323sportUK

Hiya peeps I havent posted in a while hope you are all in one piece.

I recently been very busy at work, so I rewarded myself (and the car cos I now use it to commute) with a set of shadow chrome glorious set of brand new 18" rims, Dont worry everyone I have also ordered the eibachs for it and they should get here next week.

In the mean time here is a pic of the 323 just after I fitted the new rims.



Hey im going to the Japanese Auto Extravaganza on the weekend im camping over, I reckon that im might be the only one there with a 99+ pro I havent seen ANY that have been modded in this country! But if i do see some I will post a link to the pics.

kargoboy

I am just thinking out loud and hoping someone else will post, but you might have a bit of a problem with 18s and Eibachs. You are looking at about 3.5 cms drop front & back.
I just installed my Eibachs yesterday, I'm still running the 16" stockers and can barely fit two fingers between the wheelwell and tire. Your tires have a bit lower profile, but I'm thinking you may still have a rubbing problem.
Eggynatey has 18s but I think he's using coilovers and I don't know how much his car is dropped.
I think Phantom's running 18s too, you might wanna check with them.

323sportUK

i used a tyre calculator and it works out that its just slightly over the rolling radius but well within the zone, i got 215/35/18 tyres.

Do you have big fingers???? Dont jinx ME PLEASE especially now they are on the next day delivery special postage from Germany! which i paid extra for! Someone post and put my mind to rest otherwise im not going to be able to sleep for the following week!

323sportUK

checked the tyre calculator again

http://www.rochfordtyres.co.uk/TyreCalc.asp

copy and paste that into your browser.

I had 205/50/16 on the back and there was never any rubbing
and now i have 215/35/18 as you will see the the calculator actually makes the rolling radius of my new wheels to be less than the stock overall radius. by 3mm.

im gonna be fine i hope.

Phantom Cruiser

i have the 18s, but don't have the cash for the tires right now. however, i am planning on running 215/35/18s as well (and i have coil-overs i can adjust).

323sportUK

I need to know if anyone has got 18's with a 40mm offset and managed to lower a protege 5 using eibachs??? Im now very unsure because last night while i was racing my boss (he has second gen) after work, i went over some bumps in the road and i heard a scraping noise from the back wheels. I am very worried that im gonna be seeing some light scrub turn into bad scrubbin after lowering which would make the car undrivable.

i only have a few days to decide to go with the lowering or not, I cant do the lowering if i need to mess around with roling arches out as i wont have time to do it before the show!

I have tried searching but i cant ever find a definate answer! PLEASE HELP this is urgent! No one knows anything about the protege over here!

kargoboy

I'm not an expert by any means, but I think your offset is going to be the culprit.
I think you are going to need NO LESS than 42mm offset. It doesn't seem like much but I'm sure I've read that 40mm is not enough.
BTW you are right about the overall diameter, thanks for the link.

323sportUK

ok i got a few fat people (normal size people to you lot i guess) to sit in my car and jokes aside i think its going to lower nicely there isnt much room to squeeze fingers in between wheel and arch but my springs have arrived now and im going for the gamble,

i would say thanks for the help but i think that the rest of you supposedly experts hardcore protege fans didnt help me out at all really! ( except kargoboy and that gorgeous dancing banana lady ) ., i will let ya know what happens, i might need to angle grind some of the arch away or get coil overs but i reckon the jobs gonna be a good 'un, wish me luck

see ya later... the rest of you haters!

323sportUK

guess what!

Not only was you Yankies wrong about the war. you was also wrong about a set of 18's and 40mm offset lowered with eibachs! it was a straight forward job and i didnt even have to mission that much with the rear arch!

that tyre recipe is a load of bollocks! I will post a pic later on when i get a new card for my digicam!

hahah screw you guys!!

kargoboy

Must be a European thing, LOL.
Yeah, post a coupla pics. And you're right, I never professed to be an expert, I'm still learing about Mazdas myself.
Still, I coulda sworn I read about ppl having trouble, but since I couldn't find the thread I was looking for, well, cheers, bro.

tyvan27

No need to be an *** about it dude. People were just trying to help you out based on their previous experiences, and what they had heard. Good for you though...glad the 18's fit while being lowered.

Phantom Cruiser

ugh.....if only i had about $450 to get tires put on my wheels...i'm tired of looking at the boxes sitting in my dining room!

323sportUK

here is a pic at the JAE, was a great weekend. Have a look at our local cruisin site if you want to see more pictures. www.donnycruise.com on the fron tpage you will see gallery check there the pics should be uploaded by tomorrow.

I Was the ONLY person there with a BJ, but the BG and the BA lads were out in force! some guy claims he had around 350 BHP from the BPT. i believe him cos i saw him on the freeway. and he was giving it death speeds!

kargoboy

Damn, those wheels & tires look like they weigh NUTHIN'!
You seriously need some big rotors now, dude--those stockies look lost!

323sportUK

tell me about it!

i have spent this months budget, next month im thinkng getting it through its MOT and then im gonna have retrim and a nice exhaust made for it and have it tinted.

No one makes brakes for it here, might see if a different car big brakes (miata, mx6) brakes will work? i gotta a 4 stud car so might even be able to use honda or old beemer disks???? im sure i can get an engineering company to supply a braket for calipers.

watch this space man, by the time im finished this car will have some big mods!