bmoha2
15+ Year Contributor
- 1,047
- 1
- Mar 3, 2007
-
madison,
Wisconsin
I have three sets of wheels for the Talon; The stock swirlies with Firestone Firehawk H rated tires 225/55/16, Enkei J10s 16X7s with BFG Traction TA V rated 225/50/16s and OZ Superleggera 17X8s with Falken Azenis 512s W rated in 235/45/17s. I was really excited about getting a new lighter weight wheelset and just for kicks weighed them. I was kinda disappointed with the weights. I just used a digital bathroom scale. Nothing too fancy or too scientific. I think it has been said that the stock swirlies weight 22 pounds. I can't confirm that. The Enkei J10 16X& wheels weigh 16 pounds even. The OZ Superleggera 17X8 wheels weigh 15.9 pounds. I was really expecting the wheel tire combos of the aftermarket wheels to be much lighter than the stock swirlies! Not so much. I think it also has a lot to do with the different ratings of the tires and their different sizes and widths. Evidently a H rated tire is lighter than a V or W rated tire. There is much more sidewall reinforcement in a higher speed rated tire. Those Firestone Firehawk tires also have a lot of tread gone. Regardless of total weight; both of the aftermarket tire/wheel combo have much better handling! The Falken Azenis on the Superleggeras offer frightening levels of grip! 
I think it is interesting that the BFG Traction TAs are wider in a the 225/50/16 size than the Falken Azenis 512s are in a 235/45/17 size. Just a tad but they are wider. Maybe a bit less than a half inch? Also, the Falken tires are the only ones there with rim protection. At this point I just want the stock swirlies to go away, I love the Enkei J10s and have gained a lot of respect for those BFG Traction TAs! They aren't an expensive tire but they handle great! They really surprised me in the snow. I am keeping them as my drag and winter wheels. I love the Oz Superleggeras! They are beautiful! The tires are insane! I think I am going to have the OZs powdercoated matte titanium. They are my daily driving (no snow) and autocross racing wheelset.
I think it is interesting that the BFG Traction TAs are wider in a the 225/50/16 size than the Falken Azenis 512s are in a 235/45/17 size. Just a tad but they are wider. Maybe a bit less than a half inch? Also, the Falken tires are the only ones there with rim protection. At this point I just want the stock swirlies to go away, I love the Enkei J10s and have gained a lot of respect for those BFG Traction TAs! They aren't an expensive tire but they handle great! They really surprised me in the snow. I am keeping them as my drag and winter wheels. I love the Oz Superleggeras! They are beautiful! The tires are insane! I think I am going to have the OZs powdercoated matte titanium. They are my daily driving (no snow) and autocross racing wheelset.
