I'm such a sucker for big wheels.

[z31maniac]

Just got off the phone with TireRack. Picked up a set of 17x7.5" SSR Type C RS, Anthracite for the E30. Only 14.5lbs, so they are just as light as most 15" that are wider than 7". And the 17s will have a much better street tire selection.

They are Miata fitment so I'll have to run spacers, but at 50% off, I couldn't pass up that deal.

And if I decided on something else later, there are plenty of Miata guys that would want them.

$840 shipped to my door.

 

[JimR]

Your report of wheel cheapness and subsequent e-window-shopping led to me finding $100 instant-off on snow tires through the weekend at Discount Tire Direct.

Throw in a Yokohama $40 rebate, and a $300 set of Ice Guards for the G20's spare wheels is on its way for $160 shipped.

If Arkansas ever has another winter like this (probably never again), I'm going to be killin' it.

[z31maniac]

Now the problem is going to be finding hub rings. The SSR's have a weird hub bore at 72.2.

I told them the wheels for a Miata, dumb I know. But the last time I tried to buy something for my last E30 they seriously refused to sell me the wheels because they could not guarantee that it would fit.

Even though I knew it would.

So if any of you know of a source for 72.2 -> 57.1 hub rings, please let me know. I've had no luck finding any. A source for cheap spacers would be nice too!

[Bullitt2954]

Now the problem is going to be finding hub rings. The SSR's have a weird hub bore at 72.2.

I told them the wheels for a Miata, dumb I know. But the last time I tried to buy something for my last E30 they seriously refused to sell me the wheels because they could not guarantee that it would fit.

Even though I knew it would.

So if any of you know of a source for 72.2 -> 57.1 hub rings, please let me know. I've had no luck finding any. A source for cheap spacers would be nice too!

Local machine shop. Have them make 'em from Delrin, or UHMW. Or, aluminium - if you think you'll get so hot you don't feel you can "trust" the poly spacers (I've known guys that have used them for YEARS in Auto-X and trackdays - they just blacken and harden a bit, but otherwise are OK).

[Rogue_Wulff]

Have spacers made that fit the hub on the inside, and the wheel on the outside.

Just how thick will the spacers need to be? I'm guessing that the 17's will have an offset in the +40 range, where the E30 would be closer to the +20 range. That leaves about 20mm for spacers to fill. Obviously, longer lug bolts/screw-in studs will be needed.
Any chance the E30 hubs would allow for a long bolt to be threaded in from the backside? I've considered this for my RX7, but the front rotors require machining to make room for the bolt heads. The rear axles would need little, if any, work to accept bolts. I'd think that would be far more secure than long lug bolts or screw-in studs.

[z31maniac]

Have spacers made that fit the hub on the inside, and the wheel on the outside.

Just how thick will the spacers need to be? I'm guessing that the 17's will have an offset in the +40 range, where the E30 would be closer to the +20 range. That leaves about 20mm for spacers to fill. Obviously, longer lug bolts/screw-in studs will be needed.
Any chance the E30 hubs would allow for a long bolt to be threaded in from the backside? I've considered this for my RX7, but the front rotors require machining to make room for the bolt heads. The rear axles would need little, if any, work to accept bolts. I'd think that would be far more secure than long lug bolts or screw-in studs.

I don't really want to invest money in custom spacers, that will basically only be useable for this one application.

I'd rather have hub rings, then standard 4 lug BMW/VW spacers that I could resell at a later time. If needed. Yeah, spacers in the 15-20mm range. The wheels are +37, and most guys on E30s run 17x7.5" at ET20.

I don't know if there is enough room to do that with the bolts. I was just planning on running 92mm studs from Vorshalg or Bimmerworld.

[Rogue_Wulff]

One tip I can give. Dino's tire has screw in studs FAR cheaper than anyone else. As in 25-50% the cost of anyone else i have ever found. Ask a freindly counter person to let you look at their selection in the back. I recommend the chick.....
They likely have the spacers, or can get them, cheaper than most other "BMW/VW" specialty shops.
Dunno about the rings. I've never looked for them.

[Top_Dog]

wheeldude.com for a great selection of different style wheels and fitments.

[z31maniac]

Got my wheels on Wed. Ordered a stud kit, correct hub rings (thankfully TireRack had them, hard to find since SSR uses flat hub rings held in with a retaining clip), and a set of 215/40/17 Falken Rt-615s (thanks for heads up Rogue).

All I have to do now is is order a pair of 15mm spacers and a pair of 20mm spacers, and find a place I trust to mount tires on my wheels that won't jack them up. Then wait for it to get warm so I can try them out.

I haven't driven on a high performance street tire since ~2000 when I had my 300ZX, so I'm sure even the RT-615 is going to seem like a revelation in dry grip.

Now to decide if I want to put my SSR stickers on, I think I do since the wheels are kinda plain without.

[Rogue_Wulff]

Pretty!

LOL, I've never run any tire better than the RT615 myself, and those were nearly done when I got them. I'm sure the new set will give me goosebumps, once I get them out of the closet and on the car......

[rotaryracer]

Ralley Distributing @918)665-3119. They will mount and balance.

[z31maniac]

Now the question is, can I shoehorn 4 17" wheels and 4 17" tires into the E30!

I really need to get a truck/SUV.

[LowFlyin]

The CRX can do it.

[z31maniac]

I know! I love hatches for that reason. I wish we got some of the cool hatches here that they get in Europe.

If my buddy had sold his a little sooner, I might have ended up with an '89 CRX Si instead of an E30. I was ready to buy, buy he wasn't ready to sell yet.

[Rogue_Wulff]

It's a bit tight, but I can squeeze in 4 x 205/50-15 in my car, and still have room for a passenger. Jack and toolbox are really pushing it. I seriously doubt there's any way I could get 4 tires and 4 wheels seperately in there, and still have any room left for a passenger. Make it 8 tires, and I wouldn't fit, and I'm not that big.
Then again, it's a sports car, not a pickup truck....... I think there's more room behind the seats of my nissan king cab, than in the car, just laid out differently.