New Wheels, Yay or Nay?

ack154 · Posted: 8/26/08 6:02PM Post subject: New Wheels, Yay or Nay?

Wheels are something I could never really decide on. Let alone spend the money I'd like to. That is... I want something light. And simple. And OEM size.

Edge Racing has had the Enkei RS7s for $80/ea for a while now and I've been close to buying. I know Enkeis are far from top of the line... but I haven't ever thought of them as awful.

These ones are 17x7 and +35... so they should even sit close to flush. Plus they're 17.5 lbs a piece... so I'm saving about 5 lbs per wheel. I just don't feel like I'm going to find that kind of deal for wheels that I like and have the specs I'm looking for.

This is where you come in... I know they probably wouldn't be nebster approved or anything... :wink: but are Enkeis that bad? Or would this be a good buy?

Just looking for thoughts. Good or bad...

http://www.edgeracing.com/2005/Scion/tC/wheel/3558/

Oh, and I'd probably buy the center cover plates to cover the lugs too.

HKSpeed · Posted: 8/26/08 6:07PM Post subject:

those dont look so good. i say you save up and get some enkei RPF1's (what i've been thinking of doing)

ack154 · Posted: 8/26/08 6:11PM Post subject:

Maybe this is a better pic... with the cover plate on:

Ro_Ja · Joined: 28 Apr 2007 Posts: 2254 Location: Camarillo

Personally, I would opt for a set of 17x8 RPF1's. A great, lightweight wheel for autox.

captainlaziness · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 7378 Location: Crizila

I like them. Simple, clean and significantly lighter. $80 a pop sounds like a great price to me.

What are you going to do about tires?

Metro273 · Posted: 8/26/08 6:17PM Post subject:

Wheel looks good especially with that cover on it! I hate to see extra holes that universal wheels have!... :no:
Btw, that price is good considering I paid about $180 each for my Axis Oldskools... :nails:

ack154 · Posted: 8/26/08 6:18PM Post subject:

If I go for 17x8, not only do I have to get new tires (not a big deal if I do it next year, b/c I'll need new tires anyway)... but it'll bump me into a different class. That's why I figure just stay with OEM size. Same class. Same tires.

Which leads me to the cap'n's question about tires. Right now I'd be sticking with my Azenis... but would put all season/snow tires on my OEM wheels for winter.

Jon · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 1149 Location: Atlanta, GA

Another vote for RPF1s. I'd get them but I want BBS. :P

tCtCtC · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 9899 Location: So Cal

shoot for RPF1's

toyotaguy · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 210

RPF1's.....

Trivecta · Joined: 28 Apr 2007 Posts: 356 Location: RC, So-Cal

get gold rpfs! thats wat I want....but I just can't let myself shell out the money.

ihavenosn · Posted: 8/26/08 11:09PM Post subject:

Yeah, I have to go with what everyone else has suggested, RPF1's or NT-03's. I've never seen NT-03's on a tC before.

Ro_Ja · Joined: 28 Apr 2007 Posts: 2254 Location: Camarillo

ihavenosn wrote: I've never seen NT-03's on a tC before.

I believe I've seen both gold and silver NT's on NBM's. No other color though...

Dr_Isotope · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 1622 Location: SoCal, USA!!

RPF1 only in 17x7.5 (no 7" wide), dunno if that effects Ack's Auto-X stuff. Also only in +48 offset. Also, around $260 a wheel. Considering all those factors, the RS7s win hands down.

I dunno if you've considered this for Auto-X, but have you looked into steelies, like WELD Racing? The 15" stamped steels we use on the oval car are 8" wide and weigh a whopping 13lbs each. We do bend about one per race weekend, but there are up to 16 cars on the track at once, and we get a bit roughed up. I think they could kill for Auto-X. Oh, and about 80 bucks a pop.

StreetStarsTc · Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 609

ack154 · Posted: 8/27/08 3:19AM Post subject:

Dr_Isotope wrote: RPF1 only in 17x7.5 (no 7" wide), dunno if that effects Ack's Auto-X stuff. Also only in +48 offset. Also, around $260 a wheel. Considering all those factors, the RS7s win hands down.

I dunno if you've considered this for Auto-X, but have you looked into steelies, like WELD Racing? The 15" stamped steels we use on the oval car are 8" wide and weigh a whopping 13lbs each. We do bend about one per race weekend, but there are up to 16 cars on the track at once, and we get a bit roughed up. I think they could kill for Auto-X. Oh, and about 80 bucks a pop.
The 7.5" version of the RPF1 is an option... but a long one... given the price. I'm obviously not in desperate need for wheels. But my thinking was more along the lines of "good price now, for the specs I want and lightweight." Haven't really considered steelies... but if anything would pick up a set for winter. Other thing is that I don't want to have to change my wheels before and after every event. And that seems like more of something I'd do with steelies.

nodsetse · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 1649

ack154 wrote: ...would this be a good buy?
I think they're excellent for the price, and considering the requirements you indicated, they'd be ideal. I've also been considering them for a while now, as I need new tires VERY soon. Price, weight & looks, I don't think there's a better deal around today. Given that they're 42mm offset, that might also help you a tiny bit for autox over the stock 45mm, without adversely affecting suspension geometry or wheel bearings. I thought stock wheel weight was only about 19 pounds, but even a 1.5 pound savings per corner would improve performance.

Edit: Don't you mean $89 for the 42mm offset? It's $79 for the 35mm offset, are you sure that's the one you want? :eyebrow:

ack154 · Posted: 8/27/08 2:05PM Post subject:

I think I'd prefer the 35 offset to push them out a bit more. And the OEM wheels are 22-23 lbs... so the savings would be a little more.

nodsetse · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 1649

^ I hear ya, but keep in mind that having them further out can also have some negative effects. Not certain how much the 10mm difference would make in this scenario, but it could reduce the effective spring rate (as one example), due to the increased leverage. I know everyone says "wider is better", but there really are trade-offs worth considering...just food for thought.

yellowxhoodie · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 4854 Location: G.E, IL

i like em.
my buddys got similar rims on his honda which is silver too.
silver on silver looks real nice.