Steve M
06-11-2017, 11:29 PM
This is a little project I've been working on for the past few months...it all started last October at my local drag strip during a Thursday night test and tune. This was my first time at this particular track, and my first time taking my Viper down the quarter mile. You'll have to forgive the shitty quality, the shittier camera angle, and my lack of driving skills, but here goes anyway:
https://youtu.be/4My6rCuYT4s
Gotta love that 1-2 shift wheel hop. I should have let off, but I was a dumb ass and just rode it out...if you need a good example of what not to do, that was it. I was rolling on 4 year old Michelin Pilot Super Sports, so I'm not exactly sure what I expected, but I was at least able to shake some dust free (heh). I decided that if I was ever going to do this again, I'd need a good set of drag radials, but driving season in Ohio was coming to an end, so I knew this was something that would have to wait until next year.
I've always had my eye on Forgestar F14s offered by Tony (Nine Ball) from DV8Motoring - they are relatively inexpensive, and also relatively light weight. He ended up having a killer Black Friday sale last November that I couldn't resist: https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/12031-Forgestar-F14-Wheels-IN-STOCK-NOW!?p=262016&viewfull=1#post262016
Here's what I ordered:
Forgestar F14 - Gloss Gunmetal
18" x 11" Front
18" x 13" Rear
I received the wheels a couple months later, and I was extremely pleased with the quality of the finish and the packing job. Unfortunately, it was the dead of winter here in Ohio, so they immediately went into storage while I waited for the weather to make up its mind.
In the meantime, I knew I was going to need to do something about the TPMS sensors...I'm not a huge fan of TPMS systems, but I'm even less of a fan of idiot lights on the dash. Thankfully, Dan Lesser (Viper Specialty Performance) had the perfect solution: custom programmed TPMS sensors (http://viperspecialtyperformance.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/154). I was glad I had copied down the codes on the OEM sensors once upon a time when the wheels were being refinished a few years ago. I was able to provide Dan with the four 8-digit codes, and about a week later I had the sensors in hand. Here they are installed:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/TPMS%20Sensors_zpssua0nvxa.jpg
Since I was going to be running 18" rears, I knew I was going to have to relocate the parking brake cables. Jon B came to the rescue on that one, and hooked me up with a kit to do just that. The install was fairly straightforward...Redx provide me this link that will get you about 95% of the way there: http://www.viperalley.com/forum/viper-discussions-gen-iii/143714-partsrack-e-brake-relocation.html. Here's what the final product looked like:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Parking%20Brake%20Cable%20Relocation%201_zpsp7tgvx mo.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Parking%20Brake%20Cable%20Relocation%202_zpsi75yqt 7z.jpg
All I needed now were the tires...shortly after my trip to the drag strip last fall, I ran over a screw with the driver's side rear tire, so I ended up with a full set of Pirelli PZeros for my OEM 5-spokes. I kept the old Michelin Pilot Super Sport Fronts (285/35/18), so I decided to reuse those and ordered a set of Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S drag radials in a 345/35/18 for the rears. I finally got everything mounted and balanced last week, and decided it was time to throw them on the car today to make sure everything fit. I was extremely pleased with how everything turned out.
Before:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/IMG_1297_zps3e682395.jpg
After:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Forgestar%201_zpsfkbfq1eg.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Forgestar%202_zpsbybsmkkx.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Forgestar%203_zps1thqh2zi.jpg
The drag radials ride better than expected...they are a little squirrely at times, but I expected that with the larger, softer sidewalls. I'm currently running them at 28 psi on the street, so they might need to be aired down a little. Regardless, they hook first gear without any problem, which isn't surprising given my lack of mods. I'll have to get them to the track to see how they do, but I'm expecting good things, provided the clutch holds for at least a few runs (realizing full well it is on borrowed time).
I managed to grab some weights as well for comparison:
OEM 5-Spoke
18x10 Front with Pirelli PZero 285/35/18 Tires: 54.0 lbs each
19x13 Rear with Pirelli PZero 355/30/19 Tires: 69.5 lbs each
Forgestar F14
18x11 Front with Michelin Pilot Super Sport 285/35/18 Tires: 49.5 lbs each
18x13 Rear with Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S 345/35/18 Drag Radials: 59.5 lbs each
So I saved 4.5 pounds each on the fronts, and 10 pounds each on the rears (29 pounds total reduction in rotating mass)...not bad at all, especially for this price.
I wanted to take a second to thank the board sponsors that helped make this happen:
Dan Lesser (Viper Specialty Performance) - the TPMS sensors worked flawlessly; no reprogramming, no dash lights
Jon B (Viper Parts Rack) - the parking brake relocation did exactly what it needed to do
Nine Ball (DV8Motoring) - the wheels look killer!
