Tires.

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Originally Posted by OZMDD

For the track/autox, I think its hard to argue that the 17x9 with 255's is an incredibly grippy setup. you have to roll fenders and will still get a touch of rub on the lower suspension arm at full-lock turning. I think 245's require fender rolling too, depending on how much the car is lowered.

My street wheels are 16x8 w/ 225's, and they are free of all rubbing and clearance issues, even on big dips, etc. There is a noticeable difference in grip, but I'm also on older tires, so its not a true apples-to-apples comparison.

If I was forced to live with one setup, I'd stick with 8-inch wheels, I think. Especially in the 16x8, you get a little more sidewall for ride comfort. The tradeoff of weight, rolling resistance and clearance issues just don't justify the aesthetics of 17x9's, IMHO, unless that's your priority. What's your ultimate goal? If you want a good DD that will also autoX well, its hard to argue with the 8" wheel with some StarSpecs. If you want to go full-on track-ready and look badass, then throw the big meat on there and don't look back! (or calculate 0-60 times, MPG's, potholes, etc.) :)

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Thanks for the advice!
I actually just bought the AWR fender flare kit, don't know when I'll get it painted and installed, though.
I'm a driver at pizza hut 5-6 days a week so I kinda want to have a set of DD wheels with tires of a decent treadwear and a set of wheels set aside for AX days.
I have a set of 215 Starspecs on my stock 17x7's, I really like the tires but the treadwear isn't too great, not terrible but kinda burning them too quick just driving around the city.
I wouldn't mind keeping the stock wheels as my DD wheels, but I don't know how the 7 inch width is gonna look with the wide fender flares, may be too tucked in ya know?
Anyways, I would idealy like to pick up a set of RX-7 wheels like yours if I could find a set and have those as DD wheels.
As for AX wheels, I'm pretty set on RPF1's.
Thomas suggested a place called alamoautosports.com in Arlington, they have pretty good prices on RPF1's and you don't have to worry about shipping ;)

Any thoughts on my situation? lol

If I were running alotta street miles doing deliveries I would put my stock 16's back on the car. They are sooooo light and small so tires would be cheaper and gas mileage would be better.. I would then get the rpf1 17x9's and shoe them with 225 AD08's or RS3's for track and autocross days. I'd sell the flares or mount them after I got a supercharger or turbo installed. BTW I'm running a 215 RS2 on a 17x8 for daily and track and like it alot. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Originally Posted by CHeavin_2006

Thanks for the advice!
I actually just bought the AWR fender flare kit, don't know when I'll get it painted and installed, though.
I'm a driver at pizza hut 5-6 days a week so I kinda want to have a set of DD wheels with tires of a decent treadwear and a set of wheels set aside for AX days.
I have a set of 215 Starspecs on my stock 17x7's, I really like the tires but the treadwear isn't too great, not terrible but kinda burning them too quick just driving around the city.
I wouldn't mind keeping the stock wheels as my DD wheels, but I don't know how the 7 inch width is gonna look with the wide fender flares, may be too tucked in ya know?
Anyways, I would idealy like to pick up a set of RX-7 wheels like yours if I could find a set and have those as DD wheels.
As for AX wheels, I'm pretty set on RPF1's.
Thomas suggested a place called alamoautosports.com in Arlington, they have pretty good prices on RPF1's and you don't have to worry about shipping ;)

Any thoughts on my situation? lol

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Alamo has excellent pricing on RPF1s. I bought a set of 17x9s there last fall for my STX RX8.

As for flares and wheel spacing – personally, I wouldn’t bother putting flares on an NC. You can already fit pretty massive tires under one with the right offset and a fender roll, so why bother with flares? That said, if you’ve just “gotta have” flares but don’t want to spring for two sets of low offset wheels, you could look into a set of 20 or 25 mm spacers for the existing OEM wheels. That will take up the tuck, but cost a lot less than a new set of wheels. It will mess up your geometry a little bit, but if you’re installing flares on a street car it sounds like looks are a bit more important than performance.

FWIW, I have two sets of +35mm 17x9 wheels sitting in my garage with 255/40-17 tires on them. None are for sale, but if you want to test fit a more aggressive offset once your flares are mounted and before you buy wheels (most NC 17x9s are +45 or +48mm), let me know and you can come by and test fit a set.

Running two sets of wheels is definitely the best way to have your cake and eat it too. That's how I do it. Smaller, lighter wheels for the street are great for MPG's and $$ (tires). You'll like the RPF1's with the right tires, and you'll get a lot more life from your race tires by avoiding DD duties with them.

AS for DD tires, I'd just keep the 17x7's and throw a set of Nankang NS1 tires on them. I ran those as DD tires on the Yaris for 20K miles and they were terrific. Very good in the wet, unlike alot of UHP tires. There is a place in arlington that sells them for around $55 each in 215-17's wholesale.

Hmmm thanks for all the input guys. I'm pretty set on the 17x9 RPF1's with 245 or 255 StarSpecs for AX days, still deciding on the offset after Altiain's advice, that lower offset might look better with the flares. I do want to go ahead and get them installed cause I plan on throwing on the Cosworth supercharger sometime in the future hopefully.. I know Brian Goodwin runs his NC with 18x10's on all four corners, but he needs the grip ;)
I thought about spacers on the stock wheels but I really don't wanna go that route.. Won't really know how the stock wheels are gonna look with big flares.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for performance, but the ricer in me just doesn't wanted that tucked in look lol
Anyways, we'll see how things look once everything is installed.. i'll post some pics when everything is done.