Hi,
First of all, thanks for looking and for any info you can pass on.
I just picked up a set of OEM Spec 99 RX-7 FD 17x8 & 17x8.5 wheels that will be getting refinished. I'm thinking about having them polished then powder coated. I don't think the powder coating will hurt the wheels since they are a cast wheel.
Today most tires are Unidirectional or Directional this makes you have the tires removed & remounted to be rotated if running staggered tires. The fewer times I have a tire shop touch the wheels the less chance of someone scratching the wheels on a tire machine.
The tire sizes I'm looking at are 235 & 245 / 45 - 17's. I would like a tire I can move side to side. I would also like a summer tire since we live in the Phoenix area. This car will never see a track or do Solo but I like to have somewhat of a performance tire. The only tires I have seen so far is the Nitto Invo & Continental Extreme Contact DW. Anyone running these tires or have any others you recommend? Also don't want to break the bank on tires.
Am also looking for good place to order from.

Thanks for your time,
MM

 

i HIGHLY recommend the nitto invos for the street. i get great dry traction, very quiet, and very comfortable tires. the side walls are a little softer to compensate for the comfort.

 

theres really no point in rotating your tires left-right, unless your alignment is screwed up.
so do yourself a favor, dont have a screwed up alignment, buy some tires that are actually good, and never "rotate" again.

 

Josh,
Never "rotate", with all do respect. The tires and wheels are staggered and so thats way I was looking for info. Never had a auto that had staggered setup. So is it best just to rotate side to side or pay to have tires flipped? I *think* all tires need to be rotated?
Note: I was in Gresham last year at this time. The woods, river, mountain, falls and the drive to the coast where beautiful!

 

Cast alum wheels are actually more prone to embrittlement from the heat of powdercoating than forged alum wheels- but as you said you won't be tracking so probably not an issue on cracking unless the wheel sees a big impact.

And as the others are saying, with a stock street alignment for your street driving I think you will find there is no need to flip or rotate tires- you should get even wear.

 

I would get the old Falken Azenis RT-615 that are on sale now that the new RT-615K is out.

Limited sizes now as stock dwindles but here are four 225/45-17 for $430 shipped to you at Vulcantire.com

https://www.vulcantire.com/cgi-bin/tirecart.cgi

Bonus, they look cool.

 

the falken rt-615 in my opinion are better performance tires. they have a stiffer sidewall for the side to side stuff. the invos are Nittos "luxury" performance tire. they sacrificed sidewall stiffness for ride comfort. if u dont plan on tracking ur car. the invos are great for the street. if u plan on doing a few autocross events or the like, go with the rt-615. lateral traction both tires are pretty close. both tires are rated AA for traction.

 

As mentioned, you aren't really going to get any benefit of L/R tire rotation (unless you only make left turns going to and from work ). Unless you have a square setup, just forget about tire rotations.