Toyo RA1 at Tire rack

[n1gzd]

Hi,
earlier yesterday when I called Tire rack they told me that they don't carry Toyo RA1 tires. Then later in the day, I called them again for wheels and found out from a different person that they DO sell RA1 tires (I think that this is new because I could not find them on the web site).

Kozei K1 38 offset 15x7 wheels are back ordered 3 months because the USA shipment is late. I ordered 5 wheels (1 spare incase I damage one wheel or tire). Is 1 spare useful or should I have an even number of spares). I will get them later. I was just thinking that initially 1 spare is better than no spare (spacing out my $$).

If I have to I can start the season on Dunlops or swap the Dunlops for Toyo (and find something cheap for the street - I already gave away my old 14 inch set).

Does anyone have any reasonable used Kozei K1 for sale (with reasonable used tires on them even)? I have one set but my Dunlop Direza street tires are on them.

Rebecca

[jeffw]

Couple of things:

I'll be doing a tire group buy in a few weeks...last year we got 8% off and cheap truck freight. Let me know if you want in.

For wheels, I'd do something wider than a +38mm offset. I'm running +25mm, which gives you a 1" wider track overall.

The don't advertise, but there's actually a local manufacturer/importer of wheels in Tewksbury. They're D-Force, and I've got multiple sets and really like them.

http://dforcewheels.com/pages/products.php
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=d+f ... 8518225178

Talk to Tom and Baer there and mention I sent you.

[Chrispy]

Rebecca, did you decide what class you are going to run in? Wheel options are pretty limited in SS, where as in ST you can use pretty much anything you want provided the 45 degree point of the tire doesn't protrude past the fender center line.

[n1gzd]

(Chris - still thinking about it - the Kozei that I have now could be used for either)

According to the info that I have dug up, factory offset is about +38-45. so my Kozei K1 +38 offset is at the lowest end of stock.

good-win-racing thinks that offset of +30 is purely for racing and that 38 is a compromise if you want to use the rim/tire on the street too.
http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Pe ... Tires.html

For this reason I think that I made the right decision for my current set of Kozei K1 +38 (because I have Dunlop Direza street tires on those rims).

so what remains is what to do for offset for the track sets.
If good-win thinks that +30 is purely for the track, then +25 would be radical.

According to dforce wheels spec miata is using +25 and +30:
http://dforcewheels.com/pages/products.php

With a +25 offset and a lowered car (say at least 2 inches) and 205/50R15 Toyo RA1 tires I would think that you might have a clearance problem. If the fenders are rolled does this tire/wheel offset come close to hitting the fender or does it still fit ok?
Another question, what would the difference in handling be? I have read some warnings about deviating too far from stock offset but I might have been reading from the wrong source.

[n1gzd]

(Chris - still thinking about it - the Kozei that I have now could be used for either)

According to the info that I have dug up, factory offset is about +38-45. so my Kozei K1 +38 offset is at the lowest end of stock.

good-win-racing thinks that offset of +30 is purely for racing and that 38 is a compromise if you want to use the rim/tire on the street too.
http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Pe ... Tires.html

For this reason I think that I made the right decision for my current set of Kozei K1 +38 (because I have Dunlop Direza street tires on those rims).

so what remains is what to do for offset for the track sets.
If good-win thinks that +30 is purely for the track, then +25 would be radical.

According to dforce wheels spec miata is using +25 and +30:
http://dforcewheels.com/pages/products.php

With a +25 offset and a lowered car (say at least 2 inches) and 205/50R15 Toyo RA1 tires I would think that you might have a clearance problem. If the fenders are rolled does this tire/wheel offset come close to hitting the fender or does it still fit ok?
Another question, what would the difference in handling be? I have read some warnings about deviating too far from stock offset but I might have been reading from the wrong source.

Rebecca

[n1gzd]

Rebecca, did you decide what class you are going to run in? Wheel options are pretty limited in SS, where as in ST you can use pretty much anything you want provided the 45 degree point of the tire doesn't protrude past the fender center line.

Yes. I have decided on ST. I did give it careful thought (weighed the very good arguments for both SS and ST). In the end I chose ST.

Rebecca

[TroyV]

Welcome!

Looks like ST4 will be a big class again for 2012!!

[jeffw]

With a +25 offset and a lowered car (say at least 2 inches) and 205/50R15 Toyo RA1 tires I would think that you might have a clearance problem. If the fenders are rolled does this tire/wheel offset come close to hitting the fender or does it still fit ok?
Another question, what would the difference in handling be? I have read some warnings about deviating too far from stock offset but I might have been reading from the wrong source.

I don't have any issues with rubbing on my ST4 car with +25mm wheels.

[paultg]

I decided to stay with wheel offsets as close to stock as available since my car sees both street use and little track use. My RFP1s are +40 I think, and my Dforce are + 30.

I just figure the more aggressive offsets will add extra strain on the wheel bearings/hubs. Not sure it is actually true.

Paul G.

[breakaway500]

"the more aggressive offsets will add extra strain on the wheel bearings/hubs." True.