Help tom find wheels!

[mndsm]

Ok, we've all heard tom yammer about wanting wheels. My problem is, it's a bitch and a half to find anything even remotely close to what I want, so this is where you all come in.

I am looking for a 17x8 wheel, 45-50mm offset. Preferrably multispoke. Open to color. Worst case scenario, I'll get them painted. Please help me so I can stop this madness.

[YSOSLO]

"multispoke"??....I think a monospoke would kick some serious ass! Any particular number of spokes you're thinking might be cool?

[mndsm]

I'm thinking a split 6 spoke setup. I could get a pretty rad center dish on a wheel like that. I'm open to ideas though, as I keep seeing stuff I like and then seeing other stuff blah blah blah.

[YSOSLO]

You should buy Nate's Speed6 stockers, cuz they'd look awesome...especially if you sandblasted them and powdercoated them a titanium gray or something (so they wouldn't show the brake dust build-up).

[YSOSLO]

You should buy Nate's Speed6 stockers, cuz they'd look awesome...especially if you sandblasted them and powdercoated them a titanium gray or something (so they wouldn't show the brake dust build-up).

[mndsm]

I don't want 18's. I'm trying to stuff serious tire under the car.

[YSOSLO]

If you decide to bail on the idea of aftermarket stuff, I've still got my stock snowflakes in almost perfect shape...1 little spot of curb rash on 1 of the 4 rims

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Could you explain how the diameter of the wheel would serve to limit the tire width if the the wheel width and everything else are the same? Just confused...

[DrWebster]

Tom wants to run 17's because he can get wiiiiiiiiide tires without a ridiculously short sidewall that way. On 18's, he'd be lookin at donk tires for the width he wants, which is mad money.

[mndsm]

If you're running a wider tire, your overall width and height is affected. So if I run an 18x8, I have a tire that rubs. I take an inch off the height of the wheel, that effectively takes an inch off the wheel/tire combo, and gives me more room to work. Also, tires for 17''s are cheaper.

Also, what colin said.

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Ahhhh! you're not going to increase the sidewall to maintain the same overall diameter (so the gauges will be off, but that does not appear to be a concern).

[mndsm]

Nope, weight, absolute grip (total tire contact patch) and price are the concerns here.

[DrWebster]

Ahhhh! you're not going to increase the sidewall to maintain the same overall diameter (so the gauges will be off, but that does not appear to be a concern).

Well, he's going to keep the approximate same overall diameter. If you run a wider tire, you need a smaller percentage aspect ratio, given that the wheel diameter is the same. For example, a 205/50-17 tire is about the same diameter as a 215/45-17 tire. The width increases, so the aspect ratio goes down. If you took a tape measure to the sidewall, it would be about the same between the two tires.

So, Tom could run something like a 255/45-17, which is wider than (but the same overall diameter as) a 225/45-18. If he wanted to run a 255 tire on 18's, he'd need to go 255/40-18, which is going to be much more expensive.

[LASERBLUE135]

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/oz/swap/oz_allerghlt_blu_ci3_l.jpg
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/enkei_racing/swap/enkeir_rp03_sbc_ci3_l.jpg
http://www.wheelsnext.com/images/wheels/large/raze_r74_gld_2.jpg

any of these "stylez"??? What would your optimal rim look like?

[mndsm]

http://www.wheeldude.com/wdg/_detail.php?pic=4288

I really like this sort of look. as you can see, the face of the wheel is concave, going in as it gets towards the center cap. I actually like all of the designs you posted Kyle.... just trying to find options that make my fitment requirement. I'm actually REALLY into the RP04's you posted in the second pic.... or something multispoke/laced/splitspoke, like in the pic above.

[mndsm]

To clarify, I am NOT looking to stretch the tires at all, I'm going to be sticking 245's on these. Also, the wheels will likely end up black.

[LASERBLUE135]

The 3 that I posted are all 5x114 17x8's. (not sure what the offset is on them though). you should just get those rotas...I love that style.

[mndsm]

Rota=Heavy. Not Rota=not as heavy.

[derrian]

Okay where are those blue rims from LaserBlue???

I have been looking for blue rims for so long now and none were bright enough for me :)

Please tell me!

[Workdawg]

Those aren't actually blue... those are the MSP stockers. They're more of a smoked chromey kinda color. Very sick looking, but not blue. (That pic is enhanced via HDR, which makes them look blueish)


http://www.edmunds.com/media/roadtests/comparison/2003/econosport/03.mazda.mazdaspeed.protege.whl.500.jpg

[derrian]

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/oz/swap/oz_allerghlt_blu_ci3_l.jpg

These aren't blue :(

Now that I see they are from Tirerack :P

[Workdawg]

Oh, my bad... I missed his post of the colored wheels.. :/

[dmention7]

Rota=Heavy. Not Rota=not as heavy.

IMHO, you'd be far better served taking the savings from a set of rotas or other inexpensive wheels and putting it towards suspension bits. The 2 lbs per wheel you save going from rotas to something that costs 2-3x as much will be virtually unnoticable compared to a set of coilovers, upgraded sways, and maybe some suspension bracing.

[mndsm]

Well kids, for anyone that cares, we are one step closer. There's guys running 18's and a 35mm offset on 235's and not rubbing too badly with some rolling.... so my thoughts of a 17x8 with approx 40mm offset, maybe 45, and 245/40-45 ought to fit. Turns out, wheel dude is good with the smart making, and I'm gonna confer with him, but I think it's gonna fly.