Question for you track guys, wheel/tire related
 

Any and all information appreciated :bigtu:

Now, I know running a staggered setup does not reap positive benifits, but what things would be affected if I were to run the same tires/wheels front and rear with just different offset. With these tuckin99 flares I really need to run positive offset (probably +38ish with the 16x9.5 on a 245/35/R16) in the front to keep rubbing to a minimum at the 3 and 9 oclock positions at the cost of not having the wheel fill the flare completely. Now obviously in the rear I won't have these issues, so I could run the 16x9.5 0et wheel on a 245/35/R16 as originally planned to fill out the flares. What kind of driving characteristics will this kind of setup induce? Will it not matter since the rim width and tires are the same? Or will it act the same way as if I were to run a true staggered setup and make the car less neutral? I guess for my purposes it wont matter much since I dont track the car all that much...but I just didn't want to dump money on wheels only to have them not perform the way I anticipate, especially if I do end up going to track events.

One other thing I had been tossing around in my head was running 15x9 6UL's with spacers....but I'm thinking the spacers are probably the best idea....maybe I'm just over thinking it.

Come on....someone has to have some input!

My new plan is the TireRack C3Ms coming out early March.

15x9, 119each...

Tire will start as a 225/45/15 and evolve there with whatever my budget can bear.

Your over thinking this, get the max possible tire/wheel combo that will fit the front and order the same for the rear. It will look good. Find an off the shelf wheel for the street and run street tires and same for track/track tires. I'd rather have 2 sets of wheels/tires than 1 set of Kodiaks/whatevers, unless it strack only. Or if its track/little bit of street do some sticky NT01's. I'll help you with the offsets give me a minute to calculate this up.

Fill out the front as much as possible like stated before.

Then you can just run a spacer in the rear if you feel the need for Aesthetics. Spacer is no big deal and if the wheel/tire are flush it will look a shit ton better than a sunken battle ship wheel/tire..

Problem is there are very few people around this country tracking Miatas with huge flares. People can theorize about offsets, staggering, scrub radius and such but there is very little practical experience to point to.

Yea, I'm famous for over analyzing, lol. The 15x9 +36 (~3.5" front spacing) is basically the largest you can go in the front without having to do major surgery. For the most part they'll even fill out the flares except at the 12 oclock position where there would be 1.5" of space from the edge of the tire to the lip of the flare which is why I was thinking about the 13mm spacers for the rear. Are there any pros or cons to using spacers over just moving the wheel using offset?

I'll tell ya, all I know is I'll look like a complete tool if I drive my car the way its sitting now :giggle:, thats why I'm trying to get everything squared away now. Thanks for all the input!

Probably very true....

Pokin around on the 949 site I saw a reference to this company that makes custom spacers....decently priced and look like quality pieces. For the hubcentric / wheelcentric spacers (54.1mm to 67.1mm) in any thickness is about $100 plus shipping. Most other spacers I've seen on the web are $150 plus shipping and are just generic spacers...Definitly leaning toward this route now since I really like the 6UL's. A 15-19mm spacer will make the 6uls look right at home in the rear under the Tuckin99 flares ;)

We manufacture the best Wheel Spacers money can buy | Motorsport Technology

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/...d1e14e0b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/...d600dd0e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/...1aa98e80_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/...fd025022_o.jpg

Everything looked awesome until that last picture. Besides the detached flare, that is pretty bad ass. I am really impressed with how it looks, but I wonder how it would preform. I would have to get some stiffer springs to deal with the increased leverage, but looks great.

Yea that last one is a doosy :giggle:. That is the fitment I want! Granted those 275's are "balloning" out more than the 225/45's would, but fitment would probably be pretty similar. In the back of my mind though I keep thinking that a 25-30mm spacer just cannot be good.....this isn't based on experience or knowledge just gut instict. If I grow a par of balls and just do some more trimming I may be able to run spacers all around or the low offset wheels like I had originally intended to without worry of rubbing.

Well its over an inch spacer. I'm wondering if the studs are long enough to get enough thread on the lug nuts.

I'd be putting in replacement studs for sure...