Round Things 1

Yeah my MKII’s are really here!  I even passed on selling them for a couple hundred bucks profit.  Mine.

I’m kind of shocked though, at how 14″ tire sizes have almost entirely disappeared in the past three years.  My hope was to run the most aggressive streetable tire that I could.  What I had in mind was some A032R’s or at least something like it.  It’s true that it’s been 10 years since my last set, but I have fantastic memories of those tires getting me to and from events, killing it in the rain, and doing pretty well in the dry too.

Of course… that was before the Victoracer, and the V70A even.

The A032R is loong gone.  The A048 caters to 15″ and up.  And that’s about all that my favorite tire manufacture has to offer, unless I want a summer tire that is going to do a great job of making me FEEL like a hero… until I see the timer.

Kumho doesn’t really offer an “R” compound tire with tread on it.  The V70A has a little… but I wouldn’t trust it in real rain.  Doesn’t matter though because there are no 14″ sizes.  The Victoracer looks like it has tread… but after a few runs it doesn’t.  There is a decent 205/55 14 though.

That leaves me with the decent and affordable, but retardedly tall 195/60 Falken RT615… and the unknown, pricy and well sized 205/55 14 or 225 /50 14 Toyo R888.  I wonder if 8″ wheels will shorten up the Falken’s noticably.  I ran them on 7’s last.  The hell was Falken thinking anyways? 

But really… I wanted to tell you tonight, that I’ve been a fool for loving my Nardi wheels so unconditionally.  Itavolanti is proper.  It’s true it doesn’t photograph as well.  The rectangular horn buttons are definitely 70’s odd… but when it’s in your hands you don’t notice.  And even despite it, somehow it feels so much more rich and expensive.  It might just be the type of leather, the thick 25mm grip, or the cool, but pointless leather in the middle.

Bunta actually had it right.  I believe it.