17" wheels that fit the MS3
- Thread starter Sacrilicious
- Start date
Boosted333
Member
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- '08 MS3
I am going from 18" to 17" for less rotational mass, better performance and better MPG.
I have noticed a lot of auto-x cars with 17's, not 18's... i dunno, maybe its common and handles better too??
I have noticed a lot of auto-x cars with 17's, not 18's... i dunno, maybe its common and handles better too??
mrjoshyman
Member
would 17x7.5 pose any problems with a 40 offset?
drledford93
Member
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- Mazdaspeed 3
Anyone have an answer to this one? I'm looking at some rims with this offset, but haven't found a straight answer to it...
BTW, my suspension is stock, so no drop to worry about.
Daniel
Should fit fine with a stock width tire on there and no drop (stock MS3 is 7.5 on 52mm offset). If you want a wider tire, you'd need a higher offset or some rolled fenders most likely.
drledford93
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed 3
Stock wheel is 7", not 7.5". I was thinking of going 235 or so. I don't think there should be any issues with that, especially since I don't have any drop.
Anyone running this setup?
Daniel
Sacrilicious
boom boom!
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- Cosmic Blue MS3 of hawtness!
from what i understand, 40mm offset is really cutting it close...you should be ok, but i would let someone else guinea pig it for you just in case...
Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
micronesia
Member
I've been reading through some wheels threads trying to decide what I should do about winter, and god damn it's hard to figure out what my best bet will be -_-
Same. I went to tire rack and they have a set of 16" steel wheels that will fit, and they have an insane price on 16" closeout blizzaks right now. I was thinking about buying my winter tires early this year...
When you guys say less rotational mass, do you mean less unsprung weight or are you reducing the total diameter of the tire/wheel combo to gain a rotational advantage (thus making the car faster)? Reducing the overall diameter to make the car faster is one thing, but I would think you'd want to increase the sidewall to keep the overall diameter to stock spec so your speedo and odometer aren't off. If you don't, you will rack up more mileage on your car in less time, correct?
Boosted333
Member
- :
- '08 MS3
I say rotational mass, meaning less unsprung weight. 10 lbs less per tire/wheel compared to stock in my case makes a noticeable difference.
My tire is actually about 1/2" shorter than stock, so that too would make it technically "geared" quicker as well.
My tire is actually about 1/2" shorter than stock, so that too would make it technically "geared" quicker as well.
Boosted333
Member
- :
- '08 MS3
Well, after about 100 miles of driving with the new tires (235-45-17) I sold them. The handling was not even close to the stock 18" combo, so I dismounted the tires, sold them on craigslist and put my 18"s back on. My winter tires went back on the 17" Kosei's that I had.
Slow corners were ok, but with speed in the corner, it felt like the back of the car was going to kick out, it was "floaty". If you aren't all about cornering, then go for it. The acceleration was definitely better, and the MPG increase HAD to be better, I didn't go through a tank, but I'm sure it would have made a difference. I just like to hit the corners a little hard once in a while and I didn't feel safe whatsoever. Lesson learned for me.
Slow corners were ok, but with speed in the corner, it felt like the back of the car was going to kick out, it was "floaty". If you aren't all about cornering, then go for it. The acceleration was definitely better, and the MPG increase HAD to be better, I didn't go through a tank, but I'm sure it would have made a difference. I just like to hit the corners a little hard once in a while and I didn't feel safe whatsoever. Lesson learned for me.
drledford93
Member
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- Mazdaspeed 3
So...particulars? What brand/specific style of tire was it? The stiffness of the sidewall can make a significant difference in handling. What wheel did you go with? Offset?
Was it the "turn in response" (or lack thereof) from the tire that made the car feel "floaty?" Maybe a softer sidewall? A taller sidewall (1/4" by what you said) *will not* definitely make a car more squirrelly, all other things held constant.
The reason I'm really interested in this is that's exactly the setup I was looking at going to. I don't mind a loose car (used to race, so I'm prepared to catch it), but I do mind a "floaty" feeling car.
Thanks for the test...
Daniel
john blutarski
Member
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- 2004 Subaru WRX STI
Do it! I got that same package with the 215/55/16's and it was right around $500 to my door... you won't find a better deal
Ghost Rider
Banned
How's the torque steer with those ultra light weight wheels?
07_MS3_GTR
Member
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- MS3 GT
john blutarski
Member
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- 2004 Subaru WRX STI
Yes
