acf321 Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EKuXCTq4Hc&feature=related In this video you'll see what is one on my favourite 240z's. I wrote to the owner and he tells me the wheels are 15" Watanabe R-Type. What he cannot tell me (as he english goes only so far, and my Japanese stops at 'Honda' and 'Nissan') is the offsets. I can see that the front is narrower than the rears (from the lips). Can anyone identify what the actual offsets of these wheels are, as I am looking at potentially buying wats for the hornet, however I want to be sure I order the correct size. Cheers Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Looks like a similar size to these ones Adam but I think it would have to be a lucky guess to get the actual size unless he took his wheels off to have a look at the back, did he tell you anything other than 15" like width as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acf321 Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 Hi Mossy .. no he just said 15" R type .... thats a really horny car that one you posted and its good to see it in orange too So ,,, what are the offsets then team ? Mossy .. do you have a contact for the owner of that orange car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.A.R. Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Why overpriced Wats, Adam? There's other manufactures out there that do very VERY similar rims... Also, it'll be easier to measure your offset on the car, rather than use a reccommendation from someone else. It's not something you want to get wrong... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators gav240z Posted August 8, 2009 Administrators Share Posted August 8, 2009 Why overpriced Wats, Adam? There's other manufactures out there that do very VERY similar rims... Of course you can get similar wheels, but Watanabe's are the original S30 aftermarket choice and were used on many race cars of the period. So you may pay a premium for them by in my opinion its worth spending the money on them. If that's the look you want obviously . Perhaps try asking HS30-H (Alan) he might know. I too want the same size Watanabe wheels for my Z. So if you find out let me know please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo_gj Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Yeah +1 to that Gav, I agree with you and intend to one day purchase these sexy overpriced wheels... I would really like to know the correct offsets. Cheers, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S30Mike Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I want the exact rims that are on teh blue star road S30.. im thinking there the same ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZeder Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Boths the silver car and the orange above have the Type-R or R-Type rims. The other popular Watanabe rims sizing for the Zed is the F8 Type in 7.5 with the +8.5 offset sometime used with the 7 +15 on the fronts - here is a pic of zed with what looks like he F8 in 7 and 7.5 front/rear . .....hmm links did not work - so will attach Here is some more of the F8 this time 15 x 8 +3 on all 4 corners rapped in 195/60/15 You can see the different to the 8 Skope R-type (could not find a pic on a car without ZG overfenders so here is a pic of my rims which are R-type but also designed for flared guards. The orange car above has the R-Type) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acf321 Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 Thanks NZeder ... good photos there. Ok. I spoke to Alan last night and he suggested the wheels on the silver car (and I concur) are; Watanabe RS R-Type 15", with the front most likely being 8*15 (zero offset), and the rears being 9*15 (-13 offset). To me, the orange car might have 16's ... as the rear wheel arch is just all rim there, but it does look excellent. For what its worth, a smaller rims weighs much less, and tends to carry less weight in rubber also (especially on width). I personally think the 15" looks the best rim size, however requires the car to be lowered to just the right height so as to have the rim/tyre nicely fill out the arch. On this site, www.aerodyne.net, there are some very good pictures of Watanabe styles, and colours, as well as tables of all the available sizing. If you look at it, these 15" R-Types are only available in 2 offsets, so we are getting closer. Alan suggested its smarted to err on the side of conservatism also, so as not to have a problem of the tyres rubbing on the inside of the wheel arch lips or front valance. Also, the wheels that Aerodyne has listed for the 240Z include the following varieties; 1) R-Type, 2) F8, and 3) F8F, and 4) A/B Type. Also, the R-type and F8 are available in Aluminium, and magnesium (just in case you're feeling very rich). Another point, you can order your Wat's with 'machined' lip or with full colour across the whole rim. The colours (shown on Aerodyne) include; matt black, grey, silver, gold, blue, red, yellow, chrome, zinc, brown and one or two others. Gotta say, the Watanabes look SO damned good on a well sorted 240Z, its pretty hard to go past them. Now ... where is that A$2500 I left lying about ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo_gj Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Now ... where is that A$2500 I left lying about ? Jeeze that's not bad! Last time I heard someone quote the price they were saying A$3500! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acf321 Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 oops... just checked my last quote ... it was on the wrong side of A$3500 !! apologies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.A.R. Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Jeeeze... I can get 3-piece racing Arrowlites out of NZ for less than that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acf321 Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 Just emptied the vomit bowl .. Agree Lurch watanabes are exxy ... no argument here ! I'm actually yet to find anything on a 240Z that is not ridiculously overpriced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zedevan Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 i'd also love a set of wat's - in matt black or a dark grey without a polished lip. their price is what inspired me to get the roh's for half of that while there are now many rims which are very similar looking much cheaper, there is something about actual watanabe's design which make them nicer - however for the price saving and since they'd be my second set of rims (and most likely in a size which doesn't require flares) i think the new lot of superlites look quite nice - and hopefully they eventually release them in 16x10 as well so can be used as a pair for the track edited: they have 15x7,8,10 but only 16x7 and 8 http://www.performancewheels.com.au/superlite.asp# i wonder if my planned brakes will fit under the 15's... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Hi Mossy .. no he just said 15" R type .... thats a really horny car that one you posted and its good to see it in orange too So ,,, what are the offsets then team ? Mossy .. do you have a contact for the owner of that orange car? No contact, I found that pic on google I think. The R type are definetly sexier and it does look the orange car has 16" rims maybe 0 offset. I know there are other similar wheels like the Rota and the performance superlite GTR's but there is nothing like a nice set on watanabes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acf321 Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 For me the choice is simple ... the car costing me a total bomb ... and to finish it and put cheaper watanabe knockoffs would be a somewhat futile exercise.. Having said that, I will have to wait some time before I can buy them... I have written to watanabe in the US and I will post the response of my findings when they come through. FWIW, if anyone is interested in buying these rims as you say you are, perhaps I will enquire about buying 'several sets' and see what form of discount might apply in this instance, particularly from the perspective of shipping. I'm thinking about buying mine in the new year anyway, so plenty of time. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZeder Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Jeeeze... I can get 3-piece racing Arrowlites out of NZ for less than that! And I almost did that - but then I purchased the RS Watanabe's R-Type in 16x8.5 -6 and 16x9.5 -19 mainly for the period correct style of the theme of the project (well externally anyway). However I have done my brake package so it will fit under 15" rims (hard finding proof of 16" rims used in period - Porsche's yes, hell you can find 17" on a Porsche in period but 16" on a zed are hard to proof) So one day the RB might have to come out - in with a L6 again, some 15" 3-piece Arrowlites and classic racing here we come will just do dual car sprints/time trails with the RB and 16" rims as this I can get away with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbscobraZ Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 You might be able to pick up some wats on ebay I saw some recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo_gj Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 You might be able to pick up some wats on ebay I saw some recently. If the offsets, width and size were correct (big if) then i'm sure about 30 people from this site alone would be watching/bidding on them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Camouflage Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 I have written to watanabe in the US and I will post the response of my findings when they come through. FWIW, if anyone is interested in buying these rims as you say you are, perhaps I will enquire about buying 'several sets' and see what form of discount might apply in this instance, particularly from the perspective of shipping. I'm thinking about buying mine in the new year anyway, so plenty of time. cheers RS Watanabe have an Australian distributor, why deal with the USA when you can deal directly with the Aussie distributor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Camouflage Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Here's the link: http://users.tpg.com.au/tpot/PM_RSW_UTF8_V1_0.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acf321 Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Ok... Just received my answer to "what r-type 8 spoke Watanabe can fit on a standard bodied S30?" Here is the answer word for word, FWIW, its the same answer as that given by Alan-T (the Oracle!). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for your inquiry RS-WATANABE wheel. I usually recommend for 240Z with stock body with following size of wheel. R-type - 16x8 all around with tire size 205/55 for front 225/50 for rear. the price is starting from $650- depend on finish. The car required for fitting with this size of wheels lowered the car, adjust comber, with strached tires. if you want 15inc just same offset 15x8 0 offset. just use tire205/60 or 55 I guess the car which you sent me (the orange car on this thread with silver Wats), has 16x8 0 offset for front and rear looking like 16x8.5 -6 offset. seams like the back wheel has little longer lip than front one. But we can not know what the car done, so if they work something for rear end then makes different offset we have no idea if with this size with your car. for safe size 16x8 0 offset all round, if you can work little bit for body you can do 16x8 0 offset and 16x8.5 -6 offset for rear, if you take 15x8 and 15x8.5 you might use with stracked tires then fit with easier than 16 inch wheels. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In summary, there are several options, however if you go large, you might need to alter your body work, especially at the front valance and qtr panels to ensure the tyres do not scrub. Alan suggested he has seen many cars in Japan with rolled or altered fronts in some fashion to ensure these larger wheels fit. For what its worth, I think the best bet is 15*8 at front and 15*8.5 at rear, OR *7.5 and *8 F/R respectively. At the end of