WHEELS (Last update: 02/18/2005)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.... I said I wasn't going to do any racing, but once I got the new suspension in and track tested it, it was just too hard to stop there. I just HAD to buy new wheels and tires. Is that wrong?
The stock MX-6 wheels are 15" x 6", and the stock tires are 205/55 R15 with an 8.5" width. (For whatever reason, this is a smaller set-up than the stock Probe which uses a 16" x 6.5" wheel.)
I've decided to upsize the wheels (+2) keeping the overall tire diameter at stock 23.9", and increase the tire width as much as I can without rolling the fenders or rubbing the insides.
For the street:
SR KMC Racing "SR5" Wheels - 17" x 7.5", 5/114.3 mm PCD, 42 mm offset, 19 lbs.
Toyo Proxes 4 Tires - 215/40 R17 (87W), ultra high performance all-season radial (M&S rated), UTGQ rating: (traction / temperature / treadwear): AA / A / 300.
Damn this was tough. Too many style choices with wheels... and you can keep all your "bling-bling". All I wanted was a simple, beefy, racing 5 or 6 spoke design, but finding one that was both appealing and matched my desired wheel size specs wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I finally settled on these wheels made by KMC Wheel Co. and sold under the SR KMC Racing name. I bought these wheels for $129 each from Joe Jordan at The Wheel Store in Oceanside, CA ((760) 967-1336). I did find them slightly cheaper at one on-line store, but the shipping charge would have killed any savings. This was an incredibly good deal.
Clearly, I have some more work to do on the body now in order to make it look as good as the wheels. Gosh, those old brake rotors and calipers sure do look nasty. I could look at
new brakes, perhaps. Why do I do these things?
As my daily driver wheels, I've gotta have the all-season tires for the rain and occasional snow in DC (I was born in Georgia, but I have New York blood so I understand how to drive in the snow). Yet, the tread is aggressive enough to still have fun on dry days. Over the last 12 years, I've driven this car with Michelin, Pirelli, Yokohama, Dunlop, and Toyo tires. Overall, I think the Toyo tires have been the best performer for the money.
Total package price from The Wheel Store: wheels, tires, balance, valve stems, alignment, taxes, labor, etc.: $1220
For the autocross track (eventually):
Rota "SubZero" Wheels - 17" x 7.5", 5/114.3 mm PCD, 45 mm offset, cast aluminum, 16.9 lbs.
Kumho Ecsta MX - 215/40 R17 (83Y), ultra high performance radial, UTGQ rating: (traction / temperature / treadwear): AA / A / 220.
The wheels, of course, are made by Rota Wheels. 7.5" is the max wheel width I can run in order to remain in the STS class for autocross racing, otherwise I might have gone up to 8" wheels.
