1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

15" rims

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Old 02-18-15, 01:45 AM
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15" rims

I am getting a little discouraged about 13" tire availability. 15" seems to be very plentiful and cheap.

Is this too big of a rim for our car?

What's the easiest way going about getting 15" rims for a 4x110 bolt pattern? Or just switch pattern?
Old 02-18-15, 07:15 AM
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Konig makes wheels that are 4x110 and look great, they are called Rewinds. They are a knockoff
of Panasports. A 15" wheel with the right offset works great. You just need to size the tire right,
205/50 or 205/55 should be close to the size needed. You may be able to go a bit wider but in
the front theres not much room unless you start changing things.
Old 02-18-15, 12:19 PM
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Yes the Konig Rewinds look great and the tire selection is much better. I had 15x7 with 205-50-15 tires on both stock suspension and racing beat springs and had zero clearance issues.
Old 02-18-15, 04:20 PM
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I concur. I'm running 15x7 with 205-55-15 tires. Fits perfect and fills up the wheel wells without looking like a Hot Wheels Toy.
Old 02-18-15, 07:15 PM
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The ride is a little bit harder with 15's since the sidewall is shorter. FB's have had 14's stock, so you're only going up one size.
Old 02-18-15, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Husky
The ride is a little bit harder with 15's since the sidewall is shorter. FB's have had 14's stock, so you're only going up one size.
Nope if he has the 4x110 lug pattern, he has 13" wheels. The GSLSE had 14" wheels
Old 02-18-15, 08:27 PM
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1983 LE meshies also were 14".

IMO, anything over 16" looks funny.
Old 02-18-15, 08:58 PM
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I got some knock off sakura's in 15x8 +35 with 205/50 s.drive tires on them, fit perfect and clearance is not an issue.
Attached Thumbnails 15" rims-dsc_0786-effects.jpg  
Old 02-18-15, 10:04 PM
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First picture is with Racing Beat Springs and Konig Rewinds
Second picture is Racing Beat Springs with LE's (14")
Third is Stock suspension with Konig Rewinds
Fourth is Stock suspension and stock 13" wheels
Attached Thumbnails 15" rims-picture147-1.jpg   15" rims-200298_502467177536_5926_n.jpg   15" rims-199892_502333979466_8516_n.jpg   15" rims-189977_502334069286_2393_n.jpg  
Old 02-19-15, 11:20 AM
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This is great news as I wanted to run the 110 bolt pattern a little longer before I did the fc cross member swap.

How do the konig hold up to track use? Would these rims bend easily?
Old 02-19-15, 11:53 AM
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Not sure about track use but I drove with them pretty hard for 3 years and never had trouble with them. They are heavier than the real panasports but give you a much better tire selection . If you are planning to swap eventually the konigs would be a good fix And could easily resell when the time comes
Old 02-20-15, 12:55 AM
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Originally Posted by j_tso
1983 LE meshies also were 14".

IMO, anything over 16" looks funny.
Yup. ^ That^ and ^that^
Old 02-20-15, 07:48 PM
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How about 15x8 0 offset.
Would I have clearance issues with that size rim?

Sent from my samsung gs4 using RX7Club app
Old 02-20-15, 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Husky
Yup. ^ That^ and ^that^
Let me amend. If you have an aggressive body kit, big front air dam, big whale tale, etc then 16's actually look good except they are extra heavy. Some will say that's good, some say bad. Comes down to how you mostly drive your FB.
Old 02-23-15, 03:28 PM
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Anything Else

Rewinds are knock offs of Panasport which are knock offs of Minilites. I love these wheels on MGs, Triumphs and Healeys. Great looking wheel but to me too "British" for the 1st Gen RX7. The newer design wheels look too flimsy, not enough metal.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION. IT IS NOT MEANT TO INSULT ANYONE!

Is there anything else in a 14" or 15" that looks more like the spider web "meshies" of the 1979/1980?

Herb
Old 02-23-15, 06:45 PM
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There are GSL 14" BBS style meshies (must have been a rare option) and someone made a 15" meshies (possibly Enkei). Good luck finding them though. Our ChumpCar race team has one set of the 15's in 4x110 and we have been struggling to find more.
Old 02-23-15, 07:07 PM
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Rotaryjunkee you will have some rubbing issues with 15x8 zero offset.
I run the same size with a 205/50 tire and I had to roll the fenders to get them to clear, and that's with B+G springs. Rolled them and they are fine now.
Old 02-23-15, 08:15 PM
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I have 15" Konig rewinds on my 81 FB. no fitment / rubbing issues at all. I love the panasport look but without the price.. a little on the heavier side though. I have some sticky tires on them now and they grip like crazy.
Old 02-24-15, 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by MountainScreamer
Rotaryjunkee you will have some rubbing issues with 15x8 zero offset.
I run the same size with a 205/50 tire and I had to roll the fenders to get them to clear, and that's with B+G springs. Rolled them and they are fine now.
Ok thanks. I have stock springs now, so ill go ahead and buy the wheels I saw that were 15x8.
Im assuming with your springs, it lowered your car a little?

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Old 02-24-15, 07:00 PM
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Good news. Lots of ATV's run a 4x110 bolt pattern. Now all we need to do is get them in a 15" with the correct offset.

If anyone is unsure, I am joking.
Old 02-24-15, 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by OCDHerb
Rewinds are knock offs of Panasport which are knock offs of Minilites. I love these wheels on MGs, Triumphs and Healeys. Great looking wheel but to me too "British" for the 1st Gen RX7. The newer design wheels look too flimsy, not enough metal.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION. IT IS NOT MEANT TO INSULT ANYONE!

Is there anything else in a 14" or 15" that looks more like the spider web "meshies" of the 1979/1980?

Herb
There are a few old school mesh wheel designs out there but good luck finding them in 4x110 as it is one of the rarer sizes although they do exist, most 15" mesh are easier to find in 4x114.3

Try Weds Autobahn mesh, BBS RS, Epsilon Southern Ways Mesh or Enkei 92 if you like that sort of stuff. Each one of those wheels have a knockoff version as well.
Old 02-25-15, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by OCDHerb
Rewinds are knock offs of Panasport which are knock offs of Minilites. I love these wheels on MGs, Triumphs and Healeys. Great looking wheel but to me too "British" for the 1st Gen RX7. The newer design wheels look too flimsy, not enough metal.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION. IT IS NOT MEANT TO INSULT ANYONE!

Is there anything else in a 14" or 15" that looks more like the spider web "meshies" of the 1979/1980?

Herb
Minilites/panasports/rewinds are period correct wheels IMHO. Back then there wasn't
a lot of JDM wheels yet and lots of folks found and ran the british wheels on their
240/260/280Zs/RX7s/Celicas etc for want of a 15" wider wheel. So I don't see a
problem using them. Of course the older 4x110 meshies mentioned would be nice
but you can't get them new in 4x110, so you end up having to refurb them or have
them refurbed.
Old 02-25-15, 09:37 AM
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I also saw that Rota offers 4x110 RKR - ROTA Wheels
Old 02-26-15, 01:06 PM
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I have the black enkei meshies. 15" and I just bought 195 50 15 tires. Hope I didn't go to small!!!
Old 02-26-15, 01:35 PM
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^My flared 85 had 195/50-15's on there when I got it, and in my opinion the sidewall was too short. 195/55 is a more "correct" size. I have 205/50 on my other 15's. No rubbing etc, like everyone else has sad, 15's look perfect on FB's


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