I keep researching wheels and options and sizes and offsets and.... ugh! The mess of it. Plus, I am worried of a big investment that later looks like crap, etc... So I figured I can dump my thought process here and you guys would give me advice, or at least opinions. And somebody will flame me, and life will go on...

The car : 350Z Redline Touring 6MT, mostly stock, EIBACH SPRINGS, Currently on OEM Touring 18"s (18x8) and Potenzas (2 front ones feathered to death, waiting on Nissan to deliver new ones).

My first thought was to go with Track Rays (take offs). But at $2K for a set, I recently have thought might as well go with something diff...

What I like so far : Volk SF-Challenge (silver). The ones I saw are 19x8 and 19x9.5, offset 22. The reason I use them as a reference is that I liked them a lot and they were under Eibachs, proving they fit after the drop.

Volk SF-Challenge


Specs

What I don't like : I find 19" "too much" wheel, to me (please just an opinion) it gives the car a "bicycle" look. So I might stay 18"... I don't like wheels with too many spokes, same reason. I like fewer spokes with a more "solid" look.

On to some recent questions :

A) I saw the Challenge rims (19"). But I might want them at 18". Thinking F/R, should I go F18x8 and R18x9? Is it harder/easier to get tires for the half sizes (F18x8.5, R18x9.5)?

B) The 19"s I saw had an offset of 22. Should I go higher offset on the 18"s?

C) Can anybody point me to other SIMILAR rims to the ones mentioned above? Maybe at a better price?

As always, thanks for all the help/advice.

 

why dont you jump in on teh iforged group buy going on now...you will definately like the look of the AERO wheel that they make...i saw it one someones redline in gunmetal...i drooled

 

Rays G-Games line has a wheel similar to the SF-Challenge and the price is very hard to beat, especially for Rays wheels. I would say you are OK going with the same sizes as the 19" wheels. It should be relatively easy to find tires for an 18x8.5 and 18x9.5 rim. Offset 22 is fine for an 18" wheel just as it is for a 19".

 

19" WORK VS-KF's
http://www.work-wheels.co.jp/wheels/...f/vs-kf_2.html

 

I love the Volks.....just got my 19" (8.5 & 9.5) in gunmetal. They are gorgeous.

 

offset is not affected by diameter I dont think. maybe it would affect clearance issues based on spoke shape? I donno, I think your fine tho, 22 is good.

IMO 19" only has appearance, Im not sure there is any arguement to say that larger rims are in any way superior to 18", easy to argue that the difference is marginal, but if nothing else, why pay for 19" if you like 18". that was my thought pattern as well, and no complaints.

in most cases 8 vs 8.5 and 9 vs 9.5 if a tire fits one, itll probably fit the other, unless you start heading for the limits. just as nissan puts 245 on the rear 8" rims, and 225 on the front 8" rims, and I put 245 on my front 8.5" rims... so there is no "proper" size for a specific width, there is always some wiggle room. obviously, since an 8" rim fits both 225 and 245, that would indicate that they are both at the edges of the tolerance, so 245 would be probably dead on for a 8.5" rim, but it can be used on a 8" rim just fine.

the same general thing is gonna happen on 9 vs 9.5 cept prolly with 265 and 275, the 275 will work fine on either, but its probably more optimal for the 9.5".

I love all volk rims. its pretty safe to say you and me share tastes in rims. I love the challenge rims, but opted for the lighter TE series. the less spokes the better tho IMO, you can see through em, I love the look of rotors behind spining spokes. too many ruins the look.

 

Do you know weight of those?

 

First of all, thanks for all the help advice. After lots of research, picture viewing, thread searches, etc (and some PMs), I now got 5 choices!! (worst??)

The Tracks continue to be an option.

On the after market, I now know I want to go 19x8 (or 8.5) up front and 19x9 (or 9.5) in rear.

The candidates are :

A) Volks Challenge : #1 choice, a little pricey..

B) Axis SE7EN Mods : loved them on bdiddy's install...

C) iForged RS Aeros : group buy going...

D) Rays G-Games : price!

Ares, fewer spokes I am with you, but I don't like them too thin (bicycle look), rather go for a little more "meat"/solid look. No chrome. Going for Brushed alum or powder coated.

Now I am evaluating prices, etc. I would be glad to share the research, but I don't want to upset anybody by quoting a price or something. I also am collecting a spreadsheet with rims sizes, offsets and tires, maybe I can share that later as well... good info to know what people have tried.

 

5% off on a GGames wheel & tire package if that helps your decision

 

iforged aero gunmetal on a redline..pretty damn sweet



that is not my pic it is asw24sx's car

 

I am really liking the G-Games in 18"

I am with you on the 18" rim, dont want to pay for 19" rims or tires. Plus the ride is more rough and the track perfomance is compromised. They doo look abit better, esp with a brembos or big brake kit, but not that much better.

Also look at Kinesis. I would get these but they are way to rich for my blood. Here is a sample picture. Big fat spokes for you in 18" size!

 

Wow... those Kinesis look good. Back to the search engine for me...

I like the styles I have seen. I really should stick to the fact that I like 18"s better. As it is, the Z ride is stiff enough for me and more rim/lower profile tires is only going to make it worst...

I want to mention how much fun I am having researching this the the input and help of all you guys. Having lots of fun. And the ones you have directed me to (iForged, GGames and Kinesis) have turned out to be great choices. Thanks.

Now, I just have to make a decision, right?

 

Search for Gewalt Evo II's. Someone has them on a red Z. They are inexpensive compared to other 19"s

 

I've actually never seen the G-games before (well, probably have, just never acknowledged them), but damn they look good!

 

Lots and lots of GGames threads on here. Expect a little rarity with these wheels as Discount Tire Direct / Discount Tire Co is the "exclusive" dealer for these wheels in the US.

 

If you guys are not going to be stubborn with jdm wheels, which are not made in japan all the time anyway, these fit perfect. DTM Kreuz 3pc. 19x10rears, 19x9 front. Search DTM Autohaus and ask for Stan. Say Matt in NY sent you.

3 inch lip rears and 2.5" front