Happy (Early) Birthday to ME!! RPF1 Upgrade
 

Got a nice present from UPS last night. Thought I would take the opportunity to document the progress of the wheels on my ride (along with weights).

1. Daisy's (14x6) with BFG GT-H 185/60R14's (about 70% tread remaining). I was surprised at the weight of this combination (29.2 lbs). Mazda does a pretty good job.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963

2. In 2007, I had a bit of a mishap on a wet road and bent two of the Daisy's big time. That gave me an opportunity to upgrade. I cheaped out on the wheels. Went with Konig Feathers (15x6.5) and Yoko S-Drive 195/50R15's. Been driving on these for almost four years. 40K miles on Summer Performance tires . . . not bad. With about 30% tread remaining, weight comes in at 29.6 lbs.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963

3. I recently developed a vibration. Turns out, I bent the inside rims of the 2 passenger-side Konig's (probably from being too apex aggressive). So, I upgraded to the high-strength rims that I really wanted all along. Enkei RPF1s (15x7). To keep my Dad happy (retired from BFG), got BFG G-Force Sports in 205/50R15. Brand new with more rubber, this combo came in at exactly the same weight as the worn Konig/S-Drives.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963

This is an interesting side-by-side of the Enkei and Konig. Gotta hand it to Konig, their wheels really have a nice, lightweight look. They create a visual illusion of a larger diameter too. In comparison, the Enkei wheels look like tank (or F1) wheels -- but weigh less. Wild. Note that I also heavily considered the 6UL, but the Made in China killed it for me. I prefer sending my money to Japan. There's also the convenience of having a tire/wheel combo shipped from TireRack and all I have to do is swap. I think 949 should consider selling tires.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963

Glory shots:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1314811963

Are you sure the 6UL is made in China?

I thought only the new Tire Rack undercutter wheel was outsourced to China.

love rpf1's. very nice upgrade.

so you're saying that all 3 of your sets of wheels all pretty much weigh the same?

Me too...just surprised not that much of an overall package difference.

That's how it turned out. I was surprised too. Keep in mind that I used an ordinary bathroom scale.

What this really points out to me is that RUBBER IS HEAVY. By using the lightweight, high-strength Enkei's, I was able to use a larger and newer (full tread) tire without a weight penalty. The Enkei with a brand new 205 weighed about the same as the stock Daisy with a half-worn 185 or the Konig with an almost fully worn 195.

The other thing this points out is that low tire aspect ratios aren't that great from the standpoint that they move the most significant weight (the rubber) away from the wheel center. That increases the rotational moment of inertia. Look at an F1 tire. What is that, a 65 series?

I reviewed 949's website here: http://949racing.com/. Down at the bottom, they mention that they are working on a "REV8" wheel that is "Made in China." I think I got confused by this statement and thought that this referred to the 6UL. Perhaps someone with an actual Gen I or II 6UL can correct me -- the country of manufacture should be cast into the back of one of the spokes or the back of the hub. I apologize in advance if I got it wrong (I probably did).

On my first gen 6UL there was sticker on the wheel "made in malaysia" FWIW

Well isnt 949 coming out with the rev8s?

REV8
Coming soon
We'll release images when they are in production

• Under $100
• Low Pressure cast
• T6 heat treating
• Made in China
• 8 spoke design

15x7
15x8
15x9
4x100 5x100 4x114.3 5x114.3 5x120
Black Silver White Gray Titanium

Yes. But the point was I unfairly impuned the 6UL and 6ULR as being made in China when they apparently aren't. I'm just plain tired of sending my money and my neighbors' jobs to China.

Of course, I doubt ANY wheels are made in the USA anymore . . . EPA pretty well makes that impossible.

It's always nice to see RPF1's, they're a classic wheel in my opinion. While swapping things around a couple of weeks ago I weighed a few tire & wheel combos.

Kosei K1 15x7 - Toyo RA1 195/50-15 33.5lbs
949 Rading 15x8 - Hankook RS2 225/45-15 32lbs
Enkei RPF1 15x7 - BFG GForce Sport 205/50-15 29lbs

The 949's with the big Hankooks were a real surprise compare to my K1's. I would have thought for sure they'd be heavier. As much as I love the RPF1's, they've got no room at all for big brakes. They won't even fit over the NB Sport Brakes on my 94 R-Pkg.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d.../IMG_1706b.jpg

C

Looks great. I'm jelly

Perhaps is my english but do those statements contradict eachother?

Those look great! Always been a fan of RPF1's

OK . . . let me spell it out.

In my original post, I stated that one of the reasons I went with the RPF1 over the 6UL was that I thought the 6UL was made in China. I don't want a wheel that is made in China.

It has been pointed out to me that the 6UL is not made in China.

I apologize for spreading incorrect information regarding the country of origin of the 6UL.

The RPF1 is most definitely made in Japan. I'm happy with that -- they do quality work and have been a staunch ally and trading partner since we kicked their ass. I wish there was an equivalent, strong, lightweight wheel made in the USA. The EPA has made that a pipedream.

http://www.alcoa.com/alcoawheels/nor...el_vehicle.asp

They are made in SW VA and sent down to Alcoa Tennessee to be finished, I had a set of Alcoa Classics on my truck.

So much for lightweight miata rims though :D

One could always go with a set of American Racing rims.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1315113313

RPF1s are always a good choice

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are you still on stock suspension?

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I am. I have a bit of an issue in that my driveway is gravel and about 2/10ths of a mile long. So, I'm 4x4 (stock suspension + factory mud flaps).

I'm looking to do a set of coilovers to let me get lower for auto-X while still being able to jack it up sufficiently for my driveway. Thinking about the FM package of sways + V-Maxx. Some people here have been using them and seem to like them. Would be more than enough at my current driving skill level. Hmmmmm . . . .

Maybe on my '66 Sport Fury 440. Any of you guys ever see whitewalls before?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1315119285

nice light rims...

If youre thinking about jacking it up and down after every autox forget it, even for a highly motivated person i don't see that happening. Id suggest the sways and leave suspension for another day.