Wheel Size Suggestion Help - Enkei RPF1

[Philipio]

I need help on wheel sizes. First of all, I want a 17" wheel. I've been doing lots of research. I just need to make my decision very soon.

My driving style is completely grip, not drift. I know most people stagger for appearance and it has its performance benefits. Is there such a thing as too much stagger I should be avoiding?

I have coilovers. I have Z32 30mm front calipers and will soon have Z32 rear calipers. I need to fit all of those things.

I don't want to run a stretched tire, a ton of negative camber, and definitely don't want to have to pull fenders. A slight roll MIGHT be okay but I'd still rather not have to if I can avoid it.

So, based on the size chart here:http://enkei.com/spec_charts/RPF1.pdf

What's going to fit my needs? Just looking to have some suggestions thrown out on what I should do.

Here's how my car sits currently if it helps at all. http://img.photobucket.com/alb...0.jpg

Surprisingly the front wheels don't rub as it sits. I do still have my fender liner, and want to keep it that way.

Thanks guys.

[simmode1]

Well, you said you don't want to pull or alot of negative camber, but I think this setup below is ideal.

http://www.rimtuck.com/setup.php?id=82

Stagger is lame for grip as it emphasizes understeer. Car manufacturers sell cars with staggered setups as a way to keep crappy drivers from getting too ambitious and destroying their new cars. But stagger+stretched = great for drfiting. Run the same sizes all the way around for more neutral handling & maximum grip driving.

17x10+18 with 275/40/17's
Modified by simmode1 at 10:50 AM 10/2/2009

[simmode1]

But since you want something not as aggressive... try 17x9+22 with 245/40/17 all around?

You should be able to avoid rolling/pulling/camber with that.

This is nowhere near the limits of what an s14 can fit, but it's still more rubber than most S chassis drivers will ever consider rocking. Plus, if you feel that there's still plenty of room with the 245's, you could move up to 255/40/17.
Modified by simmode1 at 10:53 AM 10/2/2009

[captainfalco]

front 17x9 +15 (+22 with ~ 7mm spacer) 235/40; rollrear 17x10+18 255/40; roll, slight pull

edit - fixed rear offset, whoops
Modified by captainfalco at 8:36 AM 10/3/2009

[simmode1]

Whatever you do, Philipio, please make your car look different than everybody with RPF1's...

The gold wheels don't come in good sizes, but that color would look cool on your champagne s14. Maybe consider painting them some cool color to set you car apart. The local 240 scene around here doesn't have enough flavor! It doesn't take too much to be the hot 5hit and have everybody riding your sack! lol

[Philipio]

Well, you said you don't want to pull or alot of negative camber, but I think this setup below is ideal.

http://www.rimtuck.com/setup.php?id=82

Stagger is lame for grip as it emphasizes understeer. Car manufacturers sell cars with staggered setups as a way to keep crappy drivers from getting too ambitious and destroying their new cars. But stagger+stretched = great for drfiting. Run the same sizes all the way around for more neutral handling & maximum grip driving.

17x10+18 with 275/40/17's

So I'm pretty much looking at running identical sizes front and back then since all I care about is grip. That setup definitely has way too much pull for my taste, as much as I would love to be fitting some fat 275s. I feel like my car's too clean to be destroying fenders like that, I just really don't want to have to pull. I hardly ever see it come out looking good.

But since you want something not as aggressive... try 17x9+22 with 245/40/17 all around?

You should be able to avoid rolling/pulling/camber with that.

This is nowhere near the limits of what an s14 can fit, but it's still more rubber than most S chassis drivers will ever consider rocking. Plus, if you feel that there's still plenty of room with the 245's, you could move up to 255/40/17.

This sounds a little more appealing. I'd really like to run 255s if possible. I love wide wheels/tires. It sounds like I might be ending up with a 9" or 9.5" wheel. What's the "proper" tire fit for those sizes? I don't want a lot of bulge going on. Offset I honestly have no clue about. I know typically "the lower the better." I just want to fit my coilovers, fit my brakes, and be fairly flush with the fender.

front 17x9 +15 (+22 with ~ 7mm spacer) 235/40; rollrear 17x10+10 255/40; roll, slight pull

That looks pretty good, I don't want to have to run a spacer or do any pulling though.

Whatever you do, Philipio, please make your car look different than everybody with RPF1's...

