 275/40-17s up front will mean your car is going to be pretty high just due to frame clearance.

[2Fass240us]

Oh, so NOW the 285/30-18s are a good idea? :pThey are AN option now, versus being completely off the table earlier.

Really though, 275/40-17s up front will mean your car is going to be pretty high just due to frame clearance.What do you mean by frame clearance?

[jmauld]

The taller tire will add 1/2" to your ride height, then you will add another 1/2-1" by raising your spring perches to accomodate the taller tire.

[McCoy]

The taller tire will add 1/2" to your ride height, then you will add another 1/2-1" by raising your spring perches to accomodate the taller tire.
this is what wider fenders are for, so you can get the tire beside the spring perch.

[V1A]

this is what wider fenders are for, so you can get the tire beside the spring perch.

Even if you push the wheel/tire out far enough to do this, you'll still have clearance issues.

The overall diameter of the wheel/tire will limit how low you can go, because the tire will rub the unibody (where the body harness runs). Which is what I think was meant by frame clearance in an earlier post.

[McCoy]

Even if you push the wheel/tire out far enough to do this, you'll still have clearance issues.

The overall diameter of the wheel/tire will limit how low you can go, because the tire will rub the unibody (where the body harness runs).
I know this all to well as I ran 275/40/17's last year for track tires. I still can't justify the cost difference (285/30/18 -vs- 275/40/17) just to enable myself to lower the car an additional 1/4" or so.

I guess if I was doing some sort of time trials or some other sort of competition, then I would agree to the lower tire OD being worth the cost, but for what I do, it's just not worth it... simple as that.

[2Fass240us]

Who said anything about me lowering the car? I was going to keep the AGX "truck height" thing going. :D

[V1A]

(285/30/18 -vs- 275/40/17) just to enable myself to lower the car an additional 1/4" or so.... it's just not worth it... simple as that.

I agree. I just wanted to point out that a wider fender is not going to solve all of the clearance issues associated with a 275/40/17 up front.

[a_ahmed]

just chop **** up and make it fit lol.

I found an old doc i had saved where don revealed to me he ran effectively 17x10+4 on his s13 hatch in the front with 275/40/17.... dunno now...

[Def]

I know this all to well as I ran 275/40/17's last year for track tires. I still can't justify the cost difference (285/30/18 -vs- 275/40/17) just to enable myself to lower the car an additional 1/4" or so.

I guess if I was doing some sort of time trials or some other sort of competition, then I would agree to the lower tire OD being worth the cost, but for what I do, it's just not worth it... simple as that.

I think it's way more than 1/4" with the same frame clearance taken into account. The height difference just bolting them on is 1/4", then you gain another 1/4" up top above the tire to play with lowering. So 1/2" all things being equal(maybe a bit more due to geometry differences).

Frame clearance meaning to the top of the front wheel well. Tubbing helps this somewhat.

It's a little more $$$, but IMO I think it just strengthens the argument that 275/40-17s just aren't a good tire for our cars. You can either go with something narrower/smaller, or wider/smaller. I think something like a Mustang fits with a tire like a 275/40 much better.

[SM240]

No one mentioned the hoosier 295/35-17. Thats what Im looking at for next year. If it clears the front coil, ill put em on all four. I agree with some things here, but for me I spend $80 a tire for a half life r6 which I get a full year roughly 16 events out of em. However I usually win my class, but pax around 10th or a little less, so the local sm class isnt that serious, but I want to see the full potential of the car and therefore Ill check those out next year and become god locally for a year. So far I have ftd 3 events this year, off ftd times by roughly a second at most events to a national prep csp miata(placed 13th this year) on for what in my opinion is tight courses(lot is 600 x 400). Then again I got whipped by a stu prep m3 a few weeks back running nearly the same times.

[ecugrad]

No one mentioned the hoosier 295/35-17. Thats what Im looking at for next year. If it clears the front coil, ill put em on all four. I agree with some things here, but for me I spend $80 a tire for a half life r6 which I get a full year roughly 16 events out of em. However I usually win my class, but pax around 10th or a little less, so the local sm class isnt that serious, but I want to see the full potential of the car and therefore Ill check those out next year and become god locally for a year. So far I have ftd 3 events this year, off ftd times by roughly a second at most events to a national prep csp miata(placed 13th this year) on for what in my opinion is tight courses(lot is 600 x 400). Then again I got whipped by a stu prep m3 a few weeks back running nearly the same times.

You don't have a problem getting heat into the R6?

[SM240]

Of course I do lol, thats why Im actually gonna spend some money next year. The 295/35-17 is very close to the 285/30-18 minus the shoulder height diff. again the r6 reminds of victoracers, plenty life, but not the highest level of grip. Still keeps me competitive, but again next year I think ill spend the money and see how big of a difference I see in results. Id bet Id still get near 2 seconds with the A6 vs R6 on most courses.

[Matt93SE]

Are you talking about during solo or for road course?
I would figure we'd still have a problem getting heat into them even on a road course- at least with a stock-powered car.

[SM240]

autox for me, and I agree tough even at a track event.

[charles]

FWIW, I'm running 17x9.5(255/40/17) +30's on my S13 now but maxed out around -2 deg camber. I only rolled the lip of the front fender and nothing else. Honestly that probably wasn't even necessary. Planning to add some 3mm spacers so I can pivot the wheel back in toward the strut housing to gain a little more camber.

I remember saying to myself after install, "I probably could have fit 17x10's", beyond that it's pointless IMO to stay with 4x4 17" tires unless you are really going to issue a beatdown on the bodywork for clearance.