Finally...Rays Gram Light 57 Pro's installed
06-02-2003, 07:28 AM
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Finally...Rays Gram Light 57 Pro's installed
Well, I finally got my Rays installed. Here's the details on the wheels and tires:
The wheels are 18x9 and 10, 25mm custom offset. They are Rays Engineering Gram Light 57 Pro. They are 2 piece, and weigh roughly 21-22lbs F and 22-23lbs R. The lips on the rims are about 2.5 and 3.5 inches, respectively. After an exhaustive amount of digging, my friend (Driven on this board) and I (to a lesser extent) came up with the 25mm offset. Our objectives were to fill out the wheel wells, maintain as close as possible to stock scrub radius, and allow for lowering of the car with an aftermarket suspension. They aren't the lightest wheels in the world, but I was willing to compromise a couple of pounds vs. TE37's etc. on my street wheels...my race wheels will be very light.
For a 2 piece 18" wheel though, they are pretty darn light.
The tires are Kumho Ecsta MX 245/40 and 275/40.
On to the pics....I took them in the rain (just as I finished bolting them on it started to pour), and the car is filthy...you'll get the idea though.
Straight side shot...it's amazing how much wheel this car takes. I think 19's look a little more aggressive on the Z, but for the performance, cost, tire choice, etc...I stuck with 18's. I also wanted to run a 40 profile tire here in the northeast to protect my investment...the roads are a disaster!
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Here's a 3/4 shot...you can see the lip...not too big, but not too small.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
A little more angle.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Here's one from the front
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And again with a little more angle.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Now let's take a look at the offsets from a few angles. I think we really hit the nail on the head. The wheels are right at the edge of the fenders.
Here's a shot from the back.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Now one from the other side...it almost looks like the wheels stick out a bit, but they are almost perfectly flush. Only the bottom of the wheel is visible...from the top or along the side...they sit flush.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
This one is with the other side of the car jacked up...looks like it will just clear the fender without rolling if the car is lowered...stock height will definitely not cause any problems.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Here's the front
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Brake clearance is fantastic...lots of air to work with.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Stoptech's should fill this gap nicely...
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Overall, I couldn't be happier with the wheels. They look great, and the car drives beautifully with them on...much more stable feeling with a bit more meat on the ground. The finish is perfect, and Rays really packages everything up nicely. I'm modifying the center caps a bit...they came with gold centers surrounded by black, which I wasn't too keen on...that's why they aren't on the car.
I bought my wheels and tires separately (tires through tire rack). The total out of pocket cost for the whole deal (wheels, center caps, lugs, centering rings, shipping, tires, tax) was in the $2500 ballpark.
My distributor was Rishie at Automotive R & D in Cali. He is on this board as G35Sage I believe. He has done a lot of business with the RX-7 guys, and he was really nice to do business with. He was responsive to my needs, answered all of my questions promptly, and the wheels showed up when they were supposed to. I would definitely recommend him to anyone interested in these or any other wheels. He can be contacted at autornd@hotmail.com. He has good rapport with Rays, so he can get answers straight from the source. Give him a holler and he'll take care of you.
Blake (Driven on this board) should have some pics of the wheels on his Silverstone in the near future. I'd like to thank him for his research on the offsets, distributors, etc...it paid off.
Let me know if you have any Q's.
The wheels are 18x9 and 10, 25mm custom offset. They are Rays Engineering Gram Light 57 Pro. They are 2 piece, and weigh roughly 21-22lbs F and 22-23lbs R. The lips on the rims are about 2.5 and 3.5 inches, respectively. After an exhaustive amount of digging, my friend (Driven on this board) and I (to a lesser extent) came up with the 25mm offset. Our objectives were to fill out the wheel wells, maintain as close as possible to stock scrub radius, and allow for lowering of the car with an aftermarket suspension. They aren't the lightest wheels in the world, but I was willing to compromise a couple of pounds vs. TE37's etc. on my street wheels...my race wheels will be very light.
For a 2 piece 18" wheel though, they are pretty darn light.The tires are Kumho Ecsta MX 245/40 and 275/40.
On to the pics....I took them in the rain (just as I finished bolting them on it started to pour), and the car is filthy...you'll get the idea though.
Straight side shot...it's amazing how much wheel this car takes. I think 19's look a little more aggressive on the Z, but for the performance, cost, tire choice, etc...I stuck with 18's. I also wanted to run a 40 profile tire here in the northeast to protect my investment...the roads are a disaster!
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Here's a 3/4 shot...you can see the lip...not too big, but not too small.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
A little more angle.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Here's one from the front
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And again with a little more angle.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Now let's take a look at the offsets from a few angles. I think we really hit the nail on the head. The wheels are right at the edge of the fenders.
Here's a shot from the back.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Now one from the other side...it almost looks like the wheels stick out a bit, but they are almost perfectly flush. Only the bottom of the wheel is visible...from the top or along the side...they sit flush.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
This one is with the other side of the car jacked up...looks like it will just clear the fender without rolling if the car is lowered...stock height will definitely not cause any problems.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Here's the front
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Brake clearance is fantastic...lots of air to work with.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Stoptech's should fill this gap nicely...
