jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

Alright, I have 17's on my max now and I like the looks and the improved handling, but I don't like the decrease in throttle response and speed. They supposedly weigh in at 19 lbs a piece and I'm running 235/45/17 tires. I'd like to get rid of these and go to a lightweight 16" rim. Also, what is the best setup w/ 16's? I'm going to post in the wheel and tire section too, but I figured I'd ask you guys for your input too since I don't get too many responses from over there. If you have 16's please post the wheel weight and brand and even the price if you don't mind so that I can get an idea of what I'll be running into.

todamax

iTrader: (6)

I've got 2K SE 5 spoke 16's. They aren't what I would call light, and even more so with the BFGoodrich KDW tires that I put on them. So don't go that route.

Gjohnson

iTrader: (1)

Most of the guys on here you see with 5th gen wheels are rolling 16's. I have 17's and love them. I would like to have 18's but didn't want to sacrifice the ride and response, but I think my 17's weight about the same as stock.

portdave

I have the 2K 5 spoke 16s with Bridgestone Potenza RE950 V rated and I love them. They look great on the 3rd gen. I don't know how heavy but not much more than stock.

David

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

I did find a good source of info for wheel weights here: http://www.miata.net/faq/wheel_weights.html
Gjohnson, your exact ones aren't on the chart but I think yours way like 19 lbs. Does anyone know how much the stock ones weigh? I thought they were like 13-14 lbs and I would like to keep it around there if possible w/in my price range. BTW-thanks for the responses and here is another site if anyone is interested in wheel weights: www.wheelweights.net

Mizeree_X

iTrader: (9)

Check tirerack. If the wheels are lightweight, they usually list the weight on the left side right under the price. If there is no weight, it's safe to assume they are heavy. Kosei K1's are light and inexpensive, SSRs are light and expensive. 225/50/16 tires would probably be the best for a 16" wheel, but don't quote me on that. My 18's weight 20lbs each and I couldn't notice a difference in acceleration when I put them on.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

Good reply with the Kosei K1's Mizeree They look like they are pretty popular so I should be able to pick a used set up for cheap. If you can think of any others let me know. The Kosei's weigh in at 15.5 lbs, not bad compared to the 19 lb current ones. I just figure that 3 lbs of unsprung weight on the front tires will help me quite a bit.

boosted3rdgen

i was close to 16s......

but thats another subject

DMad8724

iTrader: (4)

I have 16x7 AR tourings, forget the weight...but they look tight!!!

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

proportionately, 16s look best, with 17s being second place, but that is just me.

i run skyline r32 gts-t in the front (16X6.5), r32 gtr in the rear (16X8). they are hi-performance lightweight rims. i noticed the difference instantly, as the wheels were so easy to turn, like a feather compared to maxima stockies.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

Does anyone run 300Z N/A wheels on their 3rd gen? I hear their light, but will they look good and fit our car?

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

they will fit. style of them is personal taste. i have seen it done. they would look great if car is lowered.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

Alright, I have a decision to make. I found some 300zx wheels in good condition with Daytona tires already mounted 225/45/16's for $350 and I can pick them up near my house. The Z wheels are 16 lbs. a piece. OR I also found a wheel called Rota Slipstreams and they are 13.5 or 14.5 lbs a piece depending on the source. I could look for a set of those used for like $300 and then get tires. What should I do? I could wait around and pay a little more for the Rota's and they would be about 2 lbs less and have an aftermarket look, or go with the Z's right now. Input please.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

rosamax,

in all fairness, this is taste-dependent largely. yet, i am all for reducing unsrprung weight: you will accelerate more quickly from any point in the powerband; the car will feel more nimble, etc. when you get a fidanza aluminum flywheel, as well, the lighter rotational mass of the flywheel and rims will create significant gains in power, ie, the mods will liberate trapped horsepower otherwise lost to friction/inertia.

so the pendulum swings to the rotas. believe me, both choices, rota or Z32, will look great. you are hitting the bullseye in the taste department. now think of the performance issues (hint: we are tuning the car for optimum performance).

you don't strike me as the looks-only show-car type. when you lower the car, too, with the rotas, preferably of darker colors, the maxima will take on a sleeper-killer look. go to my cardomain page and see what i mean.

Aaron92SE

iTrader: (128)

I run 14s right now. But I'm thinking of running 12s one day.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

I think I'm going to go for the Rota's. I've had a few people interested in my wheels and tires in the classified section so I think I'll be able to sell them without a problem. I might as well spend the extra bucks when for the Rota's and have the bling bling, plus the lighter wheels. You are right bonzelite, I am more about performance than looks so that's why I'm getting rid of the 17's in the first place.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

cool. and good. i sort of felt the vibe you were that way, as that is how i am; glad to help you. you seem one of few who actually dig 16's as much as i. i am into performance primarily, but i need it to look fantastic without going overboard. you will love the rotas. they are what you want. they are good looking racing style wheels. i considered those very wheels, too. down the road, so to speak, consider swapping the other wheel, the flywheel. i reiterate that point because it will further reduce weight for you.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

I'm kind of waiting for something to go wrong with my clutch before I replace the flywheel and upgrade the clutch. When something breaks on my car it gives me an excuse to spend a little extra and upgrade I think I am at the original clutch at 130,000 miles but I could be wrong. Like you I do care more about light, better performing wheels than I do about looks. I think 16's are a good balance.

