hey guys, Im looking for a 15 wheel to use on my prelude SH for auto-x/hpde. I know the bolt pattern is the same, and I ASSUME it will clear the calipers. Most of them are 6.5" wide so its the same width as stock, but I plan on getting a 215 wide tire with the lowest possible sidewall to give me both slightly shorter gearing as well as less sidewall flex. So what do you guys think of the overall idea?

BTW - does anyone know which year legend wheels were the lightest? As long as they are under 20 lbs I'll be happy. TIA

Peter

 

The problem is what tire you are going to run on them that is 215 width- the azenis & kumho mx in 15" only comes in 205 width...

 

The Legend calipers are even bigger than the Lude, i think. The wheel fitment should be no problem. Go with 225-50-15 tires. Late model Accord V6 wheels are also 15x6.5, even the steelies.

 

hmm, if azenis only come in 205 thats dissapointing, but you guys dont thing that 225 is too wide?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by piotrush &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you guys dont thing that 225 is too wide? </TD></TR></TABLE>
No. In fact, if anyone made it and it would fit in the well, I would seriously consider 235 or 245. Anything less would be uncivilized .
EDIT: What class are you running in? OEM wheels are usually pretty heavy.

 

These won't fit.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">These won't fit.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Haha, I think that he meant wheels from an Acura Legend

 

prelude SHs are in STX. I'm really not trying to be competitive...yet, I just want to have fun not chew up my $145/tire SO3s So you think the wider the better huh?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by piotrush &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">prelude SHs are in STX. I'm really not trying to be competitive...yet, I just want to have fun not chew up my $145/tire SO3s So you think the wider the better huh?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I take it then you're not stock (otherwise it woul be G Stock). If you're just looking to have fun, then yeah, try and find the cheapest wheels you can.
With a 3000lb car, wider is most definitely better.
I have a set of beat up SH wheels if you're interested (PM or e-mail me if you are)

 

If you're going with 15" wheels, I would look into Mazda Millenia wheels. They're cheap and will be lighter than the Legend wheels. They seem to be popular with the ITR crowd.

 

I actually did look into those, but they are only 6" wide like the stock ITR wheels. I dont want to go below 6.5"

 

Why not just run 215-45-16 Azenis on the stock SH 16x6.5 wheels? Azenis doesnt exist in 225-50-15 and if you want to come anywhere near the level of grip of Azenis, you'll have to shell out big bucks for S03s or BFG rubber. Just a thought...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Steppin Razor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I take it then you're not stock (otherwise it woul be G Stock). If you're just looking to have fun, then yeah, try and find the cheapest wheels you can.
With a 3000lb car, wider is most definitely better.
I have a set of beat up SH wheels if you're interested (PM or e-mail me if you are)</TD></TR></TABLE>

he'd be in DS with a SH.

you'll want to run as wide a wheel per STX ruleset (8") and as wide a tire (245 or 225? i forget at the moment) as you can cram into those wells to keep up with the class leaders.

i'm on 15x7's with 205/50/15 azenis in STX. needless to say i need a change here (as well as in many other places). if there was a competitive tire in a 235 i'd be running them, but i think my next set will probably be a 225 s03.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

he'd be in DS with a SH.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought all the Preludes got moved to GS?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you'll want to run as wide a wheel per STX ruleset (8") and as wide a tire (245 or 225? i forget at the moment) as you can cram into those wells to keep up with the class leaders.</TD></TR></TABLE>
245 is the widest for STX, but he said he's trying to be competitive, so probably wouldn't want to spend on 8" wheels.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'm on 15x7's with 205/50/15 azenis in STX. needless to say i need a change here (as well as in many other places). if there was a competitive tire in a 235 i'd be running them, but i think my next set will probably be a 225 s03.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yikes, 205/50's? Have you considered going back to a 16" wheel? You could try to fit the 245/16 S03s on.

 

Guys, someone just amailed me saying they have a set of base wheels for sale (same dimensions as stock - 16x6.5) for $225 shipped. SHould I just call it a day and get those? He said that the differences in gearing would not be that siginificantly shorter, and with a 16" wheel I'd have more tire choices available to me. What do you all think?