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
Overall, I couldn't be happier with the wheels. They look great, and the car drives beautifully with them on...much more stable feeling with a bit more meat on the ground. The finish is perfect, and Rays really packages everything up nicely. I'm modifying the center caps a bit...they came with gold centers surrounded by black, which I wasn't too keen on...that's why they aren't on the car.
I bought my wheels and tires separately (tires through tire rack). The total out of pocket cost for the whole deal (wheels, center caps, lugs, centering rings, shipping, tires, tax) was in the $2500 ballpark.
My distributor was Rishie at Automotive R & D in Cali. He is on this board as G35Sage I believe. He has done a lot of business with the RX-7 guys, and he was really nice to do business with. He was responsive to my needs, answered all of my questions promptly, and the wheels showed up when they were supposed to. I would definitely recommend him to anyone interested in these or any other wheels. He can be contacted at autornd@hotmail.com. He has good rapport with Rays, so he can get answers straight from the source. Give him a holler and he'll take care of you.
Blake (Driven on this board) should have some pics of the wheels on his Silverstone in the near future. I'd like to thank him for his research on the offsets, distributors, etc...it paid off.
Let me know if you have any Q's.
06-02-2003, 09:39 AM
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Thanks...they're actually gunmetal with a polished lip. It was a very grey day in the photo...the contrast between the chrome silver of the body and the wheels is greater in direct sunlight.
06-02-2003, 10:57 AM
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Nice work dude, those look real good. I like the clean and simple look.
I can't wait to see those on the silverstone, I almost got them a few months back and talked to Driven about them, but I ended up going with 19's. Very nice though.
I can't wait to see those on the silverstone, I almost got them a few months back and talked to Driven about them, but I ended up going with 19's. Very nice though.
06-02-2003, 11:51 AM
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J Ritt....I guess you also sold your R to buy the Z....Me too....I was suprised to see the we-todd website up on this board and not on H-T. Oh, by the way the wheels look great!
06-02-2003, 12:26 PM
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Very nice Jeff...now we just have to talk you into either a cover or garage for your baby! Anyway, I should have some pics of them on my Silverstone within a couple of weeks. I'm still holding my breath on a friend with a deal on some Goodyear F1's for nearly cost. Otherwise I'm running the Toyo's. Just wanted to let you know I think they look real nice and can't wait to get mine installed...to think I've been sitting on those boxes in my garage for nearly three weeks now!
Blake
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06-02-2003, 12:36 PM
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SWEEEEEEEEET!!!
great job J Ritt!!!
i got two questions for ya...
first off great job on the right offsets. now that you're the offset expert, if i were to get the GL 57F-pros in 19s with the same widths (9 in front and 10 in back), should i get the same offsets???
and one more thing... those gunmetals look very light-colored. do they contrast that much with the CS??? i don't want much contrast between the car and wheel colors.
thanks in advance J Ritt.
i got two questions for ya...
first off great job on the right offsets. now that you're the offset expert, if i were to get the GL 57F-pros in 19s with the same widths (9 in front and 10 in back), should i get the same offsets???
and one more thing... those gunmetals look very light-colored. do they contrast that much with the CS??? i don't want much contrast between the car and wheel colors.
thanks in advance J Ritt.
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06-02-2003, 12:53 PM
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Thanks guys...
Shane...I remember Blake saying 'there was another'...must have been you. Great choice on the TE's though...they are great wheels.
Mark...yah, sold the R...two toys is one too many at this point in my life.
Here's a pic of them together...had them both for a fun few weeks! http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MxeTU0MQ%3D%3D
The We Todds are cool. I gave them a few bucks to help the cause...hopefully they have a soft spot for an R owner at heart (even went to the expo this year), and they won't boot me off!
Blake...you are a patient, patient man...I was DYING to get them on the car! Worth the wait though. Either tire will be great I'm sure.
Hardy,
I would imagine the offset would be the same on the 19's...I don't see why they would be any different.
It's hard to say how dark the gunmetal really is. I haven't really seen it in a lot of different lighting conditions. I would guess that it's probably a little closer to silverstone in color than chrome silver, though I guess we won't know for sure until blake gets his pics up. I think in terms of darkness, its in between the two colors though. The pics I've seen of the F Pros seem to suggest they are a little darker in color...once again though, it's highly dependent on lighting.
Shane...I remember Blake saying 'there was another'...must have been you.
Great choice on the TE's though...they are great wheels.Mark...yah, sold the R...two toys is one too many at this point in my life.
Here's a pic of them together...had them both for a fun few weeks! http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...MxeTU0MQ%3D%3DThe We Todds are cool. I gave them a few bucks to help the cause...hopefully they have a soft spot for an R owner at heart (even went to the expo this year), and they won't boot me off!
Blake...you are a patient, patient man...I was DYING to get them on the car! Worth the wait though.
Either tire will be great I'm sure.Hardy,
I would imagine the offset would be the same on the 19's...I don't see why they would be any different.
It's hard to say how dark the gunmetal really is. I haven't really seen it in a lot of different lighting conditions. I would guess that it's probably a little closer to silverstone in color than chrome silver, though I guess we won't know for sure until blake gets his pics up. I think in terms of darkness, its in between the two colors though. The pics I've seen of the F Pros seem to suggest they are a little darker in color...once again though, it's highly dependent on lighting.
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