iMystic Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Hey folks, I've done a fair bit of research into these, big fan of the looks & i'd like some wider wheels for track days (preferably no spacers too). 90% of the photos online were of american Zs running 18x9.5 ET20 all round & using a staggered tyre setup. I've seen some examples of UK spec Zs running them at ET30 & ET12 too. I decided to take a gamble & ordered a set at ET12 for the rear & ET30 for the fronts so i could see for myself how the wheels measured up. So for me, the ET12s seem to stick pretty far out the rear wheel arch (not seem them with tyres on yet, so this trialling with just the rim bolted to the car) And the ET30s at the front foul the Brembo calipers, looks like they would need maybe a 5-10mm spacer to make up the clearance. I tried fitting the ET30 to the rear too, it sits a little further under the wheel arch than i'd like but it seems to be more acceptable than the ET12, although as another niggle with these the driveshaft pokes through the hole a little so i couldnt use a flush centre cap. I'm now trying to make up my mind if i should return the ET12s & run the ET30 on the rears & order a pair of 8.5" ET35 for the fronts & put them on the 20mm spacers i'm currently running with the Rays. Or sack the lot off & return them all. Has anyone had any experience with these wheels & what setups work/look best? I don't understand how there are threads like the ones below, which seem to show the same wheels with such different results? http://www.350z-tech.com/forums/147-newbie-intro/70821-hi.html http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/60510-18-rota-torque-drifts-with-falken-452-tyres/ Anyone else had any experience with these alloys? Or want to help console me? Ta! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Speak to Mitz @ CougarStore, trader on here and Rota dealer with plenty experience on Zeds 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MITZ@CougarStore Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Thanks Mark, drop us a PM or email and we'll be happy to help with fitments suitable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony.r123 Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Speak to Mitz @ CougarStore, trader on here and Rota dealer with plenty experience on Zeds +1 speak to Mitz at CS, they sorted me out with the perfect fit set of Rota's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleR Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Return the lot of them and get 9.5" et 20 front and 10.5" et 20 rear from one of our traders, the price will be better and they'll be the perfect fit. Pretty much everyone on here runs those sizes/offsets and not one person (as far as I know) has had a negative thing to say about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleR Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 This is the aforementioned sizes in a Rota Grid Drift. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 PM Ben at Rare Rims too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott TMN Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 I had similar findings as you iMystic, with regards to trying to match people running the same setup and seemingly getting a different result. I recently has some 9.5et 20 front and 10 et15 (1mm less outer extension than the sizes mentioned above) and i found they stuck out the arches a lot. I too can vouch for the great service from cougar store, I can't fault the service he's given me and would recommend to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMystic Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Cheers for the suggestions so far guys, i've message CS too. Kyle, the problem with the torques is they come in limited sizes in the europe, if there was a 9.5 ET20 i'd be all over it! Frustratingly, according to an offsets calculator ( http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator) Your rears running 10.5" & ET20 (which look perfect by the way) should apparently poke out an extra 5mm compared to the 9.5" ET12 i currently have, but when i trial fitted them, the outer edge of my rim was well clear of the lip of the arch! Where as yours seems to sit pretty much directly beneath it Is yours an import Kyle? You have any more images of your setup, its exactly what i'd like, except with the torques ideally! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog1982 Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 This is the aforementioned sizes in a Rota Grid Drift. My god there stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleR Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 I really can't understand why some people are having fitting problems, I've never heard of it No, mines a UK but I don't think that would make a difference because there are people running the same sizes on imports too. Where abouts are you, maybe someone close would be willing to let you 'see if the shoe fits'? If you click the link at the bottom of my posts to view my build thread, there will be some more pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMystic Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Me neither mate, i'll take some photos of how it looks in the daylight, only had them lit by the garage lighting before. I'm based in Edinburgh although i've only seen 3 or 4 Zs around town! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 (edited) Your trying the wheels on without jacking the car down aren't you? Remember when the car is lowered onto the wheels the tyres tuck into the arch so don't extend out as much as it first may seem. If your forking out good money for wheels I definitely wouldn't be looking at running spacers. It ruined the feel of the car for me! Good luck. Edited October 3, 2013 by 350Ad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMystic Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Good thinking! But i've been lowering the rim down onto a thick foam block. Its possible that the car still sits a little higher with the handbrake etc all still on but the rim definitely still has some poke! I'll have another shot this weekend & try it in daylight. Still not sure what to do about the front though I don't think i'll have any option but to run with spacers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Its a shame as in theory your ET12's on a 9.5J should stick out slightly less.... Mine on the same setup as Kyle's if that helps. The top of the tyre is flush with the body work so perfect for me using the Z as a daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott TMN Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 What size tyres you running 350zad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMystic Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Do either of you have any images from above the wheel arches looking down? I wonder how much tyre/rim you can see outside the arch. Since the tyres taper back in the way toward the car i might just be over reacting as im looking at mine without any tyres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 What size tyres you running 350zad? 245/35/19 fronts and 275/35/19 rears, closest to OEM size you can get for 19's. Makes the front profile quits small though so the ride is harsher. Do either of you have any images from above the wheel arches looking down? I wonder how much tyre/rim you can see outside the arch. Since the tyres taper back in the way toward the car i might just be over reacting as im looking at mine without any tyres. Will try to get a photo for you this evening. Car is filthy though I warn you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMystic Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Here are 2 snaps i took in very poor lighting while i was fitting them. ET12 top & ET30 bottom. ET 12 ET30 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Rear: Front: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 I think the ET12 will be fine once tucked in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleR Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Rear: Front: Nice shoes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Haha I thought someone would say that Cheers bud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Perhaps it poking out because it's up in the air. Stick a tyre on the wheel and lower it back down, it may well tuck itself back in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMystic Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Thats the car lowered to the ground, there's a foam block between the wooden ramp & the rim that you can see there! 350ad, cheers for the pics, it looks like your rim pokes outside the arch a little too, i'll have another crack at fitting them on saturday in the daylight & see if my opinion changes then! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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