Just wondering why everyone seems to have stock rims? Is this only because of their weight? Any other reasons other than looking stock(although Ive seen heavily modded cars still with the stock rims)

 

Whats wrong with the stockers. They look fine to me and for being stock they look great. I wish they had bumped it up to 17'' at least. I do plan on getting aftermarket rims, but why rush when there is performance to work on.

 

stock rims are 16x8 u can easily fit 245s on there a lot of people run race tires on them. they are also light like u mentioned, and also came with the car, some people keep those to race on the track and get somethign else liek 17s for the street. unless you upgrade your brakes i dont see why people go to a bigger size rim other then "it looks better". the smaller the better for handlind is almost always teh case, you need teh side wall to aloow the tire to flex in order to use all of the tread effectively, if handling is you major concern i woudl not go over 17s.

 

I still have stock rims. Why?

Well, I wanted my money to be spent on reliability and performance first. After I have the performance that I want, then I'll mess with exterior mods.

Spending upwards of $1500+ on rims and tires could be spend in other areas of the car much better (if the car is stock or lightly modified).

 

My car came with 'em.

 

I though about getting some wheels but by the time you get wheels $1200 at least and some good rubber like B'stone pole positions then have them mounted and balanced your going to have almost $2K in them.

Do you know what you could buy for $2K????

I could buy a Motec wideband and a bad *** prof grade egt gauge for less than $2K!!!!!!!!!

Since our cars have such light wheels buying some more is mostly for looks and I have alot more stuff I could spend $2K on.

STEPHEN

 

Because some of us are not willing to compromise on upgrades. Going to 17-inch wheels (the largest practical size, 18-inch are too extreme for daily driving or even most track use) while keeping the weight close to stock requires a lot of $$$.

Some of us are willing to put heavier wheels on their FD, but not me. You give up acceleration, braking, and handling response and feel.

On the other side, people running over 300 rwhp definitely need wider tires for increased grip and the cons of going to heavier wheels are outweighed by the benefits.

 

Squeeze cast for unprecedented strength, exceptionally light which reduces unsprung weight (and REALLY light for 1990 technology), not bad looking, especially if gunmetal or bronze powdercoated. About the only downside is they collect a little brake dust and road grit unless they are polished.

Oh, and high quality 16" rubber is cheap and easy to find everywhere, not to mention a softer ride for us fat assed Touring guys.

I kept my OEM's but confess to having fallen for my 18" Enkei's and fat Nitto's for a more "updated" look. I don't think the car handles any better though.

I would never consider putting on anything except high quality Japanese aftermarket, (OK, maybe some of the German stuff) and I think Enkei may have made the OEM's. Anyone know?

 

Thanks guys... thats what I thought... mainly to spend the cash elsewhere... and why break something that isnt really broken, right... I "upgraded" to 17" Enkei's and it was the best decision I ever made for looks... but its all personal taste and preference I guess...

 

enkei made the spare tire..so is it safe to say the made the wheels too? the FD wheels do look a bit like an enkei make to me...almost reminds me of the RP01 for some reason.

Danny

 

Is that the best looking OEM spare tire wheel you've EVER seen or what??

 

For sure!!! I really dig the yellow...

 

****, Goober - I grew up in Plymouth - MANY moons ago out by Ann Arbor Trail and Beck Rd. in Woodlore (sp?)
subdivision. Small (rotary) world.

 

Rims are NPT.

 

I had a spare set of rims so now have them powdercoated White (bright White) will post pictures when I get them mounted (New Yokahama's (245/45-16'5) for 59 buks a skin total investment is 200 for the powder coating and 283.60 for the tires (including shipping) so now I can get the other set done too. Jack

 

For '96, Mazda did start offering a new 17" 5-spoke wheel on certain RX-7 models. Its what I went with when I upgraded my wheels

 

My buddy lives in that sub... Nice houses... I used to live in Trailwood, but we moved to a new subdivision out off of Ann Arbor Rd. between Ridge and Napier...

 

I am suprised that no one mentioned this yet but the stockers are excellent for heat transfer. Next time your out romping around on your FD get on the brakes a bit and when you stop get out of the car and touch the rim, especially the spoked part and center of the rim. Its damn hot!! Then reach inside the rim where the brake rotor bolts to the rim, you will notice its a lot cooler. So i find that the stockers have excellent heat transfer capabilites to draw the heat away from the brakes and into the outer portion of the rim where more heat is dissipated. Try this if you do not believe me its true.

 

Stock rims simply look better than any after market rim I've seen. I've seen some very nice looking 5 point rims, but still nothing as smooth as stock. I would like to have 17" rims, and not be so limited to the tire choices I am, but so be it.

The stock rims are beautiful. Will never rust, are bright and beautiful when you clean them right (about as bright as you want to get without getting white rims which look ghey) and they just look classic.

I can't tell you how many FDs I see here which would be beautiful if they didn't have the gaudy, ghetto looking rims that they do.

 

The question should be, "Stock rims - why not?"

 

One day I saw a riced civic with FD spares as rims, no joke

 

Lot of people use stock spare wheel on front for drag race..
i think Adam Sch (donno s/p) used it as well.

 

The worst thing I've ever done for the performance of my car was get big chrome 18 inch rims with Nitto 555s. Slowed the car a little, slower braking, and terrible handling. Even after a strut tower bar and front sway bar, the handling is not as nimble as the with the stockers. Will admit, the car with stockers looks somewhat like a Probe. Not the body, but the car just sits up too high. Never did get around to putting on springs. With the power I'm making right now I don't think the added weight really matters much, it still rips paint off other cars - and looks good doing it - but if you're into autocrossing or tearing up the backroads, stay with the stockers