I mounted my new wheels yesterday and it thawed out enough today to get some pix:
I ordered the 15x7 +12 offset wheels based on the recommendations here. Tires are Yoko S-Drives in 195/55 R15's
I did have to do a bit of grinding on the front wheels to get them over the hubs and flush mounted. I really only had to take off about a millimeter of material on the back inside lip of the center bore - took about a half hour to do both. I LOVE the way these wheels look on my car!
I don't have good clearance in the front though - I fear. If you see the pix, the tire actually sticks out beyond the flare. Not sure how that will fare over time - I'll let y'all know.
The other thing that is crazy about my roadster (all of them??) is the hub to hub measurement is BIGGER in the front than in back. I swear the size is staggered BACKWARDS. It's a bit odd looking.
You are right about the front to rear stagger.
The 2000 has a front track of 50.2" and the rear is 47.24", Factory
Love the wheels!
Those front hubs are a PITA when it comes to brake drums, in my case, and alloy wheels.
My set of Watanabes fitted fine though, no machining or profiling required
I think I liked your car better with the mesh wheels, but that's just me!
Do you think the front fitment(sticking "out" past the front flares) is a function of not mounting all the way flush?
Maybe the +12 in 15x7 is too aggressive for the front and +25 is better? Can you take a side profile picture of the front flare/tire?
If you lower the rear, will the rear tires rub?
ps the front track is larger than rear like nissanman quoted...one of the reasons the cars rotate so well!
Alvin, you're killing me w/ the comment about the Enkei's!! They are cool "almost original" wheels - maybe I should keep them instead of someone on Craigslist...
But I like the way the Rota's look much better - I get to show off my itty bitty handpainted brake calipers.
Here's one looking down:
Even pulling them in another 12mm the tires would still be out very close to the fender lip. The wheels are fitting flush against the hubs - since I ground them. No issues there.
oh from that angle the fitment doesn't look too bad at all! is it me or is the trim have a red insert?
imho those enkei's really fit the period look/feel of your car with the off white body/red interior. It just looks "right". I think the Rbs are better suited for the "modified" car look: see "zippy67roadster's" car with no side trim, miata seats, and a very bright metallic color.
but then again anything looks better when lowered
My fronts are also out to the edge of the fender with about half the vertical clearance you have. They have never hit as far as I can tell, including a few "uh-oh's" over train tracks etc. going too fast.
They do look nice, a red pinstripe around the wheel lip would be really cool and go with the color scheme you have.
Dave Brisco
Take my advice, I'm not using it"
66 2000 The Bobster
64 1500 in pieces for sale
1980 Fiat X1/9
2009 Volvo C-70
08 Expedition EL, STUPID huge but comfy
1962 Thompson Sea Lancer, possible money pit
Yeah - I took the car for a "spirited drive" today w/ no rubbing - so I'm happy. I have stock (read OLD) springs in the front so I'll probably want to do something about that eventually - but for now I'm good.
When you install a new set of comp springs, it might help 'tuck' in the front wheels in a tad. This was the case when I swapped in new springs on my 66.
James, I bought the same rims...what lug nuts did you use...and are your lug bolts on the hubs standard? I ask because the Rota's have a tapered area for the lugs and it looks like I could almost get away with the Roadsters standard lug nuts with some chrome caps over them. I tried to blow up your photo and get an idea of what they were, but couldn't.
If the Rota RB wheels have a conical seat, yes you can get away with the stock lug nuts if your socket will fit into the wheel. (chrome conical lug nuts are cheap) Be sure you count the number of turns your nuts engage. It needs to be at least 9 full turns on a 7/16 x 20 lug nut. I had to replace the front studs to safely use my VTO wheels and that's without any spacer.
Phil
67.5 SRL311-00148 Blue (FJ cruiser VOODOO Blue)
67.5 SPL311 FJ20E teal SDS EFI
69 SRL311 SOLD
19 Raptor SCAB
I bought lug nuts from the vendor I got the wheels from (18racing). It was 45 for a set and they are "steal resistant" because they are not hex head - you need a special socket to remove them. They are nice shiny chrome and mate well to the Rotas. A good purchase IMO.