If anyone has any questions, fire away!
https://youtu.be/4My6rCuYT4s
Gotta love that 1-2 shift wheel hop. I should have let off, but I was a dumb ass and just rode it out...if you need a good example of what not to do, that was it. I was rolling on 4 year old Michelin Pilot Super Sports, so I'm not exactly sure what I expected, but I was at least able to shake some dust free (heh). I decided that if I was ever going to do this again, I'd need a good set of drag radials, but driving season in Ohio was coming to an end, so I knew this was something that would have to wait until next year.
I've always had my eye on Forgestar F14s offered by Tony (Nine Ball) from DV8Motoring - they are relatively inexpensive, and also relatively light weight. He ended up having a killer Black Friday sale last November that I couldn't resist: https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/12031-Forgestar-F14-Wheels-IN-STOCK-NOW!?p=262016&viewfull=1#post262016
Here's what I ordered:
Forgestar F14 - Gloss Gunmetal
18" x 11" Front
18" x 13" Rear
I received the wheels a couple months later, and I was extremely pleased with the quality of the finish and the packing job. Unfortunately, it was the dead of winter here in Ohio, so they immediately went into storage while I waited for the weather to make up its mind.
In the meantime, I knew I was going to need to do something about the TPMS sensors...I'm not a huge fan of TPMS systems, but I'm even less of a fan of idiot lights on the dash. Thankfully, Dan Lesser (Viper Specialty Performance) had the perfect solution: custom programmed TPMS sensors (http://viperspecialtyperformance.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/154). I was glad I had copied down the codes on the OEM sensors once upon a time when the wheels were being refinished a few years ago. I was able to provide Dan with the four 8-digit codes, and about a week later I had the sensors in hand. Here they are installed:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/TPMS%20Sensors_zpssua0nvxa.jpg
Since I was going to be running 18" rears, I knew I was going to have to relocate the parking brake cables. Jon B came to the rescue on that one, and hooked me up with a kit to do just that. The install was fairly straightforward...Redx provide me this link that will get you about 95% of the way there: http://www.viperalley.com/forum/viper-discussions-gen-iii/143714-partsrack-e-brake-relocation.html. Here's what the final product looked like:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Parking%20Brake%20Cable%20Relocation%201_zpsp7tgvx mo.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Parking%20Brake%20Cable%20Relocation%202_zpsi75yqt 7z.jpg
All I needed now were the tires...shortly after my trip to the drag strip last fall, I ran over a screw with the driver's side rear tire, so I ended up with a full set of Pirelli PZeros for my OEM 5-spokes. I kept the old Michelin Pilot Super Sport Fronts (285/35/18), so I decided to reuse those and ordered a set of Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S drag radials in a 345/35/18 for the rears. I finally got everything mounted and balanced last week, and decided it was time to throw them on the car today to make sure everything fit. I was extremely pleased with how everything turned out.
Before:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/IMG_1297_zps3e682395.jpg
After:
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Forgestar%201_zpsfkbfq1eg.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Forgestar%202_zpsbybsmkkx.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn227/meentss02/Viper/Forgestar%20F14%20Wheels/Forgestar%203_zps1thqh2zi.jpg
The drag radials ride better than expected...they are a little squirrely at times, but I expected that with the larger, softer sidewalls. I'm currently running them at 28 psi on the street, so they might need to be aired down a little. Regardless, they hook first gear without any problem, which isn't surprising given my lack of mods. I'll have to get them to the track to see how they do, but I'm expecting good things, provided the clutch holds for at least a few runs (realizing full well it is on borrowed time).
I managed to grab some weights as well for comparison:
OEM 5-Spoke
18x10 Front with Pirelli PZero 285/35/18 Tires: 54.0 lbs each
19x13 Rear with Pirelli PZero 355/30/19 Tires: 69.5 lbs each
Forgestar F14
18x11 Front with Michelin Pilot Super Sport 285/35/18 Tires: 49.5 lbs each
18x13 Rear with Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S 345/35/18 Drag Radials: 59.5 lbs each
So I saved 4.5 pounds each on the fronts, and 10 pounds each on the rears (29 pounds total reduction in rotating mass)...not bad at all, especially for this price.
I wanted to take a second to thank the board sponsors that helped make this happen:
Dan Lesser (Viper Specialty Performance) - the TPMS sensors worked flawlessly; no reprogramming, no dash lights
Jon B (Viper Parts Rack) - the parking brake relocation did exactly what it needed to do
Nine Ball (DV8Motoring) - the wheels look killer!
If anyone has any questions, fire away!