SpecV wheels still fit on 240s

[Rennen]

I know that most of this isn't breaking news, but I will post it anyway.



A friend of mine and I were going down to a rallycross, only to find out that it was cancelled. He drives an 02 Nissan Sentra SER SpecV, so since we had nothing to do all day with the rallycross cancelled and all, I stole his wheels.


I know that everyone probably has seen SpecV wheels on SCC's project coupe, or someother cars, but I don't recall ever seeing any on a fastback, so there it is.

Definitely alot different than my stock 15" wheels



OK, to give this post some validity, I will tell you some observations that I made during this wheel swap.

1.) The overall height of wheel and tire was just slightly taller than my 205/60/15s

Here is a comparison of all the wheels we had in our possession for the rally. From top left around: 205/60/15 on black painted 240SX 7 spoke alloy, 205/50/15 Azenis on stock 240 teardrop alloy, 215/45/17s on 17" Nissan Sentra SER Spec V wheels, 195/60/15 all seasons on stock Sentra wheel.



2.) There is much less brake clearance with the curved spokes of the SpecV wheel, compared to that of my 7 spoke alloys.

This was better illustrated on my friend's car:
SpecV wheels(about a finger's clearance):


240wheels(about a hand's clearance):


The '02 SpecV's brakes are quite similar, if not the same brakes as on my stock 89 non ABS 240. His front discs seemed larger, but the calipers looked identical in size.

I'm not going to pretend I know anything about Z brake fitment, but I assume they wouldn't fit in this tight tolerance.

3.) The tire is a bit closer to my suspension, due to horrible offset and wider width, the tire is very close to rubbing against the stock suspension.

craptastic pic trying to show this:


4.) Not so flush, obviously





5.) with his Continental something or another stock tires, the ride wasn't that much different than my tires and wheels, I didn't get to really test it on an autocross course, but in everyday driving the only difference is the bling factor.

Completely unrelated to SpecV wheels is the pic I took of of 205/60/15 vs 205/50/15 tires on a stock wheel, since I just scored a FREE set of Azenis( I will post pics on the car of wheel gap owning me at the next autocross)



As with all Imagestation pics, add .orig.jpg to see the real big pics, or if you are too lazy to type, visit the gallery at http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288944157


Hope this can help somebody down the line, Oh, and I don't have those wheels on my car for good, it was just a temp thing for pics.

-Matt

[old_s13]

Just say no to FWD wheels.

Anything thinner than 7.5" wide need not apply.

[KiDyNomiTe]

Ya, but there arent really any 4x114.3 cars with good stock wheels, same with 5x114.3, its just that the 5 lugs can be found in a lot wider when you look at cars liek FDs, mustangs, etc..

Are vettes 5x114.3? Or something else?

[old_s13]

i dont think so, you can still find plenty of wide 4 lug wheels. my buddy just picked up a set of Kakimoto wheels that are both 4 and 5 lug, the front were 16x7.5 the rear were 16x8.5 -- I was pretty impressed, dual bolt pattern AND good size/offset, not bad.

They ARE out there, you just need to search further than tirerack and wheelmax.. guys.

[KiDyNomiTe]

I mean oem, its easy to find aftermarkets, especially with all these importers, its finding stock rims is the problem.

[old_s13]

but stock wheels typically suck ballz..

well, the rx7 wheels i have are an exception.. but still, MOST stock wheels pretty much suck. (oh yeah, skyline wheels are also pretty damn good)

- Mike

[KiDyNomiTe]

FD wheels are good in width.

Skylines wheels are great too but harder to come by.

And yet again both are 5 lug.

[TheSparo]

how did u get the stock teardrops so shiny? did you use a steel brush to get that coat off? or what?

[KiDyNomiTe]

Originally posted by TheSparo
how did u get the stock teardrops so shiny? did you use a steel brush to get that coat off? or what?

I do believe he made a post about it. Forget what he used exactly but it was some strong stuff.

[Rennen]

I am well aware that these are less than ideal wheels for the 240SX, and I don't think I would buy them compared to other wheels. But in all honesty, they don't look too bad, and there is nothing too wrong with them that a spacer can't fix. I didn't intend this post to be an argument about FWD wheels on our cars, thats been covered eleventy billion times before. I intended this post to be a resource for someone who is looking into buying a set for whatever reason.

Originally posted by TheSparo
how did u get the stock teardrops so shiny? did you use a steel brush to get that coat off? or what?

Bling



-Matt

[DudeYourSoOOJDM]

1999-up RX-7 17x9 wheels...Japan only

My friend has them on his FD....Have to be right there w/ R33 wheels as best looking stock wheels.

[KiDyNomiTe]

Originally posted by Hypersh1ft240
1999-up RX-7 17x9 wheels...Japan only

My friend has them on his FD....Have to be right there w/ R33 wheels as best looking stock wheels.

blah, r32s have the best looking stock wheels, that and the ZR1 wheels.

[boro240]

too bad RX-7 wheels have +348937439874398 offset.

[old_s13]

Originally posted by boro240
too bad RX-7 wheels have +348937439874398 offset.

they have a 50mm offset, and I managed to fit them on my S13

17x9 on the newer FD is nice, but you can also get R33 wheels which are the same size.. I am sure the R33 ones are heavier though.

ps: its not an arguement about FWD vs RWD wheels, just chit chat.. actually, I think the Sentra wheels look okay.. just not down with offset and width, thats all.

[DuffMan]

You just put the FWD wheels from the front on the back and tada! instant RWD wheels.

Spec V wheels are cool, and 7.5 inches wide i believe. Just add spacer.

[Rennen]

I forgot what width they were, but they will take a 225/45/17 Azeni well, and thats enough grip for me.

-Matt

[mrmephistopheles]

Originally posted by old_s13
they have a +38976429234mm offset, and I managed to fit them on my S13

Yeah with a 9273987888mm spacer.


Anyone know if the '04 Spec V's wheels fit?

[Rennen]

As long as they don't rub on the suspension, or you use spacers they should. The new SpecV has some 4 piston 12" Brembos it has to clear, so Brake clearence should be better. And they are 4 lug.

-Matt

[SimpleS14]

^
|
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I was about to mention that....the brakes are not a bad upgrade for 4-luggers.



The best 5-lug stock wheels that will fit my car are R34 rims (IMO).

[Dousan_PG]

personally i think it looks like crap but that's just me. i dislike how the spec v wheelslook
yes cool for brake clearance in 4 lug though, but that's pretty much the only + of those wehels. simply ugly ugly wheels.

[Exessive26]

I'm rocking them On my car. They are Gloss black and,I'm About to get some Spacers and 225/47/R17 Falken's. I was not unhappy with them at all. But they are FAR from flush, so Spacers are a must...