2012 MazdaSpeed 3 with Evo X rims/tires

[abakja1]

Decided to look for cheap used rims this week and posted on Craigslist for EVO X rims and tires for the used 2012 MZ Speed 3 I bought last December 2017.

Luckily someone posted for EVO X rims/tires for sale the next day.

Stockers have brand new Hankook V12 tires 225/40/18s
EVOX X rims are in great condition plastidipped in flat black
Tires are Yokohama Advan AC13 in 245/40/18s about 50% tread left.

Will stick to stock ride height for now as my daily driver and to not
worry about scraping curbs, etc

Before:


After:

[abakja1]

Wheel tire review after several days:

I can definitely feel the extra pounds of the 8.5” rims and 245 width.
The car is not as fast off the line and I lost that “go cart” feel of point in the direction I want to go and accelerate.

What I did gain was a higher point of grip in the dry and wet. i live in On the wet side of the island of Oahu where we had several days of flash flood raining and the Advan a13c are reall good on wet pavement and resisted hydroplaning.

Bad side also is the tiresare also stiff and dont match the oem shocks nd springs I feel. The car bounces around on bumpy roads and the tires do track irregular grooves in the road.

This make the car a little unpredictable in a car that already has torque steer. I have to keep a tight grip on the wheel as i never know when the tires may womder off.

I may buy new Hankook evo 2 in 245/40/18 due to the price and because it is what I had on the oem rims before I did the swap (225/40/18). Im tempted to get Michelline pilot ss or 4s but dont know if i want to spend close to $400 more for them

[kTaLgsTo]

I had a pair of Toyo's which did that on the MS3, I ditched them fast....

They were directional, which maybe caused some of the tracking/pulling

Goodyear Eagle F1 Assemetric are by far my favorite

[flapjack]

Originally Posted by abakja1 I can definitely feel the extra pounds of the 8.5” rims and 245 width. The car is not as fast off the line and I lost that “go cart” feel of point in the direction I want to go and accelerate.

Are the evo x wheels really that much heavier than the stock pu wheels?

[KiwiFlavor]

Originally Posted by flapjack Are the evo x wheels really that much heavier than the stock pu wheels?

They are actually 2.6 lbs lighter than our OEM.

OEM = 24.6 lbs
Evo X = 22 lbs

RPF1 in 17x9 = 15.6 lbs (just throwing this out there since I'm rocking them )

[flapjack]

Originally Posted by KiwiFlavor They are actually 2.6 lbs lighter than our OEM. OEM = 24.6 lbs Evo X = 22 lbs RPF1 in 17x9 = 15.6 lbs (just throwing this out there since I'm rocking them )

Yeah I thought they'd be lighter than stock. Maybe it's the tires that are on the heavy side. Lighter wheels make such a big difference IMO.

My OZ 18x8 wheels are 16.7 lbs a piece and it makes the car feel so responsive. Thought about wider RPF1s to run wider tires and keep the weight down still.

Whats your opinion on 17" vs 18" wheels?

[KiwiFlavor]

I really like 17”s for the fact that I can run taller sidewall. I wouldn’t mind rocking 18s if they’re like 16lbs lol

[abakja1]

I ordered 245/40/18 Pirelli Nero GT from Amazon today to replace the Advan a13c I have not.
Its too scary sometimes when the tires track and pulls the steering wheel side to side on bumpy roads
Traction and wet performance is really impressive though, but perhaps the tires are old and hard since I bought them used and not sure how many years old they are
Came out cheaper than Tire rack by about $70+ due to free Shipping and hope to get them before the weekend so I can mount them on Sat or Sunday

Itll be my first time on Pirelli tires as I wanted something different and due to being link $25-$35 cheaper than my next choice of Hankook Evo12. Pilot tires just out of my price range for now.

Here is the car after Menzerna PO85 and Wolfgang sealant

[JakeMS3]

Needz some lowz.

[kTaLgsTo]

I think it looks great the way it is, my lo-pro jack is a pain on stock height. I don't need another annoyance on these Mazdas

[abakja1]

Originally Posted by kTaLgsTo I think it looks great the way it is, my lo-pro jack is a pain on stock height. I don't need another annoyance on these Mazdas

I agree,..
If anything, I might get lowering springs to lower 1" or less, but that is debateavkw right now for me as it's my daily driver.

[abakja1]

I mounted Pirelli PZero Nero Tires from Amazon yesterday and driveability is back.

No more wandering and harsh ride. I think the Advan A13C tires were old and the rubber was just too hard which caused all the problems I was experiencing.