How Big Can I Go
02-03-2003, 11:39 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7
hey guys, I own a 89 gtu. I was wondering if anyone knew how big I could go. I would like to go with 18" Ro_Ja formula 5's with 215/35 front and 245/40 rear with a width of 7.5" and 9" respectively. Any comments? Thanks
02-06-2003, 11:42 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Posts: 602
18's?!? Too big. Big wheels like that make the itty, bitty brakes behind them look retarded. Sort of like a Civic with those drum brakes that the the size of a fist. With 18's on those they just look dumb. On an FC it's not as bad, but it still makes the brakes look too small by comparison. I'd go with 17's, but that's just me.
8 in the front is possible. +35 is the offset IIRC. 9.5 in the back is possible with +35 to +38 IIRC again. 9's are easier to fit of course.
Tire selection makes a difference. 235's up front and 265's in the back are possible with the right tires. I run with 225/50 on my 16x8 wheels. Some tires I had varied by about 3/4 of an inch compared to others of the same size. Listed section with on the tire is not an absolute size. Check those manufacturer specs on the actual section width. Tire Rack offers this info on their site.
If you want even wider wheels up front, then check out the BN Sports fiberglass blister fender replicas that CorkSport sells. They are 30mm wider than stock fenders. So, theorhetically somebody could squeeze some 9.5" wide rims up there with the right offset. With these fenders, you can run 9's on all four corners. Same wheels and tires all around - not too shabby.
Want wider rear wheels than 9.5"? Then you'll need to pull the fenders out. This is where a good body shop comes into play. Some Japanese tuner shops sell overfenders that need to be riveted on that'll let you go even wider as well.
If you must absolutely have the widest wheels that can be put on a FC, go for the Mariah body kit. I think you can squeeze in 11's in the back or something like that. I'm not sure. I don't know much about Mariah and who has their super duper widebody kits.
8 in the front is possible. +35 is the offset IIRC. 9.5 in the back is possible with +35 to +38 IIRC again. 9's are easier to fit of course.
Tire selection makes a difference. 235's up front and 265's in the back are possible with the right tires. I run with 225/50 on my 16x8 wheels. Some tires I had varied by about 3/4 of an inch compared to others of the same size. Listed section with on the tire is not an absolute size. Check those manufacturer specs on the actual section width. Tire Rack offers this info on their site.
If you want even wider wheels up front, then check out the BN Sports fiberglass blister fender replicas that CorkSport sells. They are 30mm wider than stock fenders. So, theorhetically somebody could squeeze some 9.5" wide rims up there with the right offset. With these fenders, you can run 9's on all four corners. Same wheels and tires all around - not too shabby.
Want wider rear wheels than 9.5"? Then you'll need to pull the fenders out. This is where a good body shop comes into play. Some Japanese tuner shops sell overfenders that need to be riveted on that'll let you go even wider as well.
If you must absolutely have the widest wheels that can be put on a FC, go for the Mariah body kit. I think you can squeeze in 11's in the back or something like that. I'm not sure. I don't know much about Mariah and who has their super duper widebody kits.
02-07-2003, 05:15 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Posts: 602
I love wide-*** wheels on old school cars with oversized fenders. I about nutted my pants the first time I saw some steam rollers on the back of a Hakosuka Skyline at a car show. Same style of Skyline that was in Super Street a couple of months ago, but at least this owner didn't lie about his car being a GT-R model when it obviously wasn't. :smirk: This thing was all business. The only stuff in the interior was a seat, toggle switchboard, pedal, various electronics, steering wheel, and fuel system.16x12 (at least) with 325/50's wrapped around them. Large over fenders made this fitment possible in an early '70s car. A carbed-turbo L28 done up to 3.1 liters. I'll remember this car forever. I guess I'm a old school Nissan guy at heart, well at least Nissans that weren't available stateside other than the 240Z. :bigthumg:
I have yet to see an IMSA prepped 1st gen. But I'm sure it'll be love at first site. I never saw any 1st gen 7's in Japan except for a couple here and there. All the interest for them is over here for some reason. Why? Beats me.
I have yet to see an IMSA prepped 1st gen. But I'm sure it'll be love at first site. I never saw any 1st gen 7's in Japan except for a couple here and there. All the interest for them is over here for some reason. Why? Beats me.
02-07-2003, 07:22 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Posts: 602
Yeah, it won't be for a long I bet. Just try to find some tires in the 265/45/17 size on tirerack.com
255/45/17 or 265/40/17 are available. 255/40/17 will keep you very close to the stock tire diameter.
255/45/17 or 265/40/17 are available. 255/40/17 will keep you very close to the stock tire diameter.
