CapitanCombo

Ok,
I decided,
I will get a new set of wheels and tires for my EU spec 92 FD.
I decided for the 18" Volk TE 37 in mercury silver.
I saw on Jason site that I can get 18x9 front and 18x9.5 rear, and as his car shows, I think I can fullfill optimally the fenders.
I think they both should be in +40 offset, I wrote him to know what offset he was driving, but got no reply.
This is all quite simply as you can see, apart from getting the right offset and the mercury silver color that is a special order, so where's the problem??
Here it is: I live in Italy.
So you may think I am talking about a huge shipping cost on these rims from US (unavailable here in Europe)??
That is not my concern.
The fact is that here you cannot just but a new set of rims and tires and just "put them on".
Simply you CAN'T, or let's say that, you can buy them but not installing on your car.
The fact is that you can ONLY get wheels and tires that are written on the papers of the car (you call it "pink slip" uh?) so for the FD is only what it came with, 16x8 rims and 225/50ZR16 tires both front and rear.
Some cars have on their papers a few more specified dimensions, for example in some cases you can get larger rims ans tires, or smaller (for ex when using winter tires), my Golf for ex is registered to get
185/60R14 (winter)
195/50R15
205/50R15
So, I can read your mind now, and see what you are thinking: "what the h**l are you talking about man? you made a thread saying you are going to get new wheels and tires, but hereover you write that you CAN'T install them".
In fact there's a trick.
Some company offer you that service: they simply unregister your car and register it again with the tires you require.
But again this is not simply.
You first have to get a "Ok to procede" paper from technical division of the manufacturer (Mazda IT), and I think this will be quite hard, other conditions are that you cannot increase more than 2" in wheel diam, you cannot have different tire width from fron and rear (but i's says nothing for wheel width), you cannot have wheels or tires exceeding from car's dimensions (out of the fenders), you cannot increase tire width more that 5%, tires must not rub on the fenders, and front tires must not rub over suspension arms or whatever when steering wheel is turned all the way left or right, car must be in stock conditions for engine and external appearance, car must pass all emission and mechanical tests as the normal two-years-test.
These are the conditions, the cost of the procedure is more or less 1350 euros ($1710).
So what I am asking you is: will this set (including 225/40ZR18 tires for both front and rear) satisfy these conditions for my FD?
The car is completely stock, apart for a Trust Intake, but there are no problems in getting the stock intake back in.
AS you may think, I cannot take the risk of buying a new set of rims from US, and them cannot pass the registration, i would have thrown away $2250+1710.

Please you all wheels-gurus help me


Thanx in advance.

xchaos

Wow. Thats alot of red tape for wheels/tires. Isn't there a shop there that speciallizes in wheels (that maybe do that service) that could make sure your selections are appropriate?

CapitanCombo

No because these rims ara completely unknown here.

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

If you need to stick with the stock sizes, then keep the stock rims, as they are virtually as light as anything you can get. You could always have them refinished or powdercoated a different color for looks, then get as nice a tire as possible... BFG KD's, B-stone S03's or Toyo T1s.

Also: These cars came with larger wheels and tires in later years. I believe up to 17x8.5 or 17x9" rear, with 255/40/17s. It could be that you have an easier time retrofitting sizes that were already approved by Mazda for the vehicle in later years.

Lastly,
What mechanizm does the government have in place to CHECK wether you've fitted the factory size wheels and tires or not, and/or make you change them back? Do they inspect them?

If not, my guess is that the rule is in place to prevent people from doing what some do here: putting tiny little low--rider wheels on their car that stick out past the fenders and are unsafe.

So long as you new combo doesn't LOOK unsafe or unrealistic, you'd likely not be bothered, and you could go ahead and just do it.

xchaos

But wheel size/width/offset shouldn't be unknown. Keep the stockers for inspections and run the new wheels without telling them? A pain, but ppl here do things like that all the time here.

CapitanCombo

I think I dod not explain myself well enough.
I can't get differen't wheel/tires on the car, the unique dimensions are reported on the papers of the car.
I can actually get them and install them, and maybe install them only for the inspection but the problem is whem cops stops you, if they see a different size on the wheels/tires that what is written on the papers, I will be fined of 2000 euro, and the papers will be retired, the car will be unregistered, I will have to get it back to stock from head to toe, will have to get a technical report from a mechanic that states the car is STOCK and have i registered again, usually this can last up to three or four months, and costs about 500 euro.
But this is not the main problem, the main one comes with an accident, if the dimensions are not correct, my insurance will not cover me in anyway and will not pay an euro, I will go in frount of a court and will be fined (much more that that 2000 euro hereover), and will have to pay for every euro for the accident for all the persons/cars involved (not for my car or me, italian insurance does not cover me or my car, only for third part, always).
And more, I cannot know wheel size/width/offset correct for my FD, it almost unknown here, that's why I am asking to you.
More again, I am not getting a new set of rims just for performance purpouse, it is mainly for look, I really don't like stock rims...
I am still having some problems with my FD, here you cannot install whatever on cars, I had problem once with a cop that didn't believe that car came with front strut-bar, he wanted to retire my papers just for that... I sometimes wonder what could I get if installing a widebody kit......

xchaos

Wow...so basically it is illegal to modify cars in Italy? My wife is French and we go to France often...I see a ton of modified cars there.

Can you move?? just kidding...

