sibleyg

I have searched around in the forum but can't find anyone mentioning an issue I had which makes me not want to get new wheels/tires for my FD.

I got my FD with stock rims but Yoko Advan tires on it. It had ridiculous rut wander on the roads where I live. Heavy trucks leaving ruts over time in the road made my FD randomly change lanes. Not fun to drive having to keep a firm grip on the wheel all the time.

I got rid of those tire quick and it is better but not gone.

My concern is that I want to upgrade rims to a 17" but am worried about going to a 17x8.5f/17x9.5r with lower profile tires. wider rims+wider tires=more camber thrust=worse rut wander.

Anyone else have issues and how did you solve it? Less camber?

BTW, I have narrowed the choices to Enkei RPM2s, BBS RKs and Volk GT-Ps. I have a picture of a black FD like mine with the Volks but does anyone have pics of black FD with the Enkei or BBS wheels? And suggestions on where to pick them up?

If I read the posts right I should consider a 17x8.5f with 234/45-17 and 17x9.5r with 255/40-17 and 40mm offset all around. Sound right?

artowar2

Did you check your toe at the last alignment? It's certainly an adjustable factor (to go with your other adjustable and non-adjustable factors, such as tire selection, pressure, tread pattern, road surface, etc.). For instance, other factors being equal, if you have zero toe, or toe-in at the front wheels, you should have less of a rut-tracking problem than if you have toe-out, which some people use to quicken turn-in

You live around Detroit? I used to live & work in that area. Some mean potholes around there....

redrotorR1

Exactly. Toe out will make your car follow the grooves in the road. I've got a small amout of toe out on the fronts (1/8" out ... I think) and the car is like a go-kart. I won't go any further than that unless my FD becomes a dedicated race car. The camber shouldn't contribute that much to the groove-following sensation. Get your alignment checked and just look at what the inital readings are (like on a Hunter machine) .... that should tell you everything.

Don't worry about the wider rims ... they will NOT cause the car to wander more. As far as what wheel sizes and what tires to run correspondingly, check the sticky's that are posted. Lots of info in there. And for purchasing, I think the best deals are through Rishie. PM him - ARD T2.

SleepR1

Road wander is a fact of life with sticky wide tires on wide wheels. Your wheel and tire sizes will work nicely.

sibleyg

Agreed, but being a suspension tuner for an OEM, I know there are vehicles out there that are more susceptable than others to this phenomena based on suspension kinematics and complances. I also know many of the tunables that can minimize it as well. I was just trying a short cut to find out from experts on the RX7 like yourselves, which ones are the big hitters so I don't have to spend all the time adjusting all the alignment specs to minimize a problem I am creating by getting larger wheels just for aesthetic reasons.

All the above suggestions I am going to try if I upgrade wheels. Any fast start suggestions (i.e. toe settings, camber settings, caster settings) would be appreciated.

BTW, redrotor1, sorry but wider wheels DO make a vehicle more sensitive. SleepR1 is right. I am just trying to find out how bad it can get before dumping big $ on wheels and tires. It doesn't sound all the that bad if more folks haven't replied with horror stories.

Thanks for all the advise! Now to shop for those wheels. What a quandry! So many good ones out there.

ARD T2

iTrader: (22)

I should be able to help you out with pricing on all three of those wheels. I have seen the BBS RK's bend under mediocre conditions so that's the only concerning thing. They are lightweight but as a result are weaker as well.

Rishie

SleepR1

I have stock Showa R1 shocks, H&R springs, Eibach sway bars, TriPoint fr sway bar mount reinforcer, 255/40-17 on 9 x 17, 45-mm offset. Camber is -1.5 degrees fr/rr (with my bodyweight in the drivers seat). Toe is zero fr/rr. I have some wander, but nothing too annoying.

sibleyg

sleepR1, the H&R springs and sway bars are different rates/sizes than stock? But you are using the stock dampers? Ride OK? I know the R1 dampers have LOTS of damping force (like almost break most shock dynos when tested) but do they work OK with (I am assuming) high rate springs and larger bars?

Zero toe in the rear? I would think that some toe in in the rear would help to settle down the car and help with accelerating out of turns without nervous power on oversteer.

SleepR1

Yep...stiffer

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But you are using the stock dampers? Ride OK?

Yep, just fine.

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I know the R1 dampers have LOTS of damping force (like almost break most shock dynos when tested) but do they work OK with (I am assuming) high rate springs and larger bars?

Yep, they work great!

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Zero toe in the rear?

Yep.

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I would think that some toe in in the rear would help to settle down the car and help with accelerating out of turns without nervous power on oversteer.

Works for me. You asked for opinions, and I gave you mine...

sibleyg

Thanks again! I'll try some of this out before and after the wheel upgrade.

SleepR1

^^^^^Good Luck!^^^^^