goldstar

I just got my new wheels and tires today. The wheels are 5Zigen FNO1R-C. I don't have a digital camera but you can view the wheels on www.5zigen.com.

The wheels are 16x7", 4x100, +42 mm in silver. According to the website, they weigh 15 lbs. Also according to the website they are only available in +35 mm offset but in fact +42 mm is also available.

The tires I chose are Yokohama AVS ES100 205/45-16 as they have been recommended by several people on the Forum. I'll be keeping my stock steels with 195/55-15 Potenzas for winter use.

I wanted 16" instead of 17's for a lighter wheel and so that I could use 45 instead of 40 profile for a less harsh ride and still maintain ~ the same overall wheel diameter to insure speedometer accuracy. I also wanted a wider tire for better handling. This makes sense for me as my car is basically a daily driver and trip vehicle.

I haven't driven the car that much with the new set-up but my initial impressions are highly favorable. The main thing I noticed was a noticeably improved turn-in when cornering and the fact that the 45 profile was not much harsher than the original 55 profile. In fact the ride seemed rather quiet and smooth on a variety of road surfaces. I didn't want to push the car in corners just yet but I was able to run the car up to 100 mph on I-80 in the middle of the afternoon (on a relatively straight section) and the car tracked perfectly and was smooth and stable.

I had originally thought about getting the Rota Slipstream or the Enkei RPF1 because they are both about 13.5 lbs in 16" size. The Enkei's were too expensive for me and I decided against the Rota's after I saw the 5Zigens, even though they are heavier.

I was originally going to buy the tires and wheels via mail order but when I went on the 5zigen website they listed a dealer only 26 miles from my house so I decided to check him out. He had a huge selection of wheels and I was able to see the one's I wanted before I actually bought them. The price was the same as mail order including installation so I decided to buy locally. When I got the car home however I did re-torque the lugs to make sure everything was just right.

I really like the way the wheels look and the handling is definitely improved over stock, at least to the limited extent I can see so far, so I'm really happy with my purchase. I do have one question, however. In storing my steels, is it all right to let them stand on their tires as if they are mounted on the car or should they be laid flat, one on top of the other to avoid flat spots? Thanks for your response.

02 DX Millenium Red
MP3 Strut Tower Bar kit
Kartboy Shifter Bushings
Suvlights Heavy Duty Wiring Harness
Osram Silverstar H4 Bulbs
5zigen FNO1R-C 16" Wheels
Yokohama AVS ES100 205/45-16's
AEM Short Ram intake (sometimes)

Wes@tirerack

Hey Goldstar-

I always store mine flat-in groups of two-one on top of the other. As you have suggested, flat spots occur from consistent light pressure due to the action of gravity. They usually are not all that significant, but can be a problem especially if your tire has nylon in the sidewall-Nylon has a memory to it. So, I choose a nice, cool spot in the basement away from any electical motors and the eyes of my wife to keep my summers fresh for the next season.

One more tip-Put them in a black trash bag of the leaf gathering size that you use in the fall. Not only is this cleaner to handle, but it helps protect the tires and gives them their own happy atmosphere in which to hibernate.

Best,

Wes

goldstar

Thanks very much for your advice. This is an old thread but I still appreciate your response. That's a good idea about the leaf bags. I'll try that when winter arrives and the alloys come off.

02 DX Millenium Red