like the title says, I'm looking for some steel racing wheels to experiment with on the Triumph TR6 project. Ideally 16x8" with an offset of around zero.
Google search reveals at least half a dozen makers. Who does the best job for the fairest price? I'd like to avoid buying 20 wheels just to find 4 with decent runout.
Before everyone jumps on me ... yes, I know Minilite/Panasport/Watanabe is the classic choice. But I'm going for a "bobber" kind of vibe and think steel wheels will fit the look better.
In reply to LanEvo :
I believe Summit Racing carries most of those that you mentioned. Seems like they have pretty good descriptions of each of the brands and wheels as well.
I have Diamonds on the RX7, I bought them secondhand and one of them is supposedly a little bent. It does shake a little on the freeway but I've been told all Diamonds do that (they're not street wheels) so I can't really verify. The guy I bought them from ran Hoosiers and only autocrossed with them, for several years. I will say they have been trouble free and have held up perfectly through 2 years (except winter) of daily driving, and now they also see autox duty from me. They are cheap, you can get your 16x8s for probably around $100/wheel and made exactly how you want as far as color, offset and bolt pattern. Their website sucks though.
I never had problems with my Diamonds shaking on the highway, with RE71Rs (2000-ish vintage, when R-comps were streetable tires)
I even balanced them off of the center hole, which they expressly tell you won't work.
Maybe I was lucky.
In reply to Knurled :
I've talked to people who have had the shimmy and people who haven't. As I said, one of mine is supposedly a little bent too (told so by the guy who mounted my tires). You got lucky on the center hole though, one guy balanced his on the center hole and it was waaaaaay off. If I remember right I saw a post by a guy who's center hole was so far off he couldn't mount the wheels over the hub.
They're meant to be disposable racing wheels, some people (like me) run them forever and accept them as they are- heavy (actually not that bad), imperfect, but strong and reliable.
I've got a couple new Aeros sitting in the shop right now and while I haven't run them the fit and finish look pretty good, for whatever that's worth.
I've used Bassett and Aero wheels in the past, and following the instructions to have them balanced off the bolt circle both brands were just fine. I found that offroad shops tend to have the equipment to balance them correctly.
The guy who runs Diamond will talk to you on the phone and build whatever he can for you, but he is limited to what bells he has available. Unless it has changed, don't order odd stuff on the web- phone will work far better.
I have been thinking about getting into custom steel wheels if I can get a good setup on barrels. I did a set of centers for Stampie on his 3+3 truck and plan to do some 15" bead lock bassets that have too low of a backspacing.
WildScotsRacing said:
In reply to LanEvo :
I believe Summit Racing carries most of those that you mentioned. Seems like they have pretty good descriptions of each of the brands and wheels as well.
On paper, they all sound about the same and cost about the same. Just wondering if any brands are better than others in terms of quality.
The Diamonds that I use are sturdy as hell. Aeros tend to be lighter, and perhaps a bit more fragile, at least in my own experience.
I have some Bassetts for the Challenge car. Finish is very nice. They are 15x8 and weigh about 17 lb by weighing them on a bathroom scale with me holding them. They do require 60 degree wheel nuts, which look kinda goofy on a Miata. Not sure what nuts Diamonds or Aeros require.
