well i posted a thread b4 about getting tsw's and enkies and i got ripped for it so you know wat im gonna stop being cheap so ive been lookin at gram lights 57s pro and basicallly all the volks lol and i was just wondering wat u guys thought was a better investment for my z and wi was thinkin about 18 8.5 and 18 9.5 so which offsets would be best for the car thanks!

 

Hint: Stop this foolishness and buy wheels that you like.

 

Get some wheels that you want...not what other people want.

I think you should go 18x9.5 and 18x10.5 instead of the combo you listed above. Since these are 18s, you could run anywhere from +12-+24 and look pretty sharp without having fender work done. Run some 255/40/18 up front, and maybe a 285/40/18 in the rear

 

they are both made by rays, so either one you win

 

Get what you like.

If you just drive your car on the street... 8.5 and 9.5 is perfect.

If you go to the track or NEED the extra tire width for traction, etc... Get 9.5 and 10.5

 

8.5's make great spares, step up to 9.5 fronts or don't bother.

 

if your going to spend that kind of money on wheels def. get what you like not what everybody else thinks you should have and go at least 9 on the front...offset anywhere around 20 will be nice and aggressive.

 

18x10.5 +15 in the rear wtih a 285/40/18 will need fender work.. unless you run mad amounts of camber... i already know someone with this setup on Tein S-techs and his Z looks like a mexican lowrider... I guess it would be fine if you run the typical -5degrees "my350z special" rear camber he is also running the 18x9.5 +15 in the front with 255/40/18's and luckily it doesn't rub up there but it sticks out also....

 

Correction. Sorry about that. I've seen some people run some 18x9.5/10.5 +12 Te37s, and they looked pretty good.

OP, looks like 285s won't fit, so disregard my post. I'll just say what I do know...get some 18x9.5/10.5 +22 and call it a day

 

TE37 18in 9.5/10.5 +22 all around with 265/35/18 front and 285/35/18 rear dropped Front 1in/Rear 1.2in will not rub and will not require fender rolling. I doubt a 285/40/18 Rear will rub either with +22. I think +22 all around is the best offset, but that's me.

Go with the 9.5/10.5 setup, you'll be happy you did. It'll give you a nicer aggressive stance and more grip when cornering.

Go with the 8.5/9.5 if you want to save gas.

 

there is absolutely nothing wrong with 8.5/9.5 with 245/275 tires. I always wondered why there were so many curbed volks for sale, until I saw how little protection that 245/275 stretch gives you on my own car. My next set was 8.5/9.5 and it has already saved me several times. Unless youre running 255+ in the front and 285 in the rear, even this little sloped curb will own you



these types of curbs, or even just slopes of driveways or whatever, are much harder to avoid than regular curbs.

 

ive never hit a curb in my Z or really ever came close, but i agree 275 on 9.5's looks great if i had 10.5's i would run 295's. I hate the stretched look unless its for clearence issues it looks silly.

 

I've always said the same thing. This is a sports car. Wheel weight is an important consideration for performance and can enhance or negate gains made by other modifications (exhaust, intake, etc.). That being said, get what you like. You're driving it.

 

I dont mean hit a curb, I mean more like pulling into steep driveways or parking next to those tiny curbs you *think* you can pull up on safely. Or worse, take a speed bump at an angle so you wont bottom out and end up nicking your front rim because its so exposed. Honestly, I wondered, how are all these people curbing these wheels!? Its not like they are careless or didnt care about their $3000 wheels. Sometimes its just unavoidable with a stretched tire. It also makes it 100x easier to pick up nails or other road hazards on the sidewall. But thats the price to play I guess.

 

i curbed 1 of my wheels before it sucks but eh life goes on as for gram lights or volks its your personal choice both are very nice the gram lights with tht tightanium burnt lip looks amazing with a drop and some agressive offsets but im running some mdc red gtfs with an agresive offset also overall but offer very different styles so its your personal taste if u like it go for it

 

One quick advice, learn how to drive/park good before you get some fancy wheels.

 

...

 

also, anyone wanting Rays should read the Maintaining Rays sticky. It's not a big deal for SoCal guys, but in the rest of the country where it actually rains, caring for the anodized lip is a complete bish. It's really not for everyone.

 

+1.....
now, it boils down to which look you like better

Gram 57 pros.....
TA....
TE....
GT-S...
SF....

etc....

 

and.... you want 27lbs wheels, or 19 lbs wheels? that will narrow your choices down alot. For most of the GramLight line, aint nothing 'Light' about them. And you can save a few lbs buy going with the volks, even with identical barrels. Or at least thats what I've read on weights.