Cheocwa

iTrader: (4)

The only reason why I would want 17's over 16's is because I can get Matt's BBK.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

that is typically how i operate, as well. i will not upgrade a part, usually, unless it is on the brink of failure or has failed. in the mean time, i will amass a parts cache and then wait. and wait. and then ultimately, the new parts go on.

right now, i have cattman headers, blehmco stage 2 underbrace, blehmco RSTB, r32 gts-t front calipers and rotors, r32 steering wheel all sitting and waiting to go on. none of these parts will replace "failed" parts. but require time for the car to be inoperable. and i'm procrastinating.

post pics when you get the rotas. i've never actually seen those on a 3rd gen. but i know they will work.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

How much is that big brake kit that matt has anyway? I wasn't even sure it was for our car but it would be a nice mod for a long ways down the road. Does the r-32 swap make much of a difference in stopping power? My car has pretty bad brake fading and is actually kind of scary when you try to slow down from anything over 80.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

I'd run the Z31 16s. Requires no "spacers". The 240sx 16s might also be a decent choice.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

jeff has a good point: if the rotas need spacers, you may not dig that. rotas spokes are flat. that may create offset problem. we got in love with how they look. matt's big brake kit will not fit behind 16's.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

You need 17s at the min. BBKs won't fit behind the 17" rota either. They use insane amounts of offset. ie.. 40-45?

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

Z31 16's, are those the right bolt pattern? I thought all the old Z's were 4 lug, maybe not. I'll have to take a look at the 240sx wheels, that's a good idea. I'm kind of stuck on the rota slipstreams because they are relatively cheap at about $500/set and they are like 14lbs a piece. If I'm going to change the wheels out now, I want to get the lightest possible ones in my budget so that I'm not tempted to buy more wheels down the road. I know he said the big brake kit won't fit under 16's, but what about that r32 swap, does it make a big difference? And I don't know the offset of the wheels, I thought that we just had to find wheels with a 45 offset or something for our car, let me know if I'm wrong. Here is a pic of the slipstreams: http://www.prolightstar.com/wheels/r...pstream16.html

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

i saw the specs. in this case, the 5x114.3x40mm will in all liklihood work. typically the maxima takes 30-40mm offset. spoke design (flat, concave, convex) affects offset clearances, too. unless someone else has these, i cannot know without putting them on the car, with the tires, if spacers are needed. keep your receipt.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Fit w/o spacers? Maybe. If you use skinny enough tires. ie.. 225s or something. Fit with a BBK? No way in hell. Just FYI. I have 17x8s, 30mm offset, no spacers, run 245-45-17s and clear bbks with ease.

You might be able to run 300z calipers on cut down Z rotors with 16s but now you have to consider rim spoke clearance issues. The high offsets of the typical Rota don't do anyone any favors in this regard.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

yes, z32 cals w/3mm radius-cut rotors will fit on 16's. usually.

in general, as a drawback of 16s, despite how i dig them the best, is that many, if not most, aftermarket brake upgrade kits, like brembo, stillen, blehmco, will typically demand 17s, ie, they will assume it.

rosamax, if the spokes of the rotas are not enough "convex," and the lowest offset available is 40mm, this combination may very well have you rubbing the cals or the strut assy.

-and this may not happen. and you can go spacers if it does, but that is unattractive, as it will create greater load on the lug bolt/shafts under acceleration as they will be effectively shortened.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

I am planning on getting either 225/50/16's or 225/55/16's so I hope I don't need any spacers or anything. I guess I thought that if you got the right offset of wheels 40, 45 whatever, that you wouldn't need any spacers. Sorry if I sound ignorant, but wheels aren't really my thing, I've only ordered them once and they walked me through it where I bought them. I kind of need to know what to buy here because I think I have a set of extra tires of mine sold already. What offset? Will I need spacers regardless? Would the Z caliper's fit? And are those Rota's off of ebay work or are they phonies?

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Contact Gjohnson. He should be able to advise. Or dig around in this forum or the tire/wheel section

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

You mean I actually have to do the research myself? I thought that's what moderators were for

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

go here for technical explanations of offset and everything else:

http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/techinfo/alloy.asp

you will see how spoke design, how close or near their inner faces are to the calipers, will affect offset usability. the tech page cited here does not really go into that, but you can imagine in cross-section the varied kinds of spoke 'pitches' or angles. in cross section, you can have 'c-shaped' spokes concave or convex, or angled flat spokes.

rim width, and, furthermore, tire width will also affect clearance.

jwmaxse

iTrader: (1)

Here is another site with some pics and stuff. I don't really dig the color for a black car but this will show the offset a bit better and has a few different angles. I'm thinking about ordering these wheels tommorrow, or as soon as I know that they will fit without a problem.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...3Doff%26sa%3DG

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

i think after all of this talk of offset and spacers and whatever, they will fit. i have a 6th sense.