Suspension/Wheels/Tires/Brakes

help decide rim size

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 26, 2006 | 09:12 PM
  #1  
mattyL's Avatar
Thread Starter
88 7
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: delta
help decide rim size

alright so i got a 1988 gxl and i am having some trouble deciding 2 stick with 15" thats on it or go bigger to a 17"..... alot of ppl said 2 stick with 15" but go white rims (5spoke) and some said 17" (5spoke white) , i will be lowering the car soon so i think the 15's will fit and look fine once it is lowered, i dont want to have to worry at all about rubbing or ne thing with 17's, and ill be saving alot if i go with 15's cuz i wont need new tires. ne ways do u think the 15's will look goofy? or 17s have ne rubbing problems once i lower it?or having a bigger rim having to upgrade breaks and wutnot jepordising performance and handeling. WHAT SHOULD I DO? also does any one have any pictures of gunmetal greay or white 15's on a 2nd gen rx7?
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2006 | 09:25 PM
  #2  
spot_skater's Avatar
The Cause of Death
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 2
From: New York
Why not go with a 16" rim? 17's have a slight chance of rubbing, depending on tire size, width and offset. But anything aftermarket and not stock size, you will have to figure out the exact width and offset to make it fit on the car. For an idea, here's a pic of my car with 225/50 16's, stock TII size and offset wheels (16x7 +40). 225 is about as wide as you can go on a 7" rim.

Check out the suspension/wheels/tires section. There's a HUGE thread on FC wheel sizes.

Might also want to think about a staggered set up (wider in rear than front) if you are putting down a good amount of power... plus it looks cool... damn I'm a ricer.

James
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2006 | 09:40 PM
  #3  
mattyL's Avatar
Thread Starter
88 7
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: delta
i think i might be leaning towards 15's.... i called national tire wholesale they said for 17's with tires and everything installed im lookin at bout $1200 so if i buy 15's and stick with the tires i got for the time being until summer comes along i can lower my car and buy the 15's at the same time. ne 1 have pics of 15's and lowered?
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2006 | 09:44 PM
  #4  
arghx's Avatar
rotorhead
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 16,205
Likes: 461
From: cold


17 x 7 on my 88 GTU. needed some kind of spacer... got them two years ago so I forgot all the details
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:07 AM
  #5  
ZeroDrift's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Bad angle- but oh well. I have different rims on now: 16"x8" Nissan Skyline R32 GTR rims. They look great, and fit nicely, but I am looking into a wheel spacer for the rears in the near future. Oh, I have the red Rx7. I painted the main face of the stock rims, and left the wheel weight lip unpainted.




I'd say go for either a 15" or 16" rim thats wider. I prefer a 16" by 8" all round.

Here is a pic of someone's car with Skyline rims:

Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:18 AM
  #6  
Asterisk's Avatar
iRussian
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: midwest IL, USA
Originally Posted by spot_skater
Check out the suspension/wheels/tires section. There's a HUGE thread on FC wheel sizes.
link please? and you're def not a ricer if you picked "teh seven" for the right reasons.

EDIT: Ooh, sweet! /\ I was wondering about that as well, but now the gtr wheels look a bit smaller then what i thought. thery are 16"x8"? Hmm, i wanted to go with bronze 17"x8" FN0R wheels (foged if i can find a used pair).
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:20 AM
  #7  
Funkspectrum's Avatar
Moderator
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,683
Likes: 30
From: Santa Rosa, CA
I'm running a set of Volk AV's @ 17x8 +34 front and 17x9 +35 rear and have no rubbing issues at all. Tire size is 225 front and 245 rear....

I personally think it's a good combo...
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:23 AM
  #8  
Asterisk's Avatar
iRussian
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: midwest IL, USA


These or the "New ones"? the GT-AV.
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:24 AM
  #9  
Built GXL's Avatar
I'm kinda emo
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton, Oregon
get some 17's, and lower your car,NO WHEEL GAP ftw
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:27 AM
  #10  
Funkspectrum's Avatar
Moderator
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,683
Likes: 30
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Originally Posted by Asterisk


These or the "New ones"? the GT-AV.

