6ul wheels

[TroyV]

Derek,

I don't have any data to back up if 15x8's are faster or slower than 15x7's. The forums have all sorts of debate on it. All I can tell you is that I ran quicker laps when I was on the freshest tire I could afford to run, regardless of the size wheel. I have run Hoosiers on both sizes, and until the motor swap, could not muster any better lap times than what I was running typically at NH.....with the exception of minor incremental gains associated with getting lots of laps in the can. I ran the fastest laps that I ever have last event with 15x7's..

The Puerto Rican side of me says that the 6UL 15x8 in the nickel finish is a damned good looking wheel, though I like Will's new 15x8's as well. I like shiny stuff.

[WillM]

I agree with Troy that having a better tire is considerably more important than the difference between a 7" or 8" width wheel. On an ST4/ST3/SSC/SSB Miata, I think 7" with a 205 tire is a great choice for most tracks, 8" might be slightly better with the right tire at NHMS. If your Miata has significantly more power than what is allowed in those classes, then moving up to a wider wheel would be a bigger factor (because it lets you run wider tires). Wider wheels and bigger tires all weigh more and create greater rolling resistance, so the extra grip you get from the wider wheel/tire has to overcome the down-sides of additional sprung weight and drag. I've put 8" wheels on a ST4 Miata and found higher (slower) lap times.

Jeff speaks truth - it is a lot easier to live with multiple wheel/tires when they are all the same. Keep in mind that not all tires are the same. There are vast differences in grip potential, sidewall stiffness, and even width. A stack of 205 Hoosiers next to a stack of 205 Toyos will be a couple inches taller.

I have to admit that I do like the feel of a 205 tire on an 8" wheel, but that doesn't mean it is always faster.

As far as I can tell, the internet gurus that absolutely, positively know that a 8" wheel on a track Miata is better than a 7" wheel are guys that either make the Kool Aid or drink it. A few of these guys have high-horsepower turbo cars, so the added width is warranted. I still chuckle when I see guys with lightweight, 250+hp Miatas and high-dollar suspension setups brag about beating Spec Miata lap times.

[WillM]

Will, when Race Technologies first came out with the DL1 it did not work.

I met Kyle once at a SCCA race and again at Les' shop several years back. I remember several of Kyle's posts on Race Tech's forums (I have DL1) and can only imagine what was going on behind the scenes. i must say, Kyle must have done some great work, as I'm quite happy with the DL1's capabilities.

I have a license for TrackVision, which is a piece of software that creates virtual dashboards and overlays my race-tech data onto video. This is one of those releases that was a long time in the making and was "weeks" away from release....for about a year and a half. They released the upgrade, I bought it, installed it, and it deleted my system font, rendering my computer useless.

[TroyV]

Oh yeah!!! LOL

[paultg]

Wow, total BS. I can;t believe he did that; sure sounds sleezy.

I'm not really the vindictive type, even though I feel I'm well within my rights to be so in this case. I would not post a vid like that or post attack threads in forums. There really isn't anything to be gained from it.

I'm Italian and I took the pictures. You say the word and they are on every internet forum (Nasioc, Miata.Net, Clubroadster, etc.). I don't care, and won't be spending any of my hard earned money with him. I love my RFP1 too. - Paul G.

[Dtangard]

Good info guys. Will, I get what your saying about rolling resistance and I don't think my miata really needs wider tires in order to handle its nearly stock power. I'm also sure a fresh set of tires would make a bigger difference, although I seem to be getting faster as my RA1s age. Jeff, which offset D-force do you run?

[jeffw]

Good info guys. Will, I get what your saying about rolling resistance and I don't think my miata really needs wider tires in order to handle its nearly stock power. I'm also sure a fresh set of tires would make a bigger difference, although I seem to be getting faster as my RA1s age. Jeff, which offset D-force do you run?

I've got 25mm offset wheels.

[Dtangard]

Do you need extended studs for that offset?

[StephanAlfa]

Hey Derek,

I have been running 2nd gen 15X8 6UL wheels on the street and for auto-x for the last 18 months or so. No issues with with them whatsoever:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/w ... G_1057.jpg

I picked up a 2nd set of them in the 15X7 size for my track set. I went with the 15X7 just because they were both cheaper and lighter and I was going to run the 205/55/15 RA-1 no matter what. No issues with them at all through four track days.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/w ... 4Large.jpg

By this I presume the bolt pattern (and offset) is for fake Alfas .. er, I mean, Miatas . I personally prefer the very reliable Panasport (I purchased a 15 x7 set and yet to use).

[jeffw]

Do you need extended studs for that offset?

Nope. Anything more and you do though...

[Dtangard]

I love the look of the panasports but I think they weight around 16 pounds and from what I've read fake alfas don't like extra unsprung weight.

Hey Derek,

I have been running 2nd gen 15X8 6UL wheels on the street and for auto-x for the last 18 months or so. No issues with with them whatsoever:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/w ... G_1057.jpg

I picked up a 2nd set of them in the 15X7 size for my track set. I went with the 15X7 just because they were both cheaper and lighter and I was going to run the 205/55/15 RA-1 no matter what. No issues with them at all through four track days.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/w ... 4Large.jpg

By this I presume the bolt pattern (and offset) is for fake Alfas .. er, I mean, Miatas . I personally prefer the very reliable Panasport (I purchased a 15 x7 set and yet to use).

[StephanAlfa]

I love the look of the panasports but I think they weight around 16 pounds and from what I've read fake alfas don't like extra unsprung weight.

I have light racing Panasports... still looking for race tires.

[Emilio700]

FWIW, we replaced Troy's 4 year old wheels (3 years out of warranty) at half price. He is certainly free to sell the brand new wheels to recoup half the cost of his original wheels and start over, or use them. We did make the mistake of offering to replace free them before noticing they were obsolete Gen I's from 2007. The half price offer was a goodwill gesture and a way for him to recoup some costs if he chose that path.

We did not directly sell him the original wheels, they may have been purchased new or used. Perhaps Troy can answer that.

Gen III's hit the market Spring 2012. Stiffer, stronger and even greater fatigue life. The 15x10 just released, is the first of the Gen III 6UL's.

We race, set lap records and win on our wheels as do our customers. We make great wheels now and are always working to further improve them.
We do or best to take care of our customers. Thanks for your support.

Cheers,

Emilio Cervantes
949 Racing
Supermiata

[TroyV]

The resolution of this was to my satisfaction, albeit with a little more back and forth than should have been required based on the original circumstances.

I consider the matter closed.

PS...We drive pretty hard over here on the east coast too.

[WillM]

.
As usual, Troy takes the high road. Class act.

PS...We drive pretty hard over here on the east coast too.

LOL!