Phase II - Revolutions, Wheels and Tires

The stock wheels on the RX8 are not bad, in fact not to heavy, and looked good with the car. Some would say they were enough, but we knew we could do better. Since the 6spd comes stock with 18s we had to go at least one plus size just because…well we had to. From the moment I decided to get the car there was never a question as to what brand of wheel. Had to be the Volks. I love the technical look of the six bladed TE37, but something shiny with a lip was making me drool. Enter the LE37T. Same look with a fat machined lip. Forged, lightweight, and race ready, this was to be the wheel of choice.

Since we’re dealing with a rear wheel drive, naturally we stager the widths going heavier in the rear. We also had to consider the fact that the stock stoppers, though good, will soon be upgraded to larger calipers and plan accordingly with the offset. With a quick call to our friends at Mackin Industries, we had all the right answers. 19x8.5 up
+43 offset up front and 19x9.5 +45 offset in the rear. What color? Well isn’t it obvious? Considering the Titanium color of the car… Gunmetal, it had to be. With phat shiny lip! We placed the order, hung up the phone and realized we had no tires. Back to the phone I went.

Another quick call landed me some Falken GRB FK451’s. 245/35ZR19 for the fronts and 285/35/ZR19 to beef up the traction dept out back. The day the wheels and tires came, we packed the ass end of a pathfinder full of 19” wheels and tires, barely getting the hatch closed, and headed of to our friends at Wheel Specialists. The stockers were dropped and the new rollers and shoes were mounted, and inflated to pressure. A quick consult with the tech lead to a discussion of lowering the car, which then lead to rolling the fenders. We had to do it bottom line. This car will see its share of track time and hard, fast turns and with the play book calling for coilovers soon, we knew we’d end up kicking each other in the crotch later on down the road over the fender rub monster. So an ounce of prevention equals a pound of…well you get the point.

With the fenders now rolled and the tires mounted to the wheels she began to come alive. The lift lowered, the new rubber touched concrete, and a star was born. Taking a moment to savor the feeling of the start of something awesome, I stood arms folded across my chest admire ring her newfound beauty. Driving away the car felt more stable and precise. At the stoplight the pimp on the corner tipped his hat to me in acknowledgment of the new revolution.