Wheel shopping? Tell me about options I don't know-

So- wheel ADD has struck me again. This time, I have done the math, and I am 99% certain I can get 255's under my ms3, if I run an 8.5"wheel with a roughly +40 ET, and a 17" wheel. Problem is, those options seem kind of limited to either unobtanium, or Enkei RPF1's. The Enkei's are great wheels, I know this. But they're also HELLA overdone in MN. I guess the question is, do I get off my high horse and join the Enkei club, or is there another option out there? I haven't perused wheeldude lately, so I have no idea if he's got some sort of Rota in stock. I can get custom drilled Works- but damn them'r spendy.

Enkei NT03+m?

http://www.rotawheels.com/wheelcatalog.asp

You can look through the catalog and see if Rota makes anything with those specs.

steelies ftw? http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/

Budget?

Budget is- unspecified. As this will be my....5th set of wheels for this car, I'm kind of at a point where money is only sort of an object, and getting the right wheel is the goal. I had considered Diamonds because I can get them in literally whatever I want.... just not sure how road worthy they are.

Oh, and the PCD is 5x114.3 w/ a 67.1mm hub bore, if that helps.

diamonds are built to order, and are cheap, but are heavy as berkeley.

they are streetable. even though advertised as a "race" wheel, they do just fine on the street.

Hmmmm custom Diamonds might be in order.... now to pick a suitably ludicrous color for them. I already asked the police, they would not be so friendly if I went with glo in the dark. I would consider doing them in plaid, but have not been able to find a decent vinyl wrap.

Custom Panasports?

looks like you would be limited to a 17x8 trucker series wheel if you need 17's http://diamondracingwheels.com/trucker.html

the problem there is they only offer up to 5" backspacing. That's nowhere close to the ~40mm offset you think you need. Off the top of my head I think thats only around 13mm offset.

17" diamonds will weigh a ton. I was thinking the same thing until they told me they would weigh about 70lbs each. They are meant for offroad trucks not for sport compacts.

Good god. So- that's out. I've also considered ordering custom works, since Work is actually offering free custom PCD- so it might work out. Any other thoughts?

Forgeline SS3Ps?

Will 255's fit on take-off 18" RX-8 alloys?

Seems like the wheels can be had for low bucks, and I like the way they look on the 3's.

YMMV, of course........

I will sell my 18" rx-8 alloys if you are interested or trade for a 17" Braden

oldsaw wrote: Will 255's fit on take-off 18" RX-8 alloys? Seems like the wheels can be had for low bucks, and I like the way they look on the 3's. YMMV, of course........

they're an 18x8 +45. Technically, you could get a 255 on it, but you'd lose some of your contact patch because they'd dome like WHOA. That, and an 18 is too tall to feasibly set a 255 on it under the ms3 without going after it with a grinder. It's the whole reason I went down to a 17 in the first place... I could get a 245 under it with a lot less work than the guys running 18's are having to do. Plus- it's still taller than its final resting place, (Coilovers this winter.... except prolly not KW's cause I didn't win) and if I tried to fit a decent drop+ 18's + 255's, I'd probably shoot myself.

Braden- thanks for the offer, but I'm gonna hold off on Rx8's for now. I do from time to time run across locals that are interested in a set, and if you're so inclined, I'd be happy to pass along the word.

949 Racing 6ULR wheels? They come in 17"x9" with +48 or +63 offsets and will even throw in the required hub-centric rings. I've been eying these fro my MS3 since I would like to upgrade to 245s once winter is over. I really don't like the stock MS3 rims.

http://949racing.com/6ULR-wheels.aspx

RexSeven wrote: 949 Racing 6ULR wheels? They come in 17"x9" with +48 or +63 offsets and will even throw in the required hub-centric rings. I've been eying these fro my MS3 since I would like to upgrade to 245s once winter is over. I really don't like the stock MS3 rims. http://949racing.com/6ULR-wheels.aspx

This was my thought as well. They have a good reputation in the 15" ones for the Miata community, so the 17" are well worth a look. I get a funny feeling in my "man-zone" when I see them in charcoal...

offset is too high to clear 255's on the ms3. I have 245/40 Z1 SS's on Rota 17x9+42, on STOCK suspension- and I have half a finger between the front shock tower and the tires, and my wheels are definitely what you'd call hellaflush, from a lip to fender standpoint. I still have silly wheelgap, but that's what coilovers are for. I know a +35 offset on a 9" wheel will poke too far without stupid herrafrush camber, and I certainly do not have any more room for tuck on the inside. This is what's left me with an 8.5" wheel..... sadly.

See here if you're interested in how wide they are on the car.

Rex and mndsm, are you guys in Gen 1 or Gen 2 cars?

In reply to z31maniac:

We both drive 1st. gen MS3s.

Too high an offset is easily fixed with a spacer. Heck, if you just want the size get a set of 'Vette fronts with @60mm of offset and get some bolt pattern changing spacers custom made to adjust both the spacing and offset to be perfect for you. Wheels would be as expensive as you want them to be, and spacers @$250/set.

I've got a great set for sale if you go spacers...

Edit: adapters.

^What wheels? Size/specs/price?

RexSeven wrote: In reply to z31maniac: We both drive 1st. gen MS3s.

That's what I was thinking, but wasn't sure.

I've got a Gen 2 MS3, and even at stock power levels these cars need much more rubber than the 225/40/18 that comes on the car.

But it seems even a nice roll is necessary to run a 245/40/18 on a Gen 2 that is any lower than stock.

I'm looking at more rubber since I'm considering getting a Piasani tune in the spring. Just the tune while leaving everything else stock, is netting in the 250whp/300wtq area.

Tasty.