Is there a point to buy PIAA Rozza's over Stern ST-1's?
 

The two look absolutely IDENTICAL. Both are cast. The sterns are $950, the PIAA's are what, $2,500? What's the point of paying almost 3x the price for the PIAAs? Are they much lighter than the Sterns?

You have a point. The PIAA's are cast. Go for the sterns if you like how they look and if you're buying for looks.

sterns are very heavy. and they are not identical. Sterns pertrude out more. lip size is smaller. less bolts going around rim.

http://www.need4speedmotors.com/Prod...s/stern/s1.jpg
http://www.piaa.com/Wheels/wheel_images2/rozza_03.gif

just by looking at those two pics the piaa's look wayy better. they are similar but piaa all the way.

piaa if you can drop the extra cash.

Aren't the PIAA's already heavy--like 27lbs. How much do the Sterns weigh?

Anywho, with money to blow my vote is for the PIAA's; they are a fine looking wheel.

the piaa's actually weigh the same as the 2004 oem 18's. i weighed both of them with tires also.

Yea, they're 27. I can't seem to find any info on the Sterns. How much more can they possibly be? They're both cast and 98% identical in size.

That was a pretty crappy pic of the Sterns :) Here, try this one. If you took off the logos, I would honestly never be able to tell which is which if I was staring right at em. Not unless I owned the PIAAs and knew every mm of mm after having been staring at them for months or years.

http://nomad.liquidweb.com/%7Eneed4s.../st1/st1hb.jpg

it looks like the piaas have a rounded lip, where as the sterns have a more noticable line or edge to them. other than that, i don't see much difference.

I looked at both of those rims cuz I love that style! But i'm sorry.......Super Rozza's hands down boys! Stainless steel polished rim edge, much deeper lip, and the way the fingers connect to the drum/barrel......smokin!!!! Kinda like Blitz 03's.
Needless to say Piaa's will be on my Z this saturday! And the weight on anything but tracked car is nothing to worry about. They're just about the same as stocker Z rims.
My 300ZX has seen such limited track use that the Volk III's I bought really were'nt neccessary, except that I wanted to have Volks!
If I want race my 350Z I'll swap!!!!
I love the looks of the PIAA's!!!!!!!!!!! BOOOOUUUUUYYYYAAAA!!!!!!!

One noticeable aspect is the PIAA's have the mirror polished lip so you get true reflection and brighter appearance like chrome. The Sterns like most cast affordable wheels have a laminated lip which offers a hazy reflection at best much like a brushed finish...looks cheap IMO. I guess you can get the chrome Sterns but they're a bit too bling for my taste. :)

I just spent 2 minutes scrolling back and forth between the two pics and I honestly think they're 98-99% similar. Unless the PIAAs are substantially lighter, say it like it is: you wasted your money. They're just pieces of steel, 99% similar pieces of steel at that. There are better ways to spend the $2,000 difference. Christ, you could kit the whole car for that much money.

Anyway, do you guys think either of these would really suck for racing? I don't plan to do it professionally, but I'd like to be able to race my buddies every weekend or two.

Whats up with the Stussy logo on the Sterns? Bling bling yo... :icon14: :icon16:

I think the Axis Matrix and the PIAA's look the same. The Sterns look similar, but less quality for some reason.

TSG

it's the lip

Go see them in PERSON! Quality is quality. But if you can settle for less get the stinkin Sterns or Axis.:icon22: Like I said I saw both of these including the Axis "IN PERSON" and the Piaa's won hands down and that is why they are now on my Z!!!!!!!!!! Did anyone read this.....:icon28:
"The PIAA Super Rozza presents a stylish 2-piece design. Superbly crafted with PIAA's Super Flow Forming System Technology. PIAA Utilizes a low pressure casting method to produce high quality, lightweight wheels. PIAA high Performance cast alloy aluminum wheels are especially suited for dissipating heat from brakes and provide more rigidity under high-load cornering maneuvers. The low pressure casting method also provide for ease of secondary finishing processes, which enhance the over-all appearance of the wheel."
And now the pics.....
FRONT RIM
http://www.streetneeds.com/uploads/auser/zpiaafrt.jpg
BACK RIM
http://www.streetneeds.com/uploads/auser/Zpiaabk.jpg
http://www.streetneeds.com/uploads/auser/Zpiaarim.jpg
MY Z
http://www.streetneeds.com/uploads/auser/Zpiaa.jpg

And these pics don't even do it justice!!!
If you don't spend the money now, you'll wish you did later!:icon9: :banghead:
I"M VERY HAPPY!:thumbup2:

That's all well and good, but "low pressure casting" is used by a lot of manufacturers, and is still "cast" not forged.

That said, the PIAAs are still some very nice rims don't get me wrong.

Wired...."low pressure casting" means "HIGH DENSITY CAST FLOW". If other cast MFG's are doing the same I don't see them advertising it. Name one?!?!?!?! Sure it's not FORGED .......BUT.........on the street and really mild to medium racing applications do you reallly need FORGED! NOT REALLY!
90+% of the time it is looks and prestige! Reality.......I'm happy!:cool: