18 or 17, 6 spoke or mesh? help a fella out!

tsunami

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mazda3 5 door
hey guys i am yet again looking at wheels and re-assesed my funds (furniture is expensive) so my previous thread i was looking at wheels a bit to pricey. i am looking at these two right now

MRR GT1 18x7.5 48mm offset no idea on weight i would think right around stock at 22 lbs or a bit heavier???

GT1_blk.jpg


or this BLACK RACING PRO N-1 17x7.5 lighter weight at 18lbs iirc and also at a 48mm offset.

black-racing-blp.jpg


pricing is pretty close with both wheels around 1k shipped. tires of course will add to that.

opinions/flames/ideas are all welcome...

(bump) cuase the vendor who had the black racing wheels didn't have them in the right bolt pattern, and only has flat black in correct pattern, so i am on the hunt for another vendor with those instock (wiating on call backs and email returns but no luck so far)

any thoughts on these enkeis? 15.2lbs 48offset 17x7.5
enkei_wheel_rpf1_(silver)_front.jpg
 
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the only thing that makes this a toss up is the black racing is a 17 not an 18... but it is a sweet wheel!
 
17 wheels are tight, whats wrong with 17s? 18s make your car look like a carriage if you dont drop it.
 
#2 by far, I am not a big fan of black rims .. but those look damn hot! I may have to keep those in mind when I decide to bite that bullet.
 
what color is your car?

If the red on #2 works with your car than i would go with them.

I have 18s on mine and i'm still not sure about 'em
Picture049.jpg
 
#2 only because i dontlike the first one at all. if there was a better mesh choice, id choose that.
 
wow. i guess i am the only one that likes #1 better.
I am tired of the 5-6 spoke wheels. Although i do like #2 wheels a lot i think they would look better on a sedan. Your hatch would look hotter with the #1.
 
ZoomVT said:
Although i do like #2 wheels a lot i think they would look better on a sedan. Your hatch would look hotter with the #1.

Actually after you say that I think I agree with that. I have the sedan is why I like #2.
 
I like #1. I have a feeling that the offset will not be correct. It looks like it has a pretty deep lip and may get some rubbing (at least in the front).
 
no those pics are with a lesser offset my lip would only be 1.2" iirc (48 offset)

and my car is a black hatch....
 
ha. i win. thanks for playing.
i am just going to wait for you to say that i was right again.
 
tsunami said:
hey guys i am yet again looking at wheels and re-assesed my funds (furniture is expensive) so my previous thread i was looking at wheels a bit to pricey. i am looking at these two right now
...or this BLACK RACING PRO N-1 17x7.5 lighter weight at 18lbs iirc and also at a 48mm offset.

black-racing-blp.jpg


pricing is pretty close with both wheels around 1k shipped. tires of course will add to that.
opinions/flames/ideas are all welcome...
Personally, of the two I would chose these but I do have a white car. I hope they come w/center caps/hubcaps as they look unfinished (re: half thought out) w/o them.
I kinda' like the wheels Phil (tsphkl, or somesuch...) has on his sedan. The gunmetal grey w/silver lip looks good to me and since your car is black, I don't see why it wouldn't it either.
Gold and black is too '70's retro. I lived through that time and it would remind me of the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am!!
What ever you decide to do, I would be very careful straying too far from the stock 55mm offset. That can easily through off the whole steering/front end geometry.
For weight, cost and overall practicality, I would stick w/the 17"ers. 18s are only gonna weigh you down, cost more, especially the tires and do nothing but detract from the handling. And, think of how much harder mesh wheels are to clean!!!
 
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yeah they have hubs, and i am thinking of sticking with the 17's and that wheel but now the dealer is saying they can't get it... do'h!
 
i have the 18x8 35 offset HP racing rims with no rubbing, 225/40/18 nitto neogen tires with no rubbing, i think i paid like $800 for the rims.
 
silla3 said:
i have the 18x8 35 offset HP racing rims with no rubbing, 225/40/18 nitto neogen tires with no rubbing, i think i paid like $800 for the rims.
It's not the rubbing that I would be most worried about, but the handling.
Since the stock wheel has a 55mm + offset you are pushing the wheel center outboard over 3/4", or 20mm!! That's a lot, and has got to affect the way the car handles, brakes and steers.
Then there's the weight issue (unsprung weight) that also affect the cars ability to make quick manuvers, loss of acceleration because of the great rotating mass to overcome, potentially lower gas mileage, accelerated wheel bearing wear and poor overall handling.
I wouldn't do that if I were you, tsunami. It's only asking for trouble... now or down the road.
 
Have you thought about the Enkei's in the SBC finish like mine? They would look hot on a black car.
 

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