These

Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:39 AM
  #11  
RETed's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,664
Likes: 23
From: n
Wheel diameter has NOTHING to do with fitment, unless we're talking really extreme diameters like 20"+.

The overall diameter of the tire dictates fitment, and unless you get really off from the stock tire diameter, you can basically run whatever wheel diameter you want.

17" is the typical recommended size, since it's the best price-for-performance size for the car right now.


-Ted
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 01:35 PM
  #12  
jkimbro's Avatar
resU deretsigeR
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
From: Yep
don't go 15.
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 01:42 PM
  #13  
mightymite's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: southern indiana
the smaller the wheel the cheaper the tire... just somthing to think about
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 04:59 PM
  #14  
FCKing1995's Avatar
Rotary Slave
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, Alabama
Originally Posted by ZeroDrift
Bad angle- but oh well. I have different rims on now: 16"x8" Nissan Skyline R32 GTR rims. They look great, and fit nicely, but I am looking into a wheel spacer for the rears in the near future. Oh, I have the red Rx7. I painted the main face of the stock rims, and left the wheel weight lip unpainted.




I'd say go for either a 15" or 16" rim thats wider. I prefer a 16" by 8" all round.

Here is a pic of someone's car with Skyline rims:

good to see they fit well. i was thinking of going that route. ive got a few sets lined up ready to go, id like that look alot, just wasnt sure if they would fit right
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2006 | 09:45 PM
  #15  
RETed's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,664
Likes: 23
From: n
Originally Posted by mightymite
the smaller the wheel the cheaper the tire... just somthing to think about
Not necessarily, unless you're talking about tires that are narrower than 205 widths.
The FC should be running 205's or wider - no excuse.

If you check the prices out, 205 widths in 15" are not that much cheaper than 205's in 17" sizes.
You'll maybe save $100 for a set of 4, and this is only significant for all the low-ballers out there.


-Ted
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2006 | 11:20 PM
  #16  
mattyL's Avatar
Thread Starter
88 7
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: delta
k so i baught some motegi mr7's 17inchs in a greay they should be here in a week or two... then im gonna get some tires im thinking maybe some 235/40r17's? wut tires wuld u guys sudgest for pretty cheap (ill be goin though alot of tires due 2 my driving lol)
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2006 | 12:13 PM
  #17  
Josh18_2k's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 1
From: Gresham, OR
what size are the wheels? what offset? its all pretty important.
im guessing 17x7 40mm offset, in which case i'd go with 215/40/17.
225/45/17 tires are really tall, and therefore much more prone to rubbing, as well as worse acceleration. 235/40/17 will undoubtedly rub the shock body unless your offset is in the low 30s.

Last edited by Josh18_2k; Dec 29, 2006 at 12:20 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2006 | 02:43 PM
  #18  
mattyL's Avatar
Thread Starter
88 7
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: delta
idunno the offset or anything really much about them, i just saw them and i needed 2 have them lol the guy said they would fit my car. ill ask more details when i go 2 pick them up,also the guy showed me some tires that were 235/40r17
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2007 | 12:26 AM
  #19  
Josh18_2k's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 1
From: Gresham, OR
dude... offset is really important. you cant trust the **** at rim shops to know whether or not something will fit your car.
ok i did a quick search, and they are 17x7 40mm offset. if you get 235/40/17 you'll probably need to use 5mm spacers. the tires might fit without em, but it will be damn close.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
Sep 16, 2018 07:16 PM
SakeBomb Garage
Vendor Classifieds
5
Aug 9, 2018 05:54 PM
SakeBomb Garage
SakeBomb Garage
0
Sep 4, 2015 05:20 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 PM.