Seize

I agree. Look at some wheels from Volk/Rays.... they offer a variety of quality made light-weight wheels.

Irishman06

Yea, most of my buddies run Hoosier R6s on their track wheels...

If only we could get a decent supply of Avon slicks in the US...probably the sexiest rubber around.

Gernby

iTrader: (1)

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

Rear Supra rims are 17 x 9.5. They'll fit pretty wide rubber without any issues. Offset is +50, and I have no doubt they would fit on the IS. If I get bored in the next couple of days I might test fit it. I have 265/40/17 SO-3s on mine right now, so it wouldn't be a bad test.

It is also possible to find used Supra wheels pretty cheap. You might also want to test fit the 16" wheels from the NA Supra. They're not so wide, but for drag racing, sidewall height is good. Short sidewalls (like 18's) are not nearly as good for a quick launch.

I also have a really good hook up for 5Zigen wheels. I've considered getting some FN01-RCs for exactly this purpose - very cheap (<$200 each), reasonably light (~18 lbs) and plenty strong for the IS.

caymandive

iTrader: (2)

Gernby, those Hoosiers do look very nice! If I was planning on taking the car to a road course I'd def be doing the same thing you are doing, but I'm just 1/4 mile junkie. I'm about to pull the trigger on the Big F'n Guns (BFG's) in the 245/40 R18 size. Do you think it's necessary to get them heat cycled and/or shaved? Also what happens when wheels mounted to the IS have no sensors installed in them?

Lobuxracer, thanks for the reply. Looking forward to hearing how the Supra wheels fit your IS. I'm sure someone on this board would end up going that route. I think I would have, but when I got to thinking about it, I'd rather go for the sleeper look and keep the stock rims, but with some nice sticky rubber for consistent launches.

Gernby

iTrader: (1)

I have no idea if the BFG's would need to be heat cycled or shaved. I am going to have the Hoosier's heat cycled though.

The missing TPMS sensors will just cause an error message on the instrument panel.

caymandive

iTrader: (2)

Ok, I placed the order for the BFG's. Talked to a Supra buddy of mine and he told me that these tires don't need heat cycled. Can't wait for the track to open up again in March.

caymandive

iTrader: (2)

I just received the drag radials and they look awesome. Very wide in appearance (actually look slightly wider than the stock 255's..I know it's just an illusion), feel much sticker than my PS2's I have sitting in the garage (best I can describe how sticky they feel is that if you take your forearm and slide it down the tire you feel it pull your skin. Do the same on the PS2's and the skin pretty much just slides on them), the BFG's are actually 23 lbs not 24 so the weight savings over stock tires are 4lbs. Once I get my stock wheels on the 21st and have the tires mounted I'll snap another pic.

Gernby

iTrader: (1)

Congrats, but the arm hair stickiness test really isn't very "scientific"! LOL

I assume the PS2s have been driven on, so they are scrubbed in and dirty, and the BFGs are still coated with the releasing agents from the molds.

caymandive

iTrader: (2)

Yeah not very scientific, but you can definitely tell the difference in the way it feels compared to typical High Performance tires. The PS2's are just sitting in my garage and only have about 40 miles on them FWIW.

Gernby

iTrader: (1)

I just mounted up my Hoosiers. They only weighed 20 lbs, but with air and the OEM rear wheels, they are a whopping 47 lbs! I didn't realize the OEM wheels were so friggin' heavy! I'll see why my street tires and wheels weigh on Saturday when I swap them out.

Gernby

iTrader: (1)

Another view

caymandive

iTrader: (2)

Nice Gernby. I know the tread width is the same for those as the stock 255's, but it appears as though the tread is actually rounded a bit. I looked at the site and sure enough: "it is molded onto a more rounded tread profile that extends the life of the shoulders and produces more consistent tread wear across the entire contact patch" but you get less straight line grip because of that. Prob not a big deal since the size you got does lower gearing and they are very very light. Let us know how they work out.

PS. is it just me or all the tires on tirerack off by one lb?

Gernby

iTrader: (1)

It looks like I might loose 1" of contact width if I run a high pressure, but I'll probably only run 30 PSI (or even less if I'm having traction issues).

caymandive

iTrader: (2)

So when are you going to try them out? How low of pressure can you run in them? 30 seems too high.