Panasport Wheels

Wrenchands · Post by **Wrenchands** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:22 pm

This is my first post to the forum, but I have read tons of postings since purchasing my matching 67 roadsters in December.

My question deals with the Panasport wheels. I have read that a definite fit for the roadster is a 14x6.5, but have seen people running the Panasport 15 which is a 15x7 according to their website. So, if you can run a 15x7 panasport, can you also run their FS 16x7 without rubbing if you run a lower profile tire?

Thanks for any help that you can provide.

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:27 am

If you run 16 you will probably be running 40 series tires...

My best guess anyways...

SLOroadster · Post by **SLOroadster** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 6:50 pm

At 6.5 inches, that will be a little wide. 6inch is about as wide as you can fit without running fender flairs.

You can run 16 inch wheels but you will be running rubber bands for tires (but it will look SO cool!)

Will

Wrenchands · Post by **Wrenchands** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:03 pm

I have seen a lot of people running the panasports, and some of them have specifically mentioned using the 15 inch which are 7 inches wide compared to the 14s which are 6 inches wide. Are all of the people running the 15s flaring the fenders?

Anyway, I figured if the 15x7 fit then the 16x7 with some rubber bands would look pretty cool.

toolsnob · Post by **toolsnob** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:22 pm

It is my understanding that when you contact a panasport dealer that if you order the 15" for the roadster they actually come in a 6" width allowing 195/50 on early cars and 205's on later cars. You can check with Michael Spreadbury as to the 16's he put on his friends car. They may be 7" width but they had to do a little fender triming to clear and they had them on a 68. You will also need to run the 40 series.

Also if you don't lower the car properly it will look like you are going 4 wheeling!

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:52 pm

The 7 inch rims need to have exactly a 4 inch backspacing.

You probably need to roll the inner fenders in the rear with a baseball bat so to avoid scraping the 40 series "rubber band" sidewalls.

Let's just say those 7 inch panasports will not come cheap. Your better off economically with the Centerlines on clearance. Those are the most $ dollar savy deal for 7 wide, 4 backspacing rims around. I have been looking for a while.

Wrenchands · Post by **Wrenchands** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:16 am

Minh,

I have been looking around quite a bit for different choices for wheels, but have definitely had some trouble finding ones that fit our little ladies. Could you tell me more about the centerlines? Websites, company, style, etc... I think I will probably save up for the panasports, but it is always a good idea to have options. Thanks.

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 10:37 am

I posted the info up a few times. Here is one...
http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=420

What you want are the 2-piece Billet. I suggest you occasionally look in the clearance (wheel deals) section . You can get them at $80 to $110 each.

oilleak · Post by **oilleak** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:14 pm

You can run a 15x7 but you have to be careful about the offset as that width doesn't leave much room for error. 4" backspace on a 7 inch wheel is 0 offset so that won't work, you'll need more like +12 to +15 offset so figure in the ball park of 4.5 inches of backspacing. Whether or not you get rubbing will depend on the tires and how you're driving it. Almost any 195 with an aspect ratio of 60 or less should work although may require rolling the outer fender lip as described earlier. 205's will likely always require rolling the lip. Going to 16's introduces yet another concern, that being the tires height. The outer fender well narrows as it goes upward and it is possible to get rubbing on the fender on the inside above the rear wheel opening. I've only had that happen when the car was heavily loaded (2 200+ lb'ers in the front and a spare and box full of tools in the trunk). If you want to be safe, a 6.5" wide wheel with a 195 is just about perfect, with 7 inch wheels and/or wider tires, I'd try to find a dealer that would let me test fit one before forking over mucho bucks.

edit - I should mention that once you get to 4.5 inches of backspace, you need to be carefull of rubbing on the inner fender under hard cornering. This would be a problem in autocross type situations but not much of an issue for "normal" spirited driving.

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:43 pm

DELETED

oilleak · Post by **oilleak** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:04 pm

alving wrote:Does Panasport even offer a 14x6.5 wheel?

I don't think so. You can find Minilites in that size - as a matter of fact, I'm probably selling my set. That size (14x6.5+13) is a perfect fit with the 195/60-14 Azenis. You can find a lot of old school wheels in that size if you look around. I've got a set of hayashi's in 14x6.5 too. the only first hand experiance with 15 inch wheels I have is the 15x8.5 revolutions I just put on the car - and no, they don't fit under stock rear fenders.

toolsnob · Post by **toolsnob** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 10:14 pm

Jason's 68 is running a 11mm backspacing. They did grind the inner lip slightly and had no other cleance issues, he was running comp rears also.

DatsunBucky · Post by **DatsunBucky** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:44 am

alving wrote:I've also heard about front sway bar rubbing at full lock on 22mm offset Panasports, so a 5mm spacer might help.

Or, if you're cheap like me, you can back out the steering stops until the rubbing is either eliminated, or under control. I had that problem once, and shot some black paint on the rub spot, backed out the stop a turn or so and tried it again. I ended up where the tire just barely touched the bar at full lock. I never noticed any appreciable reduction in turning radius.

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