RS Watanabe Wheel Size
 

I'm thinking about purchasing a set of RS Watanabe 8 Spoke Magnesium Wheel F8 Type. However, when I downloaded their catalog, I'm confused as to what the equivalent American measurements are to the Japanese one's in the catalog. I'm looking for 16x7JJ et38 (38 mm?). What the heck is that in Japanese terms?

16-80, 114.3, +5/+10/+15, 5 bolt
16-85, 114.3, +10/+15/+20, 5 bolt
16-90, 114.3, +20/+25/+30, 5 bolt

I'm still really confused.

16" x 8"
5 x 114.3mm P.C.D.
Offset choices: +5mm, +10mm, +15mm


16" x 8.5"
5 x 114.3mm P.C.D.
Offset choices: +10mm, +15mm, +20mm


16" x 9"
5 x 114.3mm P.C.D.
Offset choices: +20mm, +25mm, +30mm

The offsets are pretty low, but the 16" x 8.5", +20mm should fit up front.
A 16" x 9", +20mm should also fit up front, but a 9" wide front is a LOT of rim to fit under the stock front fenders!

For the rear, the 16" x 9", +30 is just about perfect.
The problem is finding a wide 16" tire!
I know 245/45/16 is a common size, but the 9" width can take more wider! :)


-Ted

too bad they don't offer 16x7 in magnesium, only aluminium. For the street, I heard that magnesium was light, but would get destroyed if say, the car went over a pothole or a bump. Is that true? Should I go with aluminium if I live in the city?

most magnesium alloy wheels are too fragile for daily street use and are very limited in their finish options allowing only painting or polishing (and frequent polishing of magnesium wheels is required due to magnesium's willingness to oxidize). In modern times, the most common uses for magnesium wheels are on Champ Cars, Indy, Formula 1 and GT cars where the race team's continuous monitoring and testing can confirm their strength and durability between events. Mag wheels used on modern race cars are often forged or use some other high tech manufacturing process and special magnesium alloys to reduce the weight while they retain the ability to handle the high loads. Fortunately for the rest of us, the wheel manufacturers have also developed lightweight aluminum alloy wheels that provide the appropriate street durability and numerous finish options while they reduce weight.

-tirerack

the truth is out there

google.com

i know, i read that same exact site, i wanted personal opinions. I've read the google sites already.

wow.. are you going to buy them new? they will be expensive as hell. You're looking at ~$400-550USD then add shipping on top of that.

where are u buying them, straight from their website?

Actually, I find that bullshit.
The problem with "older" Mg wheels is that the impurities cause them to be brittle.
This is the bad rap that Mg rims will crack.
The new Mg rims from a quality manufacturer are made of very pure base metals, so the problem has all been eliminated.

Reference taken from...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846


-Ted

ooh...well it was more like 1000 per mag, but that's what it costs to go magnesium...I'm thinking big things for my FC

Ted, with the wheel settings that you gave me, would that cause the car to understeer if it had wider tires in the back? what about running 16 x 8.5 +20 for all 4 tires?

do you have that much HP to push all those wider tires ?
if so go for it, hell, if u got more HP go 10" or 12 "

you can get Used RS Wantanabe from www.takumiproject.com for a decent price. I would love to get them. they look great on FCs.

If that's the case, you might want to take a look at the Technomagnesio's.
A few years ago, Pegasus Racing was selling them for like $800 a wheel.


As sub9lulu mentioned, it depends if you got the power?
I've driven an FC with 225 front and 245 rear, and it was actually neutral - it has a lot to do with the tire compounds though, as the fronts were not the same as the rears.
I had Toyo RA-1's on my FC running around 250hp to the wheels, and it was a nice set-up.
Anything approaching 300hp or more, and a 225 rear is just too narrow.
I actually like a 225 / 235 front and a 255 rear on most 300 - 400hp FC's; this is a nice combo for 17" rims, as 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 are very close to stock wheel / tire diameters.
The wider rears can be spun at will with the higher power levels.


-Ted

Yea, i hella wanna get some watanabe RS8s, or some mazdaspeed wheels, the RE Amemiya wheels are cool too tho.

225/50/16 for the front?
255/50/16 for the back?

Ted is right. I'm running 225/45/R17 front and 245/40/R17 rear with about 280rwhp and my car feels just about even on Z-rated tires. I'm sure if I went with R compound then it would feel even better.

$1000 per wheel? You sure do have big hopes and dreams. Good luck. I'd like to see your car when you're done.

Here's my car is you want a reference to the Watanabes. I wish mine were mags though. 17x7F and 17x8R. I'll be moving up to a 17x8F and 17x9.5R soon also with Watanabes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ox/CarSide.jpg

when i'm done, I'll be sure to post up pics

The 255/50/16 is just way too tall of a tire.
Even if the car handles fine, your speedo will be off significantly. :(


-Ted

Jaiyurai, why did you go with slimmer tires in the rear?

with 300 hp, 225/45/17 on 17x7 F and 245/45/17 on 17x7.5 R will work fine? It's kinda crappy that they don't make magnesium wheels past 16 inches...