Can I set up Xida's on Racing Harts then switch to 6Ul's without aligning again?

[matt2meyer]

Pulling the trigger on Xida's and plan on 15x9 6UL's shortly as well. Can I get the suspension aligned and corner balanced on the RH's then adjust ride height if needed when 6UL's go on, or will that that mess with the geometry and balance somehow?  Assuming I can do it since the OD's are very close, figured I'd ask the experts, and haven't seen any related info searching the forum.

215/40/17 Star Specs on the RH's which have a 22.8" OD.

225/45/15 Rival S on 6UL's have a 23.0" OD.


On a related note, I'm in the market for 15x9 Tungsten 6UL's if anyone's looking to part with theirs!?

[04TitaniumGrayPhilly]

Just curious, why even bother with two sets of wheels? The 225/45/15x9 is just fine for road and track use. For one, I know that 215 40 17 tire size is premium priced, and I don't see the benefits functionally, unless you just like the look of 17s.

As far as 15x9 ULs, where do you live?

Oh, and it shouldn't make a difference to alignment.

[matt2meyer]

Just delaying 6UL's to see if I can find a good used set as people upgrade with the spring thaw.

Have the Star Specs on RH's currently which are fine, but looking forward to a little better ride and contact patch on the 15's.

I'm close to you, in Lansdale, we need to get together at some point this summer.  I'll be at all the Philly SSCA AutoX events if you make it out to those.

[rotorglow]

Pulling the trigger on Xida's and plan on 15x9 6UL's shortly as well. Can I get the suspension aligned and corner balanced on the RH's then adjust ride height if needed when 6UL's go on, or will that that mess with the geometry and balance somehow? 

If you adjust the ride height, you'll need to get aligned again.

[darkcambria]

Agreed that if your ride height changes that your alignment will as well. You'll likely see that to a smaller degree with changing between those two wheels since they have different ODs. Now how much will change for a .2" OD difference, I'm not sure how much that will be.

[04TitaniumGrayPhilly]

Just delaying 6UL's to see if I can find a good used set as people upgrade with the spring thaw.

Have the Star Specs on RH's currently which are fine, but looking forward to a little better ride and contact patch on the 15's.

I'm close to you, in Lansdale, we need to get together at some point this summer.  I'll be at all the Philly SSCA AutoX events if you make it out to those.

Lol wow, I never expected you to be that close. I'm in philly right by where the old Nabisco plant is. If you want a ride on XIDAs before you pull the trigger I can arrange that, you can feel them on firm and soft settings with the 700/400 springs. As far as 15x9, my tuners friend told me he wanted them months ago. I'll shoot him an email and see if that's still the case. My 15x10 are finally shipping this week

[04TitaniumGrayPhilly]

OH and I missed te part about changing ride height. Yes that will change your alignment

[darkcambria]

I missed the part about Lansdale, that's not terribly far away from 04Titanium or me. I'm in Lancaster.

[matt2meyer]

I missed the part about Lansdale, that's not terribly far away from 04Titanium or me. I'm in Lancaster.

Met you briefly last year at one of the last Hershey AutoX's but you weren't running your car.  Hope to get out there again this year, let me know if when you're going and I'll try to get there the same date.

[millsj]

Changing the size of the tires isn't going to change alignment.  The height of the car will obviously change with a larger/smaller tire, but the hub will stay in the same position relative to the suspension, so no alignment changes.  Changes in ride height via a spring perch adjustment or lowered springs will change the alignment. 

[darkcambria]

I missed the part about Lansdale, that's not terribly far away from 04Titanium or me. I'm in Lancaster.

Met you briefly last year at one of the last Hershey AutoX's but you weren't running your car.  Hope to get out there again this year, let me know if when you're going and I'll try to get there the same date.

Ok, yes you are right! Nice to see you here also. I'll be trying to make it out for the May weekend but that depends how work on my car is going.

[millsj]

I've been confused by the same question before.   

[Jeff Goji]

The biggest problem is setting the ride height to work well with the 15X9s for competition use means that the 17" stockers most likely won't fit without rubbing into the fenders unless you raise the ride height.
 
I sold my stock wheels long as ago as they would just barely clear the fenders under hard cornering at a 4 1/2" front and 4 3/4" pinch weld heights on the 225/45/15 tires on the 15X9s (23.0 inches versus 23.8 inches for the Star Specs.)
I did end up rubbing the fenders in a couple of spots on big surface undulations when I used to run the Star Specs in the same size.

Here's a picture of your typical competition ride height under hard cornering on 800/500 springs:
BMW2212016-2 by jeffgoji, on Flickr


A Xida equipped Miata on 800/500 springs and a similar ride height:
James001 by jeffgoji, on Flickr

[matt2meyer]

Thanks everyone.  Was hoping I could delay the 6UL's but looks like I might as well get the car set up with them from the start.

Nice "Club Orange" order placed with 949 just now for XIDA's, 6UL's and all the extras.

Looking forward to spring!

[04TitaniumGrayPhilly]

Good buys Matt! You will simply love the XIDAs, and the 15x9 together, better ride than stock, and handling is incomparable. Did you get them with standard top hats, or the Billet mounts? I got standard cause that was all they had at the time, I think Darkcambria said the billet mounts are harsh for street use.