Wheels Poll

[Anony Mouse]

So I'm in the process of lowering Betty (My Vert) the fronts are done and I'm welding in the rear sway reinforcements today. In the very near future I will be picking up some new wheels and going to studs instead of lug bolts. Being the indecisive dude I am I thought I would see if I can get some input from the forums brethren. I'm considering 15x8 +0 Matte Bronze XXR 002, I know the sportmax thing is a little tired but I've always liked them and they're relatively cheap & light and I like the dimensions and color. Or 17x7 +0 Diamond Racing Steelies in flat black, again comparatively cheap and light, I've always liked steelies and you don't see too many steel 17's. But I'd also like any suggestions from you cats, I'm looking for readily available, a little different and attainable with tires mounted and everything for under $1k.

[Ayman]

Imo being a vert, 17s are the way to go. However, steelies are not.

[N2MYE30]

Neither! That car deserves better and is actually rolling on nice enough wheels. Just lower it a bit, put some 205/60 on them, and some 10mm spacers all around.

[tttoon]

Steelies are not "comparatively" light by any means, unless you compare them to solid lead wheels or something. APEX ARC-8s?

[mRodiek]

^^ agreed, the diamond racing wheels are heaaaaaaavvy.

Check out the TR Motorsports or whatever on Tirerack or Konig has the wide open series wheel that look kinda like RPF1s & the weigh around 13lbs for a 15x8

[B-well]

both are horrible choices in my opinion.

My vert started identical to yours 91 laguna green

im running 17x9/10 to keep the oil pan off the ground and still have the look im want. This car gets driven A LOT in the summer time up and down the coast.

Just chose a more tasteful wheel

the 16x8+20 xxr521 are much more classy and with 225/45 they are perfect for comfort (thats what verts are for)

[cheapshot]

both are horrible choices in my opinion.

My vert started identical to yours 91 laguna green

im running 17x9/10 to keep the oil pan off the ground and still have the look im want. This car gets driven A LOT in the summer time up and down the coast.

Just chose a more tasteful wheel

the 16x8+20 xxr521 are much more classy and with 225/45 they are perfect for comfort (thats what verts are for)

I couldn't agree more. RagtopE30 just picked up a set in black/machined for his vert and I saw them last weekend and I got to tell you it is one sexy wheel. I do like 002's and Steelies, just not for that car. If I had to choose between those two, I would say the steelies. But if you go that direction, the car needs to have a very aggressive, no bullshit, track killer look.

[mRodiek]

Crappy tire sizes for 16s though.

I was gonna go 17x9 but I have a stock M20 so its kinda foolish for me to try & turn 20+ lbs of wheel with a stock motor. Just my take on it

[lambo]

neither! That car deserves better and is actually rolling on nice enough wheels. Just lower it a bit, put some 205/60 on them, and some 10mm spacers all around.

+1

[Stephen]

The reason you dont see 17 in diamonds often is they usually wont make them, and if they do, they are built differently than the 15s and 16s. Also, they dont do odd sizes, so a width of 7 wouldn't happen either.

[750]

^^ agreed, the diamond racing wheels are heaaaaaaavvy.

Check out the TR Motorsports or whatever on Tirerack or Konig has the wide open series wheel that look kinda like RPF1s & the weigh around 13lbs for a 15x8

/agree

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/results.jsp?sort=Price&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=318ic&autoYear=1992&autoModClar=&filterSize=All&filterFinish=All&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterWeight=All&filterNew=All

[coreyw]

im running 17x9/10 to keep the oil pan off the ground and still have the look im want.

I dont get why people say this? Shouldn't the outer diameter be the same no matter what size wheels? So why would putting larger wheels with a thinner profile tire change anything?

[Stephen]

I dont get why people say this? Shouldn't the outer diameter be the same no matter what size wheels? So why would putting larger wheels with a thinner profile tire change anything?

If they're exactly the same, it doesnt. But a 205/40 16 will obviously be smaller than a 205/40 17 and if you run a wider tire on a 17 than 205 the difference is bigger.

[Anony Mouse]

I dont get why people say this? Shouldn't the outer diameter be the same no matter what size wheels? So why would putting larger wheels with a thinner profile tire change anything?

The height of the sidewall doesn't change because of the rim size the tire is meant for. 205 is the width, so 205mm wide. 45 is the aspect ratio so 45% of 205. Last number is the rim. so 45% of 205mm is 92.25mm. the overall the diameter is 92.25mm x2 + Rim Diameter. so a 205/45 adds 184.5mm to whatever rim. 7.25 inches (184.5mm) +16" rim is 23.25 overall diameter but a 17" rim is 24.25 over all diameter.

[Anony Mouse]

Neither! That car deserves better and is actually rolling on nice enough wheels. Just lower it a bit, put some 205/60 on them, and some 10mm spacers all around.

I appreciate all the input guys but honestly the whole point was to get away from the 14" basketweaves, I don't care for that wheel and they just don't suit me.

^^ agreed, the diamond racing wheels are heaaaaaaavvy.

Check out the TR Motorsports or whatever on Tirerack or Konig has the wide open series wheel that look kinda like RPF1s & the weigh around 13lbs for a 15x8

What constitutes heavy? 13lbs is light agreed, in a 15x8 I usually see around 15lbs but diamond steelies run about 18lbs which doesn't seem that much heavier, is 3 lbs really that much?