The gold wheels don't come in good sizes, but that color would look cool on your champagne s14. Maybe consider painting them some cool color to set you car apart. The local 240 scene around here doesn't have enough flavor! It doesn't take too much to be the hot 5hit and have everybody riding your sack! lol

I can't decide what color to go with! I like the silver, don't like the chrome, I can't decide if gold would look terrible or amazing on my car, and I like black a whole lot. I can always get them powder coated if a good size isn't available in the color I want. I agree about the scene around here. There are some nice cars but they're like a diamond in the rough, haha.

[simmode1]

If I were you, I'd stick with the 17x9+22 with 245/40/17 all around. A 245 on a 9 inch tire is a very subtle stretch or possibly square, depending on what brand of tires you buy. This setup should be pretty problem free. For the, look... might I suggest painting the spokes black and the lip gold. You know, kinda like the black wheels with chrome lips? Expect you run, like a... matte or glossy gold. With some gold lug nuts. Fresh, my friend. That would be fresh.

Kinda like this, but with a black/gold scheme...

[Philipio]

If I were you, I'd stick with the 17x9+22 with 245/40/17 all around. A 245 on a 9 inch tire is a very subtle stretch or possibly square, depending on what brand of tires you buy. This setup should be pretty problem free. For the, look... might I suggest painting the spokes black and the lip gold. You know, kinda like the black wheels with chrome lips? Expect you run, like a... matte or glossy gold. With some gold lug nuts. Fresh, my friend. That would be fresh.

Okay, thank you very much! I'll keep that in mind.

Fresh to death my friend. Funny story, I've been thinking for a LONG time that black and chrome would look good on my car but I hate that played out look, I'd love to have black with gold lip. And for the RPF1s I was actually thinking I could get some black wheels with gold lug nuts. I just hadn't put the ideas together yet.

[simmode1]

Yeah, I had that idea for black and gold wheels years ago, but never got around to doing it. Now, I'm more into the concave look instead of the lipped look, so you can take that idea and run with it! Just post pics if you do! You're gonna need aero quick if you do that scheme. The badassery of your wheels will immediately overshadow the rest of the car...

[Philipio]

Yeah, I had that idea for black and gold wheels years ago, but never got around to doing it. Now, I'm more into the concave look instead of the lipped look, so you can take that idea and run with it! Just post pics if you do! You're gonna need aero quick if you do that scheme. The badassery of your wheels will immediately overshadow the rest of the car...

Hahaha I know. Unfortunately that will have to wait until I have power unless I find some amazing deals. Wheels weren't even on my list yet.

[Philipio]

Quick question. I have the option of +20 and +22 in the black RPF1. Should I stick with +22? Going to buy them this week.

[simmode1]

Are we still talking about the 17x9's? If so, I'd go with the +20's. The +20's will be 2mm more flush and away from your suspension than the +22's. But we're talking about a difference of 2mm, though. It's not gonna matter much.

[Philipio]

Alright, might as well go with +20 then for suspension clearance. I like flush. I guess when I get my wheels I'll see what I have to do about rolling/camber to fit them if anything.

[Beems240sx]

i thought i would throw up my wheel/tire combo just to give you more of an idea since im a grip guy too!

17x9.5 +12 with a 255/40/17 all around. i only rolled my fenders, no pull. and im on coilovers.









i understand that you dont want to hurt your fenders, but i rolled my fenders with a hammer and a heat gun. i took my time and there was no damage to speak of. just some thoughts to make you STICK!

[Philipio]

Not bad. I think I should be pretty happy with my wheel fitment. If I need to get fenders rolled there are a lot of shops around here I'd be very comfortable with. I can't bring myself to do that.

[Philipio]

I'm really disappointed. Enkei doesn't have black RPF1 in 17x9. The sizes available would be 17x8.5 +30 or 17x8 +35 and those are pretty lame compared to what I want. I'm probably going to go with the silver and possibly have them painted black.

He said he thinks the silver RPF1s are 17x9 +18. Is that going to be ok? Just want to be absolutely sure before I make my purchase.

[simmode1]

Here's what I always refer to for Enkei sizes and other specs: http://www.streetdreams.org/wh...ilver

Looks like the 17x9 are available in +22, +35 & +45. The 17x9.5 has +18 available though.

[Philipio]

Alright, thanks. Sounds like I might end up with 17x9 +22 in silver in that case. I'll post again when I'm certain on everything.

I really wish they offered black in good sizes. Now I'm going to have to spend extra money to get them painted.

