MS3 on 235/40/18 RT-615's Rota P1's Hyperblack

[ZooZoom]

Mounted new rubber today. Falken Azenis RT-615 tires 235/40/18 mounted on Rota P1's 18 x 8" (+48) in Hyperblack

Getting a bad rub on the rear - more on driver's side (makes sense - that's the side I typically sit on (crazy))

Definitely must try rolling my rear fenders beneath the wheel well. Strange why Mazda would give the front fenders a nice roll from the factory but leave the rear sticking out straight towards the tire like a razorblade.

I'm not too worried about it. Should be able to put a nice upward tilt to the inner fender lip without too much risk. Gotta be done because just a couple of bumps chewed some nice tire spaghetti off the lip. No harm really but it cannot be left alone.

No driving impressions yet for the Falkens. But I have the highest expectation for them to grip like claws on carpet. A DOT wear rating of 200 means they are super-sticky. No worries about wet weather traction because now that March is almost past it's not likely to rain again in So.Cal until Oct/Nov.

I'll know for certain how well they grip - and god forbid I continue to get sharp rubbing - because I'm heading out to Willowsprings "Big Track" on 3/27. (burnout)

tires sidewalls still covered in lube since they were mounted about 20 minutes before these pics taken. and the center caps were still in the car.

Pics for your amusement.....

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0001.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0002.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0003.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0004.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0005.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0007.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0009.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0011.jpg


decent room towards the inside on the rear struts (Koni Yellows, MS red springs & camber plates)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0015.jpg


a bit closer up front still on the stock shocks with the MS red springs

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0019.jpg

[Haltech]

That turned out great. Hyperblack looks really good on the cosmic (drive2)

ive got bc racing coilovers going on next week.. I have the 18x8 rota torques +48mm with the SFC adjustable rear camber plates. So it should be really interesting how well it looks and handles with that combo.

[BSTD3]

ZooZoom:

I too have Falken RT-615's 235/ Falken Azenis RT-615 tires 235/40/18 on my Speed3 with 18X8 wheels and I've had zero rub issues.

I'm running Tenzo GT05's for wheels with a 48mm offset.

Is your Speed3 lowered?

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k159/nopstnz/REDBLUR/DSC01363.jpg

[SSMS3]

Looks good. So neither of you guys have any issues up front only the rear?
ZooZoom, please report after your Willow track day. Like to hear how the car does

[Silver Ecstasy]

How does the car handle with those wider tires? I'll bet it manuevers slightly slower, but with more traction?

I always wondered why Mazda didn't put 225's atleast on the car, but they must have known what they were doing..

[BSTD3]

How does the car handle with those wider tires? I'll bet it manuevers slightly slower, but with more traction?

I always wondered why Mazda didn't put 225's atleast on the car, but they must have known what they were doing..

My car handles great, not slower in regards to maneuvering. My wheels are over 1lbs lighter than stock at each corner.

Looking to go with even a lighter wheel real soon.

[Silver Ecstasy]

That's interesting.

I know when I had my 03 Grand Am with minor mods, I was running 225/45/17 Nitto 555's. When those tires were about worn, I bought 235/45/17 Yokohama AVS-E100 and the car started following every rut on the roads and freeways. The car got excessively difficult to handle and it was a handful at steering

That's my only personal experience when asking.

[Saitech]

Do any of you have Cobb springs? The rear springs are very soft, not sure why Mazda did that with our car being FWD. I have 245/40/18 Falken RT-615s sitting in my basement along with Cobb Stage 2 and Rota Torque 18x8 +48mm. The stocker looks like a spare tire compared to the 245. (lol2)

There is chance I might not rub with the stiffer cobb springs but I have a fender tool on reserve just in case.

Edit: must have not seen your ms springs first time through. How much stiffer are the ms springs compared to stock? Btw nice pics, I have been wanting to see how they look from the back.

[ZooZoom]

So I took care of rolling the rear fender lips today. Not a task for the faint-of-heart. Especially if you don't have all the right tools - like I don't.

Basic ingredients:


small sledge hammer
cardboard pad - to soften the blows
fresh razor blade knife
painters tape
enamel primer or paint
Mazda touch-up paint kit
couple of cigs or beers (OPTIONAL) (cheers)


I know to do a proper fender roll, you need a special tool and its best to use a hot-air gun to soften the paint and make if pliable/flexible. I didn't have any of that.

But I think of my MS3 as a track car that I happen to drive everyday. I just needed to get the job done before I sliced away precious sidewall from my nice, new RT-615s.

Simple recipe:


scribe hard line just inside fender lip for paint "break-line"
gently bash the hell out of the lip til it's rolled upward
sand away paint chips on rolled lip
mask just outside scribe line
paint with enamel primer or outdoor paint
apply matching touch-up paint as required
hope future buyer is equally concerned about form over beauty (smash)



some pics to entertain you (lousy cheap digital camera)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0022.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0025.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0028.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0032.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0037.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0040.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0044.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0050.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/BOXRPWR/Rota%20P1s/PICT0045.jpg

[MS3077]

Wow, very nice indeed!

[Yoo Shin]

Any updates on this set up? I take it that it no longer rubs?

[FrequentFlyer]

Nice. 615's are an awesome tire. I used them for autocrossing on my S2000 and loved them. So sticky, it's scary and you can't really beat them for the price.

Are those Koni yellows specifically for the MS3 or for the non-MS 3? I can't find part numbers for the MS3. They're adjustable right?

[john blutarski]

I love Azenis. Nice rims too by the way... they look great on cosmic blue