kai-wun
03-25-2010, 11:44 AM
-I drive a 02 Taffy White EP3, practically stock (EM2 front sway, DC5 rear sway soon)
-Currently have 195/60R15 Falken EuroWinters on, have 195/60R15 Bridgestone Potenza G 019 Grid All Seasons in the garage (considering selling them)
-I drive spiritedly once a week or so.
-6/7 days of the week - rush hour traffic
-Would like to track 1-2x/year for leisure, not competitively
1.
15x6.5 Konig Helium - Bronze
205/50R15 Falken Ziex ZE912
~$789
http://www.jlbmotorsports.com/PICS/KONIG/helium_16_bronze_sm.jpg
2.
15x6.5 Sparco Pista - Light Grey | Sparco Drift - Bronze
205/55R15 Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
~$912~930
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/sparco/swap/spo_pista_lg_ci3_l.jpg
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/sparco/swap/spo_drift_bnz_ci3_l.jpg
3.
16x7 Rota Grid - Bronze
205/50R16 Falken Ziex ZE912
~$875 shipped
http://www.wheeldude.com/catalog/images/grid_frsb_1.jpg
4.
16x7 Borbet LV4 - Anthracite
205/50R16 Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
~$1070 shipped
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/borbet/swap/borbet_lv4_anth_ci3_l.jpg
5. Fuck it... use my damn 195/60R15 Bridgestone A/S and stock wheels and save for coils.
The place I'm ordering the Konig or Rota from doesn't carry Dunlop. I know the Ziex is just an A/S tire, but I ran them on my dad's Lexus and I enjoyed how the felt in the wet and dry with spirited driving. I'm hoping they're betting than these Potenza A/S, they'll be a bit wider (205 vs 195) and brand new ...
Sparco/Borbet wheels seem like better quality than Konig/Rota, but I know they're not Gram Lights. Also, the most important thing for handling is the tire. The Star Specs are superstars, but I'm a bit concerned about
1. Treadwear (done in <20k km? so a set/year?!) and
2. Will it be overkill for DD and maybe 2-3x track days/year? Especially for a newbie driver like me?
I can save coin, go Ziex .... but it goes back to, what's the point of modding the car (sway bars, alignment, etc) if the tires are shit? But, are the Ziex shit?
I left out the part where I purchase wheels without tires, and use the Bridgestone A/S. It seems like a compromise. To purchase wheels locally, they're $700. For a tiny bit more coin, I can get brand NEW tires as well (albiet "only" the Falkens); and I hope to sell the Bridgestones off. They're super noisy anyway.
I like the Sparcos. I like the colour, and the "detail" in the design. They seem to be collaborated with OZ, and that should say something about the quality. Not 100% if they'd look sweet on my stock Taffy, but it's worth a try. The Star Specs are wicked tires too.
The Heliums are ultralight, and combined with the Ziex, what a cheap package. They're typically Japanese boy-racerish too. Ricer maybe, but I kinda like em. But I don't love em. $89 more than wheels alone, what a deal. Will the Ziex be alright on the track 2-3x/year?
The Grids are also typically boy-racerish, and a 16" wheel for not much more than the Heliums. If I throw on some Red lugnuts, adds to the flair. Again with the Ziex.
Lastly, the Borbets, as with the Sparcos - they seem unique. Seems like everyone and their mom has Konigs or Rotas these days. These might let me stand out. But with this, as with most things new - it's a risk it might just look :mconfused:
Decisions decisions. Any thoughts?
//edit: Added some piccies.
-Currently have 195/60R15 Falken EuroWinters on, have 195/60R15 Bridgestone Potenza G 019 Grid All Seasons in the garage (considering selling them)
-I drive spiritedly once a week or so.
-6/7 days of the week - rush hour traffic
-Would like to track 1-2x/year for leisure, not competitively
1.
15x6.5 Konig Helium - Bronze
205/50R15 Falken Ziex ZE912
~$789
http://www.jlbmotorsports.com/PICS/KONIG/helium_16_bronze_sm.jpg
2.
15x6.5 Sparco Pista - Light Grey | Sparco Drift - Bronze
205/55R15 Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
~$912~930
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/sparco/swap/spo_pista_lg_ci3_l.jpg
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/sparco/swap/spo_drift_bnz_ci3_l.jpg
3.
16x7 Rota Grid - Bronze
205/50R16 Falken Ziex ZE912
~$875 shipped
http://www.wheeldude.com/catalog/images/grid_frsb_1.jpg
4.
16x7 Borbet LV4 - Anthracite
205/50R16 Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
~$1070 shipped
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/borbet/swap/borbet_lv4_anth_ci3_l.jpg
5. Fuck it... use my damn 195/60R15 Bridgestone A/S and stock wheels and save for coils.
The place I'm ordering the Konig or Rota from doesn't carry Dunlop. I know the Ziex is just an A/S tire, but I ran them on my dad's Lexus and I enjoyed how the felt in the wet and dry with spirited driving. I'm hoping they're betting than these Potenza A/S, they'll be a bit wider (205 vs 195) and brand new ...
Sparco/Borbet wheels seem like better quality than Konig/Rota, but I know they're not Gram Lights. Also, the most important thing for handling is the tire. The Star Specs are superstars, but I'm a bit concerned about
1. Treadwear (done in <20k km? so a set/year?!) and
2. Will it be overkill for DD and maybe 2-3x track days/year? Especially for a newbie driver like me?
I can save coin, go Ziex .... but it goes back to, what's the point of modding the car (sway bars, alignment, etc) if the tires are shit? But, are the Ziex shit?
I left out the part where I purchase wheels without tires, and use the Bridgestone A/S. It seems like a compromise. To purchase wheels locally, they're $700. For a tiny bit more coin, I can get brand NEW tires as well (albiet "only" the Falkens); and I hope to sell the Bridgestones off. They're super noisy anyway.
I like the Sparcos. I like the colour, and the "detail" in the design. They seem to be collaborated with OZ, and that should say something about the quality. Not 100% if they'd look sweet on my stock Taffy, but it's worth a try. The Star Specs are wicked tires too.
The Heliums are ultralight, and combined with the Ziex, what a cheap package. They're typically Japanese boy-racerish too. Ricer maybe, but I kinda like em. But I don't love em. $89 more than wheels alone, what a deal. Will the Ziex be alright on the track 2-3x/year?
The Grids are also typically boy-racerish, and a 16" wheel for not much more than the Heliums. If I throw on some Red lugnuts, adds to the flair. Again with the Ziex.
Lastly, the Borbets, as with the Sparcos - they seem unique. Seems like everyone and their mom has Konigs or Rotas these days. These might let me stand out. But with this, as with most things new - it's a risk it might just look :mconfused:
Decisions decisions. Any thoughts?
//edit: Added some piccies.