New Wheels
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Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
From: Warren, NJ
'05 E320 CDI;'04 S2k;'94 Supra TT;'10 QX56;'38 Buick;98 Port City Offset Late Model
Thought I would add some updates.
First, I bought the tire pressure monitors for Tire Rack. $85 each if I recall. They screwed right in (I think a torx head is required). It takes a while for them to have enough power to transmit (about 20-40 miles). Since then they have been fine.
The weeks or 18x9 35mm offset. They fit with no interference and are virtually in the exact same position as the stock tires, just .8" wider.
The setup was heavier than stock. Stock was 48..5#/wheel. This was 61.5#/wheel.
Brake dust seems to better contained then the stock rims, avoiding the center of the wheel.
Fuel economy seems to be off 7-8%. Before I was pretty consistently between 29 and 33mpg on most trips. No it is 27mpg-30mpg. I miss seeing numbers above 30mpg all the time. I believe this may be due more to the tires than the weight of the wheels, although the additional rotational inertia is probably a part of it.
And on to the tires. Falken ST115s. Not much is written about them. Falken claims they are quiet.
Well, the tread is very tight except for two circumfirential rain grooves. They are quiet, although maybe not silent. On rough surfaces, like concrete, they are way quieter. Many times, wind noise around the pillars, which I never noticed before, is the loudest noise.
Ride is also good. A little higher impact harshness that the 225/55-16 tires, but otherwise similar.
Price as low, $516 for 4 tires delivered. 245/40-18.
However the big news is handling. We have a Supra TT on Potenza S03s. An S2000 on Potenza RE050s. These may be better. The stock shock package does a good job keeping them evenly loaded. However they appear to be perfectly linear in response with apparently high limits. More application of the right foot does not require more lock. Traction under acceleration is always good. Hard braking now tries to throw you out of the seat (my wife does not like that!)
Overall, impressed with the tires an anxious to try them in a performance application.
And last...the look. At a supermarket last week we were parked next to an '01 S600. The wheels looked similar. After asking my wife to look at the S600 wheels, her comment was: 'They're the same, aren't they?" A nearly stock look, yet richer and slightly more aggressive.
First, I bought the tire pressure monitors for Tire Rack. $85 each if I recall. They screwed right in (I think a torx head is required). It takes a while for them to have enough power to transmit (about 20-40 miles). Since then they have been fine.
The weeks or 18x9 35mm offset. They fit with no interference and are virtually in the exact same position as the stock tires, just .8" wider.
The setup was heavier than stock. Stock was 48..5#/wheel. This was 61.5#/wheel.
Brake dust seems to better contained then the stock rims, avoiding the center of the wheel.
Fuel economy seems to be off 7-8%. Before I was pretty consistently between 29 and 33mpg on most trips. No it is 27mpg-30mpg. I miss seeing numbers above 30mpg all the time. I believe this may be due more to the tires than the weight of the wheels, although the additional rotational inertia is probably a part of it.
And on to the tires. Falken ST115s. Not much is written about them. Falken claims they are quiet.
Well, the tread is very tight except for two circumfirential rain grooves. They are quiet, although maybe not silent. On rough surfaces, like concrete, they are way quieter. Many times, wind noise around the pillars, which I never noticed before, is the loudest noise.
Ride is also good. A little higher impact harshness that the 225/55-16 tires, but otherwise similar.
Price as low, $516 for 4 tires delivered. 245/40-18.
However the big news is handling. We have a Supra TT on Potenza S03s. An S2000 on Potenza RE050s. These may be better. The stock shock package does a good job keeping them evenly loaded. However they appear to be perfectly linear in response with apparently high limits. More application of the right foot does not require more lock. Traction under acceleration is always good. Hard braking now tries to throw you out of the seat (my wife does not like that!)
Overall, impressed with the tires an anxious to try them in a performance application.
And last...the look. At a supermarket last week we were parked next to an '01 S600. The wheels looked similar. After asking my wife to look at the S600 wheels, her comment was: 'They're the same, aren't they?" A nearly stock look, yet richer and slightly more aggressive.
