15" Steelies vs 17" MS Racing Hart comparison

[Limited Edition]

Hey...
For those who had winter tires/steelies combo over the winter, don't you find the car slightly faster? In terms of acceleration and over taking? I find with my 185, 15" tires much easier to drive. The steering wheel is lighter and it's soo much easier to monuver. The pick up is quite nice too.

After 4 months of storing my RacingHart's, i finally decided to put them back on with the nice warmer we've been getting in Toronto. Not remember what it was like when i first got the car with the stock set up, and having gotten used to the way the car drives and handles with the 15" wheel set up. 17's is much heavier on the steering wheel. Trying to turn with the wide 215's requires more effort, but handles exceptionally WELL!
But again, the acceleration and over taking capabilites has tuned down with the heavier wheels.

I guess what i'm saying is that i never though larger & heavier wheels can really make such a differences on driving feel and performance!!

 

[RagingAngel]

I don't own a MSP but I hear what you are saying....

I come from a different camp (Integra-R) *GASP!* where big wheels are exchanged for the smallest possible and sticky rubber is held in the highest esteem.

I don't understand what Mazda was thinking when they put the MSP on the streets. The 17"RH are heavy and the tires are just as heavy. Perhaps it's one big marketing ploy....

I would rather have a 15inch or 16inch wheel, it makes the 11inch brakes look a bit tougher.... where I could also take advantage of the cheaper tires and stickier rubber.... But the way everything is put together....

Can't ignore that low profile is good and the RE040 is a great tire too....but guess I've been driving on R compoundish patterns for too long (A032R/Azenis)

Anybody want to confirm or make some suggestions here?
http://www.protege5.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17264

 

[rowan]

Limited: Definitely time for some lightweight 15" alloys I have a set on order for my MP3 .. still .. hopefully they will be here for the first autocross events this year.

 

[RagingAngel]

what tire size will you choose to go with your lightweight 15s?

 

[rowan]

205/50/15 for now .. r-compounds, competition only.
if i was going for daily driving, or maybe decide i want more grip later ... i will move to 225/50/15 which is almost exactly same diameter as the stock 17s.

 

[Limited Edition]

I guess i can only imagine what an Mp3 feels like on the open straight road. I opened her up today on the 404, and as i went through the gears. After thinking back about it, the car isn't all that fast even with the turbo. Sure it's quick and i can pass with ease, but it's not fast as i thought it would be.

I bet if i were to drag with my 15" snow tires, i would get better results then the 17" RH's.

I guess my RH's are simply for show/street driving.

 

[Logan]

There are some differences.
First, when comparing my steelies and RH's, I think the weight is quite similiar. However, with the RH's, the weight is concentrated closer to the outside edge of the wheel, making it heavier when it's rolling. Tough to explain, but there are lots of good articles on this. Your snow tire is also narrower than the 215 on your car now, so you have less rubber in contact with the road, giving you less turning resistance, that's why the wheel feels lighter in your hands. You will have more of a tendancy to "follow the road" now that the 17's are back on.
Pro's and con's... Personally, I prefer the 17's.

 

[Minus]

yes, our cars were made for the street and to be flashy so the 17" dubbs look a lot better than some whimpy 15" 'nubbs'... i was thinking of getting a set of 18" wheels but then i decided that my 17"s weighed enough as it is and besides i am about to splurge and buy a set of Yokohama Parada Spec 2s and later, (maybe even next year) get some lighter weight 17" wheels that still keep that street show look going on.

I mean its cool if you like to race 7 days a week to run around on 15" wheels but i like it when the ladies make comments on my nice looking car

 

[ForceFed]

Hey minus,I personally agree with you about the look that you get with the bigger wheels,racey(not ricey guys,I know some of you will think this!(no) )and showy(not a word?) I'm also not sure if you have ever been in a car with the paradas or not but they are extremely noisy!They make a lot of road noise when rolling!They are a good tire but just noisy,if you can deal with that then go for 'em!

 

[Newf]

I personally, cannot stand the looks of a 15" tire on something like our cars. I would rather walk then drive around on some bad 15" wheels in the summer with a car like this. Just me I guess. 15" wheels remind me when I couldn't afford nice rims

2nd. I have 14" steelies for winter. Yes, duh, the wheel is easier to turn. 185 vs 205..nuff said. But how do they handle.....like s***. Nuff said again.

As for acceleration, I barely notice a difference between the two in a straight line. Yes, there is a very small difference, but you know what? It's nothing. Again, how much do you weigh? how much does your 3 friends in the car with you weigh? Probably more then the difference between steelies/RH's eh? Racing is one thing, driving around everyday is another. I'd be driving on 17's all year long if I could

Oh, and then there's the slight problem with traction and my steelies....not fun at all. Start off quick....spin spin spin spin. I'm sure a sticky tire would solve that problem though.

....just me ranting.