SleepR1

I think Ferrari is behind all this. They want all Italians to own 360 Modenas Who in his right mind would want to modify a Ferrari 360 Modena

IRISHMAN

MOVE TO FLORIDA FOR CHRIST SAKE

IRISHMAN

SORRY, let me back-up. We as Americans bitch and mone about piddly emisions and the few minor BS rules that we have to follow, but this guy can't even get freakin rims. I think we should all set back and think for a moment and appreciate our freedoms we have left. If I couldnt mod my fc the way I want anytime I want, I would think that would be a good time for revelution. I'll get off my soapbox now and sorry pal, your on your own. And as the Reverend Anthony Soprano said " whata ya gonna do?"

shawnk

What about buying a 99 RZ rim or something like that? It should be legal to do something like that?

What about bribes? I hear they work well in foreign countries.

(a joke of course)

I think you are not going to find much help here. I mean I read what you wrote but have no concept of living in a country that cares what kind of rims I put on my car.

Shawn

xchaos

hehe If the Italian govt. would subsidize (read "give me free") a 360, I'll move there and deal with this BS!

1RedR1and1RedPEP

See where Socialism gets you. Vote Republican!!!
1R1

CapitanCombo

I am not saying I can't put other wheel or rims on my car except stock ones, as long as the dimensions are identical there are no problems.
Some years ago on some cars/bikes you jad also the BRAND of the tires written on the papers, but fortunately this law has been canceled.
I am just asking you:
will my rims rub on the fenders?
will my front rims rub wherever when turning steer?

maxcooper

Many people run 18" wheels without (much) rubbing. I am sure a search would turn up threads about that. I've got 18x10" +50mm(ish) wheels with 285/30-18 tires and they are pretty rub-free. I think there are a few different options for 18" tire sizes that seem to work, but I am only familiar with the 285s, which are too wide for 9" or 9.5" wide wheels. I think there are some 235, 255, and 265 sizes that work for more narrow wheels.

Those rules seem rediculously restrictive. The easiest route might be to get cleared for the Mazda RZ sizes: 17x8" 235/45-17 front and 17x8.5" 255/40-17 rear (I think that's right, but double-check them before ordering anything).

Get the coordinates for the government regulations building and send them to the U.S. government with a tip that Osama Bin Laden is there. BAM! No more regulations!

-Max

CapitanCombo

The RZ was never imported in Italy by Mazda IT, the last '7 was dated around 1995 here

CapitanCombo

I already wrote an email to Mazda It for that, got no answer at all.

Cihuuy

hahaha... capitanCombo: i feel the pain as you do. The police here will summon you for adding anything aftermarket to your car!! Anything that is not original is illegal, period! *wishper* only the high class "royal family" can get away with it.

I guess my advice to you is corruption is everywhere, so $ talk. Better yet, find connections! If not then get a Ferrari... hehehe

MakoDHardie

Ferrari probably is behind this......

They just don't won't RX-7's running around putting their latest production cars to shame

Actually, as stupid as it might sound, that is partially true in some areas of Europe. There was an organized boycott that almost happened against Japanese motorcycle manufacturers a few years back when the Hayabusa and ZX-12R posed a threat to being the fastest things on the Autobahn. Apparently wealthy stock holders didn't like the ideas that their $200k Ferraris could be passed by a $12,000 Japanese sport bike. The deal ended somewhat harsh after there was a threat to ban the importing of at least those particular bikes, and was only resolved when Japanese manufacturers agreed to install electronic speed limiters of 183mph on their big motor street bikes. I guess they couldn't handle the fact that not everything that goes that fast has to be marketed for an Italian budget. But, geez, if they wanted that much respect for their investment, those stockholders should have just bought McLarens instead.

MakoDHardie

Ferrari probably is behind this......

They just don't won't RX-7's running around putting their latest production cars to shame

Actually, as stupid as it might sound, that is partially true in some areas of Europe. There was an organized boycott that almost happened against Japanese motorcycle manufacturers a few years back when the Hayabusa and ZX-12R posed a threat to being the fastest things on the Autobahn. Apparently wealthy stock holders didn't like the ideas that their $200k Ferraris could be passed by a $12,000 Japanese sport bike. The deal ended somewhat harsh after there was a threat to ban the importing of at least those particular bikes, and was only resolved when Japanese manufacturers agreed to install electronic speed limiters of 183mph on their big motor street bikes. I guess they couldn't handle the fact that not everything that goes that fast has to be marketed for an Italian budget. But, geez, if they wanted that much respect for their investment, those stockholders should have just bought McLarens instead.

cruiser

We have similar regulations in Slovenia. You need to get papers about everything you put on the car - and the papers must state that that specific item is made for your car make and model.

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

Sounds like you're fucked.

EL PAALO

You can't run mixed tire sizes and you want these mainly for looks:
You might as well run the same size wheels and tires all around - 18x9.5 (assuming there's no rubbing) or 18x9 all around. That would take care of one problem (plus give you the ability to fully rotate).
Somebody here on the board should be able to give you a safe size/offset/tire to run to ensure zero rubbing. Come on people, answer his first question.

The red tape/contacting mazda:
Since Volk makes Mazdaspeed wheels for the racing program, maybe you could go through Volk ----> Mazdaspeed ----> Mazda Japan ----> Mazda IT. Seems like Volk might be willing to help you since you're promoting their product? If you can't get an answer from Volk directly, you could try a distributor, like Mackin (or the retailer you're planning to purchase from) to get to them? You could also try calling Mazda IT - people tend to answer phones more than email, imo.

Good luck. Keep fighting.

PVerdieck

18s are stock on the Spirt-R, so you shouldn't have a problem getting the paper from Mazda, given that it is the same Make and Model auto, just a different year.

CapitanCombo

Just ordered the wheels from Rich @ Gotham racing
Seems that Mazda It will give sort of declaration that states I can put them on
but I will always have to have them written on the papers