Venturing down the slippery slope - SKYHI Motorsports SE

[Lokiel]

They look great! Damn it, now I'm considering the 9" wheels again

Brian Goodwin's (from Goodwin Racing) quote from https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=632222:

"15x8 is already overkill for street use....9s are for the guys really racing the weekends at track and SCCA/NASA, autocross, etc.
Doing 9s without racing is just posing and comes with downsides like high chances of curb rash, much stiffer ride with no benefit to street user as compared with same tires on 8 inch, etc."

If I was to buy now, I'd get 15x7.5 rims for DD and 15x9 rims for trackwork (currently have 6UL 15x8s with 205/50/15 tyres for DD and 16x8 225/45/15 for trackwork).
Originally I bought the 15x8s because they could fit a 205 and 225 tyre but after picking up a 2nd set of 15x8s on this forum I realised it was much simpler to have 2 sets or rims/tyres for each application.
15x7.5 rims are lighter and cheaper and will allow fitting of a 205/50/15 trye.
15x9 rims fit 225/45/15 tyres better and many claim faster times than on 15x8 rims with 225 tyres.

From behind, the 15x9s with 225/45/15s do look bitchin' for DD though but require noticeably more effort (especially in carparks with my power steering delete).

[SKYHI]

I will keep the original 17" wheels for DD and use the 15x8 wheels for track work. I think the 8" wheels are a pretty good 'all rounder". They're lighter than the 9" wheels and give you much more flexibility in tyre choices. They're also lighter, cheaper, and better looking (imo) wheel than the 6ULs and RPF1s. Will also get some 949 alloy wheel nuts while I'm at it.

[Lokiel]

I will keep the original 17" wheels for DD

[Okibi]

I use the originals on the street, it doesn't get much unwanted attention

[SKYHI]

Lol @ Lokiel. I didn't like them at first but they have grown on me. They will do until I can afford another set of S1s and have a street and track set.

[SKYHI]

Leaving Friday week for the road trip down to Danns, can't wait.

In the meantime, I replaced Nangkangs that came on the original wheels with some Continental ContiPremium Contact 2s in 215/40/17. These will be my road tyres, and I will get some R specs on the Advanti wheels when they arrive around June/July.

[ManiacLachy]

Watch out for those bastard average speed cameras on the way down! They didn't get me, but they had me concerned

If you're still keen to see my car before you go down, let me know and we'll see if we can't arrange something this weekend.

[bruce]

I like the stock 17' wheels. They're a classic 5 spoke design in a modern diameter (think GTIs on stock 19s).
If u hate them, u could gift them to me!

[RS2000]

Watch out for those bastard average speed cameras on the way down! They didn't get me, but they had me concerned

They're only used for heavy transport at this stage. I guess that will change!

[SKYHI]

So last Saturday I took the car on the road trip down to Dann's. Last minute check over the engine bay before hitting the road about 7am Brisbane time. Will look a bit different when i get it back



Car drove really well, and reasonably impressed with the new Continental tyres. A couple of quick refuelling stops for both the car and passengers.



and after about 8 and a half hours on the road, we reached our final destination. Good to finally meet Dann and Lachlan in person and check over a few cars before heading to the Airport. Now the anxious wait until we can fly down in about 4 weeks and pick up the car.

[ManiacLachy]

I'm glad to hear you had a safe trip down. The drive home is better

[Magpie]

Looking forward to the update.

[SKYHI]

So looking forward to the trip home. Seriously considering breaking it up over a day and a half, and taking some back roads home instead of the freeway.

[ManiacLachy]

You should definitely do that, I wish I did. Pick it up on a Friday, aim to get home late Saturday, or even Sunday

[SKYHI]

Yeah thinking of flying down early Saturday, leave Dann's around lunch time, and drive for 4 or 5 hours before staying somewhere Saturday night. Then heading off early Sunday morning and arriving home around lunchtime or early Sunday afternoon.

Just need to suss out some routes.