With almost 25K miles on them, it came time to replace the OEM tires, which were getting close to the wear bars. The OEM size, 235/35-19, were rather expensive at $262 each for the outgoing Pilot Super Sport and $272 for the replacement Pilot Sport 4S. I'm already using 18" rims for my race tires, and research showed I could get Pilot Super Sports in 235/40-18 for $187 each, a significant savings now and further down the road. I decided to order 18" rims and sell my OEM rims to partially recoup the cost now, and reap the benefits later for future replacements. To that end, I ordered a package with Sparco Podia wheels in gloss black with PSS tires. I just mounted them up last night, and I love the look:
They're fairly similar in style to the factory optional forged rims, and a little lighter than the OEM wheels and tires:
A side benefit is a bit less impact harshness due to the taller sidewalls; the broken road on the way to work this morning was easier to deal with. I'm not really seeing any downside to this change.
White vehicles with black wheels so often look fantastic! Yours is no exception!
(Hey, look at my screen name!)
Nice. Those wheels make the calipers really pop.
Lookin good! And good to know the taller sidewall helps! Do they come in white?
Looks good. As a limited model, do you think hanging on to the factory wheels might be valuable if/when it comes time to sell in the future?
The 18s look really good. This trend of huge wheels with very short side walls is annoying. They're so little compliance and pothole protection, and tires are more expensive. In my eyes it doesn't look any better going to these rubber band tires either. Sure, you don't want a big balloony truck like sidewall on a sports car, but there's a happy medium. I'm also going from OEM 19s to 18s on my M3. The competition pack has 20s!
In reply to ultraclyde :
I'm going to try to sell them.
poopshovel again said:
Lookin good! And good to know the taller sidewall helps! Do they come in white?
I think the Podias only come in silver and black, but Tire Rack has plenty of other styles in white.
Jah29
New Reader
4/26/18 6:43 p.m.
I also have replaced the forged 19 on my RS with 18s. At night I hit a crazy new pothole on an unlit smooth road I drive every week. Tire had a huge crack in the sidewall. I assumed the wheel is wrecked too, but haven’t checked it yet. Replacement cost cost for four MR503 and new tires was less than new oem rim($1800!) and tire. The 18s have a little bit better ride, and I have less fear of another tow truck ride home. When I went to check the pothole in my truck the next morning DOT had already dumped a bunch of asphalt into it so I didn’t event get to see the meteorite crater...
I've posted my OEM rims for sale here.
Just out of curiosity, how far do your calipers stick out past the hub face?
This is in no way related to me owning a car with the same bolt pattern and a notoriously difficult time getting wheels to fit because of how deep the spokes have to be...
Knurled. said:
Just out of curiosity, how far do your calipers stick out past the hub face?
This is in no way related to me owning a car with the same bolt pattern and a notoriously difficult time getting wheels to fit because of how deep the spokes have to be...
Looks like about 3/4". These wheels have 50mm of offset, but even the 45mm offset of my new wheels clears the brakes by about 1/2".