[93240guy]

[QUOTE=simmode1]If I were you, I'd stick with the 17x9+22 with 245/40/17 all around. A 245 on a 9 inch tire is a very subtle stretch or possibly square, depending on what brand of tires you buy. This setup should be pretty problem free. For the, look... might I suggest painting the spokes black and the lip gold. You know, kinda like the black wheels with chrome lips? Expect you run, like a... matte or glossy gold. With some gold lug nuts. Fresh, my friend. That would be fresh.[QUOTE]

would those sizes (17x9+22)fit an s13 with similar setup ? i only reason i'm posting here is because this is the only thread that has everything i need. expect the fact your in an s14.
Modified by 93240guy at 6:29 AM 10/27/2009

[simmode1]

would those sizes (17x9+22)fit an s13 with similar setup ? i only reason i'm posting here is because this is the only thread that has everything i need. expect the fact your in an s14.

Yup. Should work just fine. These sizes are very close to the 17x9+20 5Zigen FN01RC's that so many other ppl use. S13 may need a minor fender rolling if you want to use 245/40/17's, though.

[93240guy]

thanks simmode1

very helpful. i dont mind fender rolling or pulling.

do you think it would be better to run 17x9 +22 front and 17x9+35 rear for more tire in the rear? or just 17x9 +22 all around like you said above?

[simmode1]

The 17x9+35 will be 13mm more sunken in the rear... kinda like a reverse stagger. I would avoid that. It looks wierd and would promote oversteer.

[SxMachine]

While were on the topic of rpf1's anyone runnining 16x8 with a +15mm offset on a s13. Looking at a pair for my fronts. Im seeing 17's all day but cant seem to find pics on a s13

[Philipio]

Picked up my wheels tonight. 17x9 +22 all around. Probably going to have them painted. Need tires. Need to find gold lugnuts or get some and have them painted/anodized/whatever. I might need my fenders rolled. Do I need new studs?

The process begins.

[simmode1]

While were on the topic of rpf1's anyone runnining 16x8 with a +15mm offset on a s13. Looking at a pair for my fronts. Im seeing 17's all day but cant seem to find pics on a s13

You don't see that on an s13 because it's a lame size by todays starndards. I mean, don't get me wrong... I run 16x8.5+27 Kosei K1's on my s13 and they are nearly flush (some might say they are flush, but it's hard to tell without coilovers). But i bought them used and cheap. If I'm going spend money on new wheels, it's gonna be in a more preferable size, like 17x9 or better.

Do I need new studs?

I don't see why you would... is there anything wrong with your old studs?

The reason you hear about most ppl using new studs is:A) They picked a wheel that would require spacers to get the fitment they want and those spacers required extended studs for safety reasons.B) They converted from 4 lug to 5 lug and didn't like the studs that came with their 5 lugs. For example, ppl using the Ichiba 5 lug hubs often switch the studs out for Nismo studs instead, which are much stronger.

[93240guy]

Picked up my wheels tonight. 17x9 +22 all around. Probably going to have them painted. Need tires. Need to find gold lugnuts or get some and have them painted/anodized/whatever. I might need my fenders rolled. Do I need new studs?

The process begins.

test fit yet? i want to know if any issue with z32 caliper clearance.

[Philipio]

I don't see why you would... is there anything wrong with your old studs?

The reason you hear about most ppl using new studs is:A) They picked a wheel that would require spacers to get the fitment they want and those spacers required extended studs for safety reasons.B) They converted from 4 lug to 5 lug and didn't like the studs that came with their 5 lugs. For example, ppl using the Ichiba 5 lug hubs often switch the studs out for Nismo studs instead, which are much stronger.

No. I always see "tuner studs" and all that crap, seems like a dangerous possibility. Your reasoning would explain why I've seen studs mentioned though, thanks.

test fit yet? i want to know if any issue with z32 caliper clearance.

Not yet. I'd love to know for sure too with my suspension and calipers. Maybe tomorrow.

[93240guy]

waiting!!!!

form what i read, it should clear suspension on both s13,s14. i couldn't find any info about clearance with z32 capilers.

[Philipio]

Update!



Still haven't done a test fit. Suggestions on lugnuts? I want gold/champagne. I know that's pretty hard to find. What are good lugnuts and would I be getting them anodized or what?

Need tires, lugnuts, most likely a roll. Things are slowly coming along.

[simmode1]

I really have no idea what brand of lugnuts are considered good, but these look sexy as hell...http://www.streetbeatcustoms.c...18257/