18s or 19s - Handling/Acceleration issues please help!

[VishalStar]

I will check out the blitz, they always look good.
 
Im definately getting 18s now, just seems more sensible, and the tyres dont cost as much!!
 
What do you guys think of the following wheels on a black, lowered FD with a feed front bumper and skirts, lightly tinted windows, bare arsed.
 

[Red and Single]

They look a little heavy.....

If I was putting 18\'s on a car, they would have to be really really lightweight and really really very japanese

Volk Racing, Advan, Buddy Club, SSR, etc etc

Dont skimp on wheels, thay are so important to the cars look.

[Grizzly]

i was going to get a set of rota wheels or volks. there are a fair few suppliers of these. Also take a look at the blitz z1 rims if you like the multispoke

LOL i\'m after a set of these at the mo and there EXPENSIVE!!! £500+ each rim.

Thing is when selecting a rim you have to think of the weight with tyre, look at it this way a forged Advan or Rays/Volk in 18 will often weigh less than a cheap 17. Unfortunatly in the world of wheels you get what you pay for.

[FLAT4MATT]

I\'ve had all three! 17 - 18 I didn\'t notice a difference in handling, it is harsher over bumps though. The 19\'s were VERY crashy over bumps, tramlined all over the place and felt very vague. Did look good though

[VishalStar]

I agree, you definately get what you pay for with alloys. Lightweights are the best but i think at this point im looking for more show. The car isnt really used on track, its more for cruising (albeit very rapidly!lol) and so the look of the alloys is slightly more important. The engine is stock but as i start performance mods later in the year, i will look into lightweight alloys then.
 
What do you guys think of trafficstar? or even Mania Vortex\'s?
 
Just my luck to have finally decided what size alloy i want and now i need to figure out what style!!lol

[D2BBA]

If it were me fella i\'d stick to a decent make of 18" wheel if funds dont allow for a set of JDM lightweight 19"s.  You will get more looks i\'d of thought going for that combo

Keep an eye out for 2nd hand bargains like ive had to do.  No point having a lovely car like the RX7 and putting cheapo wheels on it.

Just my 2p

Chris

[M@r]{]

Give these guys a try

//www.ultralitewheels.com  

I have the 18\'s on mine, quite a few on here do.  I\'ve got no complaints.  Regularly track mine and dont feel any negative effects.  

Their speil says "specifically designed for Japanese performance cars"

Good prices too

[banned advertiser]

these will handle great as very light weight, and will looks the dogs doodlies as they are 17, 18 or 19s but will cost you dearly but you would be pretty unique.
Carbon fiber wheels
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/Dymag_Carbon_Fibre_Wheels.html

http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/Dymag_Carbon_Fibre_Wheels_18.html

[VishalStar]

Those carbon fibre wheels are amazing, especially the performance benefits, but unfortunately out of my price range at the moment. Only had the car 2 weeks and i have been putting money into getting it up to scratch. Little things here and there but my wallet is taking a beating.
 
I have a budget of £1300 for wheels and tyres and need to stick to it religiously.
 
I like the look of some of the ultralite wheels, any idea what sort of price range they would be say 18x8.5 and 18x9.5?

[Nik da Greek]

Ultralight are brilliant because they\'re, well, light. As the late great Colin Chapman said; "add lightness". Unsprung weight (ie everything not supported by the suspension; brakes, tyres, wheels and linkages) has a far greater effect on handling than the sprung weight of the car (the body and all its contents). Can\'t remember the exact ratio but is something like every ounce you loose from the unsprung weight is worth five from the sprung weight.
Last thing you want to do is put heavy wheels on!
Rota Wheels from Rare Rims are very light and reasonably priced if you can\'t stretch to Ultralight or similar, perhaps they don\'t have the same kudos though.
Its always worth searching ebay and the like for secondhand wheels from other marques if you want to get more from your budget. So many Jap cars have the same 114x5 stud pattern, and so long as you keep an eye on offsets, you can get ridiculous bargains.
I got my Volk GTPs from a Supra owner on ebay for 180 quid cos they needed a refurb and he was obviously totally unaware what they were worth. With a refurb, they are perfect, unique with my own choice of colour, lighter even than standard RX wheels (which are pretty light to start with), and cost a good bit less than your £1300 budget including 265 and 235 Toyo T1Rs. I\'d call that a result!
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[VishalStar]

Thanks for all the comments guys.
 
Just got the car back from Clive last night after he lowered it using Tein springs, and it handles a lot better. The ride isnt as harsh as i thought it was going to be. But then again it is running the standard puny wheels.
 
In the meantime I have recieved a couple of quotes for the Ultralite wheels and they are cheaper than i thought. They fit my duget (albeit the top end) and now its a case of what style! Here is the choice.
 

 

 
 

[20B_boy]

Ultralight are brilliant because they\'re, well, light.

Really? I thought they felt heavy compared to a set of Rota\'s I picked up.

I\'d be very interested to hear what they do actually weigh if any one has some scales.

[Nik da Greek]

Really? I thought they felt heavy compared to a set of Rota\'s I picked up.
 
I\'d be very interested to hear what they do actually weigh if any one has some scales.

I think Rotas are at the extreme end of the weight scale, they really are good value for the quality you get. The Ultralights still tend to be a lot lighter than "fashion" wheels, though. You know the sort, with the "bolts" cast into the design then chromed over!
 
Tyres make a massive difference to the overall weight. Just try putting cheap Taiwanese bakelite-quality tyres on and watch the tyre fitter add a couple of kilos in balance weights to compensate for the rubbish moulding!

[SiH]

I got my Volk GTPs from a Supra owner on ebay for 180 quid cos they needed a refurb and he was obviously totally unaware what they were worth. With a refurb, they are perfect, unique with my own choice of colour, lighter even than standard RX wheels (which are pretty light to start with), and cost a good bit less than your £1300 budget including 265 and 235 Toyo T1Rs. I\'d call that a result!
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You swine! :spank
I\'ve got a pair of these in a hardcore FD fitment and need another pair to make a set - they are rare as hen\'s teeth, and when they do come up, they always seem to be the slightly newer design (different outer ring of the centre piece)
Sell me 2 of yours, i demand it!

[Nik da Greek]

You swine! :spank
I\'ve got a pair of these in a hardcore FD fitment and need another pair to make a set - they are rare as hen\'s teeth, and when they do come up, they always seem to be the slightly newer design (different outer ring of the centre piece)
Sell me 2 of yours, i demand it!

Mate, after the utter ball-ache I had trying to find a firm that\'d refurbish split-rims, these will only leave my possession when I\'m dead! (and do go getting any ideas, cos I\'m not about to change my will, either :Giggle )
 
Just out of interest, did you need a pair of front, rear, or both on one side?:rollin
 
Seriously, though, I agree with you that the older design are nicer than the new, but I guess even Volks workers got fed up with torquing up thirty bolts per wheel! The new design only has half as many, and I guess it\'s easier for them to balance them, there\'s more adjustability.