New Wheels and Tires need Alignment
New Wheels and Tires need Alignment
I have a FD with stock rear suspension and Tokico Illumina Shocks with stock springs in front. I just bought a set of Work VS/SS wheels with BFG KDW2 from a forum member (mazdasweetnos). The fronts are 18X8.5 +45 offset with 245/35 tires and the rears are 18X10, +45 offset with 285/30 tires. I know my car needs and alignment and I wanted some ideas on what specs would be good and a Northern Ca (Silicon Valley) tire place that would do non- factory alignment. I do alot of street driving. A montly autocross and occaisional track events in which I will be throwing the stock wheels back on. I think i may go initially with Pettit Racing's Long Track Event specs for 18'' wheels found here. http://www.pettitracing.com/rx7/index_information.htm
The rears are quite a bit wider than the fronts and I am kinda worried about creating alot of understeer. I only have a downpipe and power FC running the base map and stock boost. I don't believe i have enough power to induce oversteer except in first gear. Write back with whatever info you have or questions that need to be answered in order to help me.
The rears are quite a bit wider than the fronts and I am kinda worried about creating alot of understeer. I only have a downpipe and power FC running the base map and stock boost. I don't believe i have enough power to induce oversteer except in first gear. Write back with whatever info you have or questions that need to be answered in order to help me.
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: San Lorenzo, California
I am not running as big a stagger as you (235/265) but even so, the Pettit specs are more balanced to oversteer than I like with bigger wheels.
You can do a search for alignment specs and come up with some good hits....for your uses, I would start with -1 to -1.2 deg camber up front, -0.5 to -0.75 deg rear, with 1/16" toe-in both front and rear.
I would drive up to Roger Kraus Racing in Castro Valley. You'll need to make an appointment of course.
You can do a search for alignment specs and come up with some good hits....for your uses, I would start with -1 to -1.2 deg camber up front, -0.5 to -0.75 deg rear, with 1/16" toe-in both front and rear.
I would drive up to Roger Kraus Racing in Castro Valley. You'll need to make an appointment of course.
Are you planning to change the alignment each time you track or autox with the stock wheels?
If not, I would get an alignment for your 16" stock wheels and just leave it alone. I do something similar as my track wheels are currently the stock 16" wheels and my street wheels are 17's. I have the car aligned for the stock wheels as I'm more concerned with the track setup than some slightly uneven wear on my street tires.
If not, I would get an alignment for your 16" stock wheels and just leave it alone. I do something similar as my track wheels are currently the stock 16" wheels and my street wheels are 17's. I have the car aligned for the stock wheels as I'm more concerned with the track setup than some slightly uneven wear on my street tires.
I will probably will not be tracking the car again until I do alot of cooling mods or it gets cold around here. However I will still be autocrossing on the street tires with my local car club. Not competing in SCCA or anything. The car had some understeer during turn in before. The car feels much more stable with these tires than the stock size.
I may have to realign the car or just deal with the alignment I have when I go to the track. I noticed that the autocrossing was wearing the outside shoulder of my tires alot so maybe some negative camber will help even out that wear? Anyone in Northern Cali ever use Auto Innovations in Milipitas to get an alignment?
I may have to realign the car or just deal with the alignment I have when I go to the track. I noticed that the autocrossing was wearing the outside shoulder of my tires alot so maybe some negative camber will help even out that wear? Anyone in Northern Cali ever use Auto Innovations in Milipitas to get an alignment?
IMO, whatever you plan to do the most aggressive driving with, align with that. If that will be your 18's, then align with 18's. If that will be your stock wheels, get your alignment with those.
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Ok I need some numbers for 16 stock wheels with race tires and 18 with street tires. Oh and I need a place to install suspension bushings and pillowballs before I do this alignment. I can feel the slack in the rear suspension. Dont think it could be aligned right now without the new parts. I live in Santa Clara CA.
