[neo-truth]

I've been scouring the internet looking for 17 x 8 wheels that I like (and can afford). I'm not in a hurry to buy anything, so I'm just looking for now... but I'd like to know what I want in advance so when I'm ready to buy, there's no screwing around.

I was checking out these Flik wheels at EdgeRacing.com. It says they are sold out, but I was wondering what you guys thought of them. They are 17x8, 5x100, 35 offset? (it says ET: 35 on there.. I assume this is the offset, but I'm a car n00b... I'm not even sure this offset will work on the tC), and weigh 22lbs... 175 bucks each.

I did a quick and sloppy chop onto my car:

It's a stock tC, I just colored in the windows (poorly I might add) and chopped off the antenna in PhotoShop (also poorly) to get a vague idea of what things might look like. Sorry it looks so bad.

I think these wheels are made for Audi/VW (*shiver*), but I still like them.

If anyone has any more suggestions for affordable 17x8 wheels, please let me know.

Zoltiz already recommended a couple that I like, but I'm still looking around. Thanks in advance.

 

[neo-truth]

I need to read up on this offset stuff. I really don't want the wheels/tires in or out from the wheel well... I'd like them to be as close to flush with the side of the car as possible... if that makes any sense.

 

[neo-truth]

I just painted the windows a gray color with the brush and changed the flow and opacity down to around 50%-ish. I did about 3 coats with that to get that color... if you do less, you can still see through it pretty well, so I think it does a decent job for tint... especially if you take your time with it. I suck at the wheels... I just blacked out the stock ones with the brush and did a little gray spot in the middle to hint at a rotor, but those wheels mostly cover it up (plus I really downsized the image before i jpg'd and uploaded it). But thanks for the compliment.. I just keep that picture around with blanked out wheels in case I see some I like I paste them on there real quick to get an idea of what they might look like.


Back to the offset business... I was looking to put 245 width tires on there as well, if that makes any impact on the offset I should be looking for. I don't know what height ratio to get... I guess 40 or 45? From what I've read, the 17x8's or 8.5's with the 245 width tire setup is about the best you can do performance-wise. I'll eventually have some TRD springs installed, too. It would be nice to fill up that wheel well.

 

[neo-truth]

That makes a lot more sense.

That's probably what I would've done if I wanted it to look good. Got any links for wheel and brake transplants? Another thing I really would like to know how to do is lower the car without screwing the picture up. Thanks for the link by the way.

I've never really been into hacking pictures like this, but I've been doing wallpapers, web graphics, and sig files for myself and friends for a long time. I used Corel PhotoPaint for a long damn time... but just recently I got my hands on a copy of PhotoShop CS2, so I've been learning the ropes with that. It's taking some getting used to, but it's far more versatile than the Corel program even dreamed of being.

EDIT: Here's an example of a wallpaper I made for myself... this started out as a PhotoShop tutorial I found online, but it ended up taking on a mind of it's own. It's not the greatest, but I thought it looked pretty cool.. especially since I hardly know how to use PS.

 

[neo-truth]

I'm actually surprised, but I found the link to that tutorial. It was probably 3 or 4 months ago that I did that.

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/bac...backgrounds.htm

I think mine looks better.

And thanks for the link... I bookmarked it and will check it out later when I've got some free time.

 

[neo-truth]

Still looks good. The only thing mine has this yours doesn't is the scan lines kind of fade out (you faded out the grid, but not the scan lines), plus it has the contrast of the orangish stripe where you went with a darker blue. What original image did you start with? Mine was another wallpaper of a spiral galaxy that looked pretty sweet.


Ok, enough derailing.

If anyone knows of 17x8 or 17x8.5 wheels that aren't too expensive, point me towards them.

EDIT: Link to much better chop I did with those wheels above: http://www.yoursciontc.com/forums/index.ph...=0&#entry128062

 

[neo-truth]

Originally posted by zoltiz@Jan 7 2006, 10:05 AM
What's "too expensive"?

Anything over $200 is definitely too expensive. I'd rather stay under $150 if possible.

I've already checked out all those rims at discounttiredirect.com. The Voxx Scorze is ok, and I like the MB Weapon wheels that you have, but I'm not sure how I'd like grey (or bronze) wheels with my NB tC. Those Privat Zwanzig are nice, but a little too expensive and probably a little too busy.

I'm pretty sure I've checked 1010tires.com as well, but I'm going to give it another look.

I really like the Volk wheels, but they're way too expensive ($400+/wheel). Rota makes some 17x8's in a 45 or 48 offset that are alright (around $175/wheel), but they're kinda bland for some reason and maybe too Subaru.

The search continues.

Thanks for the help.

 

[neo-truth]

I think 7.5" is too small for 245 width tires. The main reason I'm looking for 8" wide rims is so I can have 245 tires. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I guess I just need to stop being so picky, or I'm gonna have to splurge and spend more money than I'd like to. Normally I don't go for 5 or 6-spoke wheels, but they seem to be the most viable choices here (except the MB Weapon has 7 spokes).

I'm at work right now... when I get home I'll paste some of these wheels onto my car and see how I feel about them then.

Like I said before though, I'm not in a big hurry to buy anything, so I'll keep looking and keep the current choices in mind as well.

I really appreciate the suggestions guys... if you come across any more, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

 

[neo-truth]

Ok... tell me what you think about these wheels from Rota. They all come in 17x8 with 5x100 pcd. The offsets vary slightly, but most come in 45 or 48 offset (will this work alright?). The wheels are all the same price... $175 each.

Rota Boost

Rota G-Force

Rota Rev

Rota Torque

Like I said before... for some reason, they seem kinda bland. Like they're missing something. But overall, I like the designs (except for the Boost... I just don't like 6-spoke wheels). The G-Force or the Rev in silver or grey would probably be my pick. I don't really know what sort of quality they are. Most of the vehicles I see with these wheels on are Subarus.

The MB Weapons are growing on me. So are those Motegi wheels you suggested (the LC5 and Trak Lite), but they're a little expensive and I'm not sure how they'd work on a Nautical Blue car. I forget which one, but one of the Motegi wheels comes in a nice lighter gray color but I don't think you can get it in 17x8 (/boggle). I'll check on that again though. Thanks for your input, all.

 

[neo-truth]

^^^ That's what I'm noticing. I just don't want people pointing and laughing and asking if I stole my rims off a Subaru.

lol


EDIT: Those 5Zigens I've seen as well, and they seem to be a pretty popular wheel. I'm keeping them in mind with the others.

 

[neo-truth]

Boost - 20.4 lbs
G-Force - 20 lbs
Rev - 18.4 lbs
Torque - 18.7lbs

According to this link: http://www.subydude.com/parts/wheelweight.php

Are those good, bad, ugly, or just mediocre?

 

[neo-truth]

I've checked eBay... the only 17x8 5/100 I've seen is the Boost. A couple with $600-ish buyout, and a couple with $400 starting bid with a reserve. That's about $150/wheel if you go by the $600. The SubyDude.com website, sells all of them though... but at $175. So does VividRacing.com. I'm not sure what the shipping costs would be with either.


Oh well.. I'm still looking around.

I probably won't buy any wheels til spring rolls around. Then again, it's the middle of winter and it's in the 60's here, which is unusually warm. The way things are going though, it'll probably be a blizzard next week, then the week after that back to the 60's. I'm sick of this wishy washy stuff... I'm moving to the desert or the arctic where you can count on the weather to be consistent.

Thanks again for the help guys. You all are awesome.