04MEMA
12-12-2006, 07:45 PM
After considering a bunch of different options I decided to buy the wheel and tire package from the Tire Rack. It was easy. I did use the link to the site from the MM.net home page, for what it's worth. Also found a coupon code from a google search that yielded a free digital pressure gauge - although I had to pay like $6 for shipping it...
In all I spent just shy of $700 to have them delivered - which they were in a timely manner - a couple days from Indiana. The wheels came with these things I've never seen before - centering rings (as well as a full set of lugs). The rings were already installed in the wheels as delivered and they appeared to be made out of plastic (just a thin plastic ring in the hub at the mounting surface) and retained in the wheel by a wire retaining clip. I was in a hurry to install them - I didn't take pictures of those to share - sorry. Anyway they went on pretty much without a catch, although two things were worthy of note: I had to use a non-impact socket to install the lugs - the lug holes on these wheels are too small in diameter for a thick walled socket to fit (not a big deal - I always use a torque wrench anyway). Also - and I assume this has to do with the centering rings - the wheels wouldn't press on all the way flush with the mounting surface until they were tightened down. It didn't require any unusual torque to snug them up - I just used a ratchet by hand and torqued them down a little at a time, going from lug to lug around the set a few times. I did apply some anti seize on the mounting surfaces.
After inspecting the new lugs and comparing them to my locking factory lugs I decided the locking lugs would work on these wheels - and they did. I'm glad that was the case - already spent enough on these puppies - as far as I'm concerned.
So the tires are the Winterforce - made by Firestone - they are just as Tirerack recommends - staggered front to rear. Fronts are 215/65/16 ($64) and the rears are 225/70/16 ($63). The wheels are Sport Edition F6 16X7's - silver painted aluminum. No traction control or ABS issues.
Initial impressions are basically what I expected, which is to say this is not a performance setup. Old MEMA is a little slow to react to inputs - to put it mildly but again - no surprise here. I've only driven a little bit in snow so far - figures - a week after I get these we get a week of 40 degree days. Anyway in the little bit of snow we had these tires seemed fine, decent traction during acceleration and good braking. I'll try to follow up on this thread later with more impressions of snow driving.
I can tell you this if you ever consider buying these tires - they are not quiet at speed. They make plenty of noise - not horrendous - but hard to miss. And they get louder as you go faster. It's nothing a little music - at a medium volume (moderate speeds) - can't cover up but be forewarned - if you're particular about tire noise.
I can bark a mean second scratch with these babies now! And going around sharp turns - it's kind of fun having tires that are no where near as sticky as the factory BFG's - they start howling and the car slides relatively easy... More entertainment - always good - and if I smoke them too much - at least they are only $60 a piece :D
Here's some pictures for reference sake.
Jeff
In all I spent just shy of $700 to have them delivered - which they were in a timely manner - a couple days from Indiana. The wheels came with these things I've never seen before - centering rings (as well as a full set of lugs). The rings were already installed in the wheels as delivered and they appeared to be made out of plastic (just a thin plastic ring in the hub at the mounting surface) and retained in the wheel by a wire retaining clip. I was in a hurry to install them - I didn't take pictures of those to share - sorry. Anyway they went on pretty much without a catch, although two things were worthy of note: I had to use a non-impact socket to install the lugs - the lug holes on these wheels are too small in diameter for a thick walled socket to fit (not a big deal - I always use a torque wrench anyway). Also - and I assume this has to do with the centering rings - the wheels wouldn't press on all the way flush with the mounting surface until they were tightened down. It didn't require any unusual torque to snug them up - I just used a ratchet by hand and torqued them down a little at a time, going from lug to lug around the set a few times. I did apply some anti seize on the mounting surfaces.
After inspecting the new lugs and comparing them to my locking factory lugs I decided the locking lugs would work on these wheels - and they did. I'm glad that was the case - already spent enough on these puppies - as far as I'm concerned.
So the tires are the Winterforce - made by Firestone - they are just as Tirerack recommends - staggered front to rear. Fronts are 215/65/16 ($64) and the rears are 225/70/16 ($63). The wheels are Sport Edition F6 16X7's - silver painted aluminum. No traction control or ABS issues.
Initial impressions are basically what I expected, which is to say this is not a performance setup. Old MEMA is a little slow to react to inputs - to put it mildly but again - no surprise here. I've only driven a little bit in snow so far - figures - a week after I get these we get a week of 40 degree days. Anyway in the little bit of snow we had these tires seemed fine, decent traction during acceleration and good braking. I'll try to follow up on this thread later with more impressions of snow driving.
I can tell you this if you ever consider buying these tires - they are not quiet at speed. They make plenty of noise - not horrendous - but hard to miss. And they get louder as you go faster. It's nothing a little music - at a medium volume (moderate speeds) - can't cover up but be forewarned - if you're particular about tire noise.
I can bark a mean second scratch with these babies now! And going around sharp turns - it's kind of fun having tires that are no where near as sticky as the factory BFG's - they start howling and the car slides relatively easy... More entertainment - always good - and if I smoke them too much - at least they are only $60 a piece :D
Here's some pictures for reference sake.
Jeff