After a year and a half of deliberation, I finally got off the pot. I really wanted the Nismo black rims, but their cost is prohibitive. Wanted wider than OEM, lighter than OEM, as close to black as available, and CHEAP.

MB Motorsport Comps fit the bill for me.

17" x 9", 27mm offset. (OEM F 30mm, R 33mm)

Tires for HPDE's, with the reality of rain being ever present, so no R compounds. Kumho Ecsta MX with HUGE outer tread blocks fit the bill. 255/45R-17 all around minimize diameter changes. Being cheap helped too!

Front wheels 1 1/2" wider, tires 30mm wider, yet 3 lbs lighter!

Rear wheels 1" wider, tires 20mm wider, YET 5 lbs lighter!!!!

Pix time:

 

Another pix of my not too clean Z:

 

I also put on some bigger rear brakes:

 

And, yes, they clear my 13.1" Stoptech front brakes:

 

how much did these set you back? also where did you order them

 

I'll say less than $1400. Call Kevin at Discount Tire Direct at 1-888-459-4080 ext # 424.

 

EnthuZ... those wheels look great... good choice...

One thing... before you do any track events you need to get new lug nuts. I used those same lug nuts you have and they will melt to your wheel studs and the only way to remove them is to snap the wheel stud.. which, of course, means you have to replace the wheel stud.

Discount Tire was very helpful when I talked to them about the damage... they sent me a whole new set of better lug nuts, new centering rings and four Gorilla wheel locks. They even offered to reimburse me for the damaged studs (I ended up snapping 5 of them).



Cheers,

PeteH

 

Pete, thanks for the warning!

I wasn't thrilled with the supplied Gorilla lugs, but my Dorman non-chrome nuts couldn't be used as the socket for them is too large for the wheel's relief.

What brand new nuts did they send?

 

Pete, whoa... are you referring to the stock lugs or something else supplied by DTD? What lugs do you recommend getting???

THANKS!

 

I purchased the same set of wheels except with the Nitto 555 RII tires. I get them for about $1500 through DTD. I also got the same wheel lugs as you and so far they have been fine (though I haven't tracked the car yet) and I use them with my stock wheels as well. Should I switch them out and use the standard Infiniti lugs that came with the car?

 

I'm not sure the brand... they may be Gorilla, since everything came in a Gorilla box. But, if you call DT and ask them for the regualr, open-end lug nuts you should get the right thing. Right now you have the spline-drive "tuner" lug nuts... they look cool on street wheels, but they don't work on the track.

 

I mean the spline-drive "tuner" nuts that DT sends out with their wheels... they look cool and they work great for street wheels, but they are not goon on the track...

I've been using the same lug nuts that I use with the Rays Track model wheels... both the Rays and my Enkei RPO2J wheels have the same seat in the lug openings, so they factory bolts work fine...

DT did send me a good set of open lug nuts that would work a lot better tahn the spline drive nuts, but I need 4 more since they sent me 4 wheel locks with the kit.

 

on the streets, those spline-drive "tuner" bolts are fine... and I'm sure they are fine for auto-x since you generate a lot less heat in an auto-x than at an open track event

if you do use the OEM nuts, make sure the seat is the same... the aftermarket wheels have a conical seat lug nut and the OEM wheels might have an acorn seat lug nut....

I've been using the OEM lug nuts with my Enkei RPO2J because the Rays Track model wheels use a conical seat just like the Enkei...

PeteH

 

Permatex Nickel Anti-Seize is your friend. Buy the 8oz bottle and some cheap acid brushes. 8oz will last you your whole life. Use this especially on the open-end lug nuts to keep nature's Lock-tite from ruining your day.

Asterix

 

sounds like good advice Asterix... I'll give that a try before the next event...

 

Thanks for the info guys. Never considered these things.

 

looks good, EnthuZ!!!

 

quick question: will they clear stock brembos???

 

yes, they clear them with A LOT more space than the stock wheels, I would say almost over an inch of room all around.

 

Well, I just finished bleeding my rear brakes, and the supplied Gorilla lugs came off just fine! This after a HPDE at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. MAYBE the problem is removing them while still hot.

Any lubrication on the lug nut threads is NOT recommended!!!!! The torque specs are for dry threads. Anyone who has lubed theirs should clean them with BrakeClean ASAP.

I will keep an eye on them though.