PS - as someone asked before, I dont want to use my stock wheels bc I have a set of SO3s mounted, and I'm too cheap to use tose in auto-x/HPDE

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by piotrush &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Guys, someone just amailed me saying they have a set of base wheels for sale (same dimensions as stock - 16x6.5) for $225 shipped. SHould I just call it a day and get those? He said that the differences in gearing would not be that siginificantly shorter, and with a 16" wheel I'd have more tire choices available to me. What do you all think? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Stock SH and base wheels are both 16x6.5. Gearing would be the same, unless you mounted skinny sidewall tires. Gearing would be shorter with a 15" wheel, which would be the Legend wheel.
215/45/16 Azenis would be ~$90something/ea.

 

If I were you, I would just get the cheap Base wheels and a set of 215 Azenis, and call it a day.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Steppin Razor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I thought all the Preludes got moved to GS?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

the 4th gen preludes were moved, but the 97+ stay in DS, because of ATTS.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yikes, 205/50's? Have you considered going back to a 16" wheel? You could try to fit the 245/16 S03s on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i have stockies i can use, but i like the 15's. it's just a matter of finding the right tire. I think 225 s03's would be a step in the right direction, or i could run 245's on my oe wheels, but i'm sure i'd rub with tires that wide. and i'd also feel iffy about running a 245 on a 6.5" wheel. i suppose i could get yet another set of wheels (AUGH!) but for now my bank says:

stfu.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i have stockies i can use, but i like the 15's. it's just a matter of finding the right tire.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Does anyone make 225/45/15?
My bank is rude to me too. If you ever feel the need to drive cross country, we can trade wheels for an event. That'll teach those banks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Steppin Razor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Does anyone make 225/45/15?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know of any 225/45/15 street tires.....There are some 225/50/15 tires - like the SO3's ($150) - & there are other cheaper 225/50/15 tires (like the Toyo TS- $140 or the Yokohama ES), but other than the SO3, all of these tires Lack in Grip & have a softer sidewall than a 205/50/15 width Azenis tire, that costs only around $70

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by luder94si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I don't know of any 225/45/15 street tires.....There are some 225/50/15 tires - like the SO3's ($150) - & there are other cheaper 225/50/15 tires (like the Toyo TS- $140 or the Yokohama ES), but other than the SO3, all of these tires Lack in Grip & have a softer sidewall than a 205/50/15 width Azenis tire, that costs only around $70</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah 225/45/15 is an oddball size. i've decided that it'll probably be a 225/50 s03 or a BFG T/A KD. the BFG's were on most of the cars that weren't on azenis in kansas, so maybe that's a sign.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yeah 225/45/15 is an oddball size. i've decided that it'll probably be a 225/50 s03 or a BFG T/A KD. the BFG's were on most of the cars that weren't on azenis in kansas, so maybe that's a sign.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
It's a sign that people have way too much money to burn.

BFG T/A KDs are only marginally better than Azenis, but carry a hefty price premium. Most people opt for Azenis because the price increase for BFGs isn't worth the slight increase in grip.

It's kind of like Hoosier vs. Kumho. If you can afford the BFGs, then more power to you.

 

225/50/15 isn't that much different than stock 16's in diameter. I don't know what benefit 15s would be if you're not changing diameter (thus size). You won't be getting much advantage in gearing, or acceleration. here's what I got according to this online tire size calculator -
Tire Size Sidewall Diameter Circumference Rev/Mile Difference
205/50-16 4.0 in. 24.07 in. 75.62 in. 838 0.0%
215/45-16 3.8 in. 23.62 in. 74.20 in. 854 -1.9%
225/50-15 4.4 in. 23.86 in. 74.95 in. 845 -0.9%

http://www.autocrossing.com/cgi-bin/tiresize.cgi

I was debating this 15 v 16 choice a lot, and based on available tire sizes, I see no advantage to 15s. Even cost isn't an advantage because although 15s are usually cheaper you gotta run the cha ching tires