I'm planning on getting those tires when I get a new set of wheels. You'll be fine as long as you let them wear out evenly.

 

California doesn't have monsoons where buckets of rain comes down for weeks at a time.... A performance touring tire would be a better choice for a tropical environment and less than perfect roads.... Not that the Dunlop Star Specs aren't great tires but in some situations there are other tires to choose from that will better meet the needs of a driver in real world driving scenarios.

 

thanks texas, makes sense

 

finally got them here's a few pics until i get them installed..

 

gotta love black rpf-1's mmmmm good choice

 

ok, so i FINALLY got them put in yesterday. there isn't much variety in tires where i live, and because of the problems in bangkok i don't want to be in the middle of a war zone just to find a certain brand of tyre!

In the end i got a set of Maxxis Victra I-Pro tires in 195/55/15. They're not as well known as other brands but they're got quite a good reputation over here, and they're nowhere near as pricey as the other brands.

So i had them put on yesterday and everything looked good, drove home but all the way there were weird vibrations when i pushed the brakes and when i turned left or right. first i thought the tires were rubbing so i checked when i got home but it looked alright, and the tire size isn't anything extreme, so i figured maybe its just cos they're new (this is the first time i've bought new tires :P). this morning before i left to work i checked them again and noticed the f**king calipers were colliding with the rims by a good millimeter or so on the front wheels!! i thought to myself, "F%&K!!!!!". there's a slight "engravement" on the front left wheel caused by the caliper touching it when moving, and an ever-so-slight one on the right wheel. the difference is probably because of the wear difference of the brake pads.

so i took my car straight to the tire shop, knowing that while driving, my brand new rims would be touching the calipers the whole way when i got to the shop they took the front wheels off and machined/grinded the calipers down a little where they were touching the rims - is this OK to do? i was a little worried, though it looks like they only took a little off. after they did this, driving is a LOT better. no more vibrations or weird stuff. plus, i can feel the difference from the original wheels

here are some pics:

this is the tire i got - Maxxis Victra I-Pro 195/55/15


my original old wheel (with the new one in the background)


my new wheel


shot of my car with the wheels

 

Nice man! I <3 RPF1s...

 

Looks great! but im biased I also have a black fit with black rpf1s

 

I don't think there is going to be a problem because of a few millimeters of metal being removed from your calipers, it is better than using longer studs and wheel spacers... I have the same color, same size tires and have never regretted my choice... I don't think you can do any one thing that will make as much difference as these wheels make..... I wouldn't want to be in Bangkok now either..... Why are the pictures of the wheels on your car different than the wheels in the other pictures???

 

thanks for the comments i haven't had time to properly try them out yet, but i can already tell a difference while driving to work this morning

@ texas - what do you mean about the difference of the pictures?

 

I think they might have changed wheels on you when you took it back to them... The RPF1s on my car are like the ones in the picture comparing stock with the new wheels and do not have as many spokes or center caps like the ones on your car... It is a recently released wheel that is also called RPF1...I think it is slightly heavier and better looking than what I have.... Mine didn't touch my calipers either.

 

they couldn't have changed the wheels on me because i was watching them while they did their work, plus these wheels are rare over here, lol. when they were fitting them they picked them up and were like "woah, they're so light!" and then asked if i imported them these have the 6 double spokes with no center cap - they're the same as in the other pics :P do u think our caliper sizes could be different?

 

I think there is a reflection off of you rotor but I left my glasses outside in the barn and have a hard time reading without them making me think the wheels look different.... There must be a difference in the calipers, my spokes are close but have never touched.

 

Hey Supafly... I was just tracking a FedEx package and read that they have suspended service to Thailand due to political unrest.... Hope you and your car are tucked away in a safe place.... Take care man.

 

Looks awesome! I've been thinking about picking up a set of these and I'm officially sold now

 

yeh the problems over here in thailand are getting worse but don't worry, i dont live near any of the danger zones.. though the red shirt leaders were moved to an army base really close to where i live!! :O thanks for comment though