Mini Mazda Modding (2011 Mazda 2)

[iveyjh]

Nice

[apc]

Now I just need to hit the tires with some Armor All!

I expect I'll trim the rims with an inch margin of plasti-dip so there's no border visible at all around the covers. They are also still shifting a bit. The added grip from the trim would probably take care of it, too. But if not, I'll go ahead with pegging them to the center cap. The hole plugs are iffy on being easily removed by hand so I might end up popping a small hole in them for a hook to insert.




The low profile zip ties worked out really well. I put small pieces of electrical tape under them where they pass out of the hole so they wouldn't rub on the rubber when tightening.

Overall, I am pleased with the results.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by apc

I expect I'll trim the rims with an inch margin of plasti-dip so there's no border visible at all around the covers. They are also still shifting a bit. The added grip from the trim would probably take care of it, too. But if not, I'll go ahead with pegging them to the center cap. The hole plugs are iffy on being easily removed by hand so I might end up popping a small hole in them for a hook to insert.

You should plasti-dip the rims or when you remove your covers you'll find some nasty scratches on your alloys.

[freebeard]

The air valve hole plugs seem to work well. Do they pretty much disappear in motion?

[apc]

There's already little scuffs around the edge from prototyping. Some of them have buffed back out but I don't know if they all will. Oh well. But it is getting dipped.

I don't know what the plugs look like in motion but they're so discrete that the zip ties must be more noticeable.

Last night going out to watch the moon there was a definite shimmy up at 70 mph. So the centering will be addressed with urgency this week.

[jedi_sol]

With the amount of rotational forces the wheels will experience, i dont think plastidip is strong enough to withstand scratches from the pizza pan.

Perhaps wrap the spokes of your wheels in Gorilla tape?

[jedi_sol]

Originally Posted by apc

Maybe I should stop buying Costco gas.

I've noticed Costco gas/ARCO is the WORST when it comes to fuel economy.

However, even though the economy is not very good, it is still dirt cheap. So the $cents/per mile may be similar to other brands.

[apc]

Yeah filled up again yesterday at $1.99/gal. When everyone else is at 2.15 it's hard to resist. Of course, now that I'm only putting 8 or 9 gallons in the car instead of 20, I could probably justify some better stuff!

The plasti-dip has already worn through and left some scratches on the rims. So the covers are in my back seat at the moment. I picked up some of this -

EPDM Cellular Rubber Auto and Marine Weatherstrip



It follows a curve well without buckling. I've not determined yet if it'll go on the covers or on the wheels. On the covers would be cool as it'd be clean and modular. But on the wheels will probably perform better plus give that edge coverage. Working on it this week.

[kafer65]

Have you considered side mirror deletes? The addition of rear skirts seems to be way more dramatic of an improvement on mine even with almost 400 miles on my tank beforehand my average has jumped up over 3 mpg in the last 140 miles. I have over 4 inches of wheel to wheel arch gap and the back edges look like parachutes but your rear arches appear roll back much tighter to the back tire edge than on mine.

That's some nice work an a real clean car. I can't wait to see what comes next!

[apc]

I thought about a mirror delete but there's a few factors against it. They're already pretty small. I think a mirror on the inside would pose a safety hazard from the A-beam airbag. I'm planning to tint my windows. And I don't think it's worth it given the focus of my gains is city driving with consideration for cruising, rarely above 50mph.

I've wondered about wheel skirts except there's not a whole lot of area where they'd be flat and I don't want to do a hump. I might lower it tho we do sometimes have considerable winter snow. But I am planning on doing wheel spoilers.