clearthinker

The amount of data on rims is mind boggling. I really want the best quality/weight rims. I'm not really looking for style input but what do people think about the rims quality. Whats considered the mercedes vs the yugo of rims?

I plan to get 17 x 7.5 or 8's. I'm can not tolerate any rub and SCCA doesn't allow for changes in springs so I need to stay practical....

so is money is no object (tisk...tisk...it is!!!) what rims would you get??

and why!!!

Brad

The best way to go for quality is a forged rim. Some rims are part forged and part cast. I know Volk rims are 100% one piece forged. This makes for a strong, light and durable rim.....for $$$$$

edit: Well, not all Volks are one-piece, but they are all forged!

JoeD

i really dont like O.Z. Fikse and Forgeline and high quality rims, but are more on the heavy side. also, more than $900 each! that leaves Volk, and i like Volk rims. the lightest in the world, (SE-37 and TE-37 16.75 lbs for 18x9.5!) and some of the strongest. also at half the price of the Fikses and Forgelines.

what color is your car?? bronze SE-37Ks will look CRAZY on a black or white FD.

my .02.

Taz

iTrader: (1)

?

Why not go with 9's?

clearthinker

Well, I wasn't going to bring up "style-looks" aspect but I guess I will since you asked.

I have MONTEGO blue so I am totally lost on what rim colors....black, gunmetal, white, chrome, or yes even bronze!....what do you think?

I was going for 7.5 or 8.5 b/c thats what volks have...I don't think they carry an 8. I'm not sure if 9's will work without rubbing. Again, these wheels will be my daily driver set and have to do some track work but I have to keep everything else stock. This is b/c of auto X'ing rules. I will con't to use the OEM rims with khumo race tires for events....

clearthinker

I got a quote from Fiske for 2722 bones for a set of 4 rims 17 x 10's. WoW...that is harsh but the last auto X event I went to I raced against a M3 that had a set and man they were NICE!!! PHHHAAATTTT!

They would be my first choice if $$$$$ was no object!!


What about 3 piece rims vs forged one piece????


I thought 3 piece rims where $$$$$$$$ vs forged one piece $$$???

XSeLR8nRX7

Hey whats up Clearthinker,

Check your pm.

Taz

iTrader: (1)

I ran SE37k's in 17x9" front and rear with 245 hoosiers. No rubbing - ever. At the time I also had racing beat springs and -2.0 front camber. Wheels weigh 15.8#.

An SSR Competition in 17x8 weighs 14.5#.

mark57

I have Fikse FM10's - 17 x 8 F & 17 x 10 R. Got 'em last year from PFS @ $600 ea. The FM 5's are nice, too. They weighed about 18 lbs. I have no regrets except that maybe I should've gotten the 5's and painted 'em black. I don't know how to post photos at this forum. I'll email a photo to you. Ummm, your email is not available, never mind.......

maxcooper

Don't put 7.5" rims on an FD. The stock rims are 8" wide, so get that size or bigger. Volk recommends 8.5" fronts and 9.5" rears, and makes offsets that work in those sizes. See the Volk site for pics, sizes, and their recommendations:

http://www.volkracing.co.jp/contents/1.htm

The one-piece forged wheels that Volk makes are strong and light. One piece forged is my construction of choice for those reasons. I think you should get some of these. The ones that are one-piece forged tend to have a "37" in the name.

3 piece wheels from Complete Custom, Fikse, Kinesis, HRE, etc. are quality wheels, too, and you can replace just a rim half if you damage one, rather than replacing the whole wheel. However, I think you are more likely to bend the rim with these since it is spun rather than forged. 3 piece also gives you more flexibility in sizing and offset -- they are custom made to fit your car. The clear value leader here is CCW (http://www.ccwheel.com/), but if it is money-no-object, the other manufacturers I mentioned make wheels that are a cleaner in the details and tend to be more attractive overall. If you can't find some Volks that you like, I think the Fikse FM/5 and Kinesis K58 are pretty nice on an FD, but expect to pay a few hundred dollars more per wheel.

Forgeline is another manufactuer of light, expensive, forged wheels, but I don't know much about their construction. ALL the wheel manufacturers I mentioned in this post make light wheels -- Fikse and Forgeline included.

My car is also Montego Blue, and I am pretty lazy about washing the wheels (and the rest of the car). I chose black Volk SE37K for my street wheels because I like black wheels and they will hide brake dust. Gunmetal would probably be good for the same reasons, too.

-Max

DefBringer

I don't see how Volk can be beat. They may not be the best looking wheels, but at nearly half the price of the Fiske and Blitz wheels as well as being MUCH lighter than those brands, how CAN you go wrong with Volk?

clearthinker

Thanks for all the replies!! Keep the info/opinions coming!!

TAZ: are you saying that you rather have the SSR competition rims??

Mark57: please show pic of your fd/rims!!!

Maxcooper: as I already emailed you...please post your montego blue with black rims!!!

HksFD3s: what do you mean by "my first set"...did you switch and if so why?? It also sounded like you were not happy with Volk sizing..i.e. 18x8 and 18x9...i.e "I got stuck with.."

also...I saw your other post...why not do a "pic" show and tell on your brake pad changes tomorrow!!!

Thanks again guys...hmmm PI..guys/gals

Dreamin

Fikse FM-5 17x8.5: 16.0 lbs - 2 weeks (from Fikse)
Volk TE37 17x8.5: 15.0-16.0 lbs - 3 months (Rishie)
SSR competition 17x8.5: 14.5-15.0 lbs - few days (Rishie)

OZ Competition 17x8.5: 30.0 lbs - ?

SSR anthracite looks great on Montego Blue (IMO)

Johnny

everthink of selling let me know

SleepR1

SSR Competition in 8.5 fr/ 9.5 rr x 17s. The 8.5 x 17s are <15 lbs; the 9.5 x 17s are just over 15 lbs. The SSRs are semi solid forged, one-piece wheels. The rim is shot-peened, with the rim lips machine polished. The centers are "anthracite". Tire Rack pricing--8.5 x 17s are $389 each; 9.5 x 17s are $409 each. The set will run $1596, less shipping and applicable taxes. Here's the link http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Displ...e+w%2FMach+Lip
This is the no-brainer choice!

DefBringer

Hi, do you have any pictures of those wheels on your car? Thats a great price! I wonder if Peter still sells them for that cheap....

DefBringer

Does anybody have pictures of this wheel on a FD? I have NEVER seen this wheel on our car....plus I think anthracite would look cruddy on a red car. I'd love to be proved otherwise....

SleepR1

The SSR Competitions have rendred the Volk TE37 6-spoke obsolete and uncompetitve. The SSRs are cheaper, better looking (most definitely) and lighter.

AND the SSR Comps will look fantastic on my red R1 next season.

JoeD

you have just been proven otherwise!

TAZ's car, BTW.

clearthinker

That looks so sweeet. I thought it would look to Starsky and Hutch but man that is one awesome ride!!

What tires are on that sweet thing...yellow letters?

Also, tell me the size

Are they the SSR competitions??

DROOOOLLLLLL


but will they look good on a montego blue...hmmmmm

DefBringer

well those aren't anthracite......thats black!!



BTW, I have photoshopped pictures of those SSR Comps onto my red touring and they look like ****....

DefBringer

no those aren't SSR Competitions, those are Volk SE37K (I think) in hyperblack. That looks a bit too hardcore for me....but it IS nice!!!!

mako

iTrader: (5)

I am looking at getting the volk se37k wheels for my montego rx.
I would like to see what they look like in the bronze color.
the red fd above has the se37k's in black. but i am having a hard time picturing the bronze on montego, but think it will look good.

James