12-06-06

Hey everyone,

I just bought my new Shadow Mica XB a little over a week ago.

I must admit it a great car, it even did great in the major snowstorm we had here in Chicago last week

Few questions and hope someone could help:

I'm planning on ordering the Dyna sport roof rails from the below link are they reliable and is the company fast on sending them out?

http://www.prolineracks.com/permanen...oof-racks.html

Also is it worth voiding your warranty for tires and wheels if I decide to get new wheels but keep the tires? After only driving US cars I wanted the peace of mind of having an extended warranty and all packages had tire and wheel coverage.

I guess if don't get the wheels I saw some nice black hub caps for $35 at Pep Boys.

Thanks
Knightlife

 

Cant help you with the roof rack, but instead of hubcaps buy trim rings and center caps. Looks better IMO.
Heres and old pic of mine:

 

Hey KnightLife,

I can't find the ScioLife link in my files, but more than a few xB'ers have simply painted the OEM steelies a nice gloss red-with-clearcoat, then added "chrome beauty/trim rings" for a really clean look. I think they got them thru JCWhitney or PepBoys for around $15 each.

Maybe try a ScionLife search for "Beauty Rings" or "Trim Rings" to check for new images. Oh, and at a Scion meet I met a guy who then added metal center caps ("spindle caps"?) from a NAPA store, maybe $4-5 each. He had painted them to match his TCM box--looked pretty cool, and not too expensive a mod. Good luck . . .

 

here it is:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...ight=trim+ring

 

I serious thought about the cap and trim rings, but with winters here in Chicago won't all that rust after a year especially the steelie. I really want to keep a pair of winter tires and summer tires around.

Thanks for all your comments
Knightlife

 

KnightLife,

Understand your worry about maintenance/durability/upkeep issues of steel in da midwest (GO_BUCKS!). So I went the light alloy route, but with a twist . . .

L I N K to photosets ("...Vertical_Vehicle" and "...Winter_Shoes"):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/macpeep/sets/

As you can see, I actually went with TWO sets of 15-inch alloys, one for summer and another for the Midwest winters here. *NOTE: stock OEM steelies are 15x5.5-inches with +38mm offset running 185/60x15 Goodyear Eagle LS tires that offer miserable wet AND dry traction (bad news) and reportedly do not last long (good news?)

I contacted Discount Tire Direct (actually went to local warehouse to research and preview options --- they were VERY accomodating. (Maybe check your yellow pages for local outlet or dealer?)

For warmer weather chose 15x6.5 TSW Kyalami rims in HyperSilver with machined lip, wrapped with 205/55x15 Falken Zeix ZE512 tires. (offset +40mm) . . . $834 mounted, balanced, shipping/delivered.

For cold weather and bad roads, went with 15x6.5 Rage Coda rims in same color scheme, with 185/65x15 Michelin X-Ice snow tires (also +40mm offset) . . . $600 mounted, balanced, lifetime warranty, giant NASCAR (!?!) storage bag.


NOTE: I was intent on getting good MPG and ride quality as well as keeping speedo calibration pretty close (winter set indicates 60mph when actual is 61.8; summer set indicates 60mph when actual is 60,3). I've been extremely happy with these set-ups: great winter traction in deep snow and/or black ice, decent performance and handling with the summer combination. Personally, I didn't want chrome or polished, but the painted silver/diamond machined look was just enough *bling* for my TCM box without being too over-the-top. And the Kyalami and Coda designs are quite similar, so that was another plus for me.

I should also mention another BIG reason for my choices: each stock wheel/tire weighs 37 lbs., while each winter X-Ice/Coda weighs 36 lbs. (and those full-on snow tires are CHUNKY), and each summer Zeix/Kyalami weighs only 33 lbs. Less unsprung weight = better acceleration, handling, etc.

Anyway, hope all or some of this helps you with your ultimate decision.

 

the roof rack people you have here is very quick and has great service.....check my profile.....i'm sportin the dynasport luggage rack and i'm extremely pleased w/ looks and performance.

i ordered direct by phone and they shipped to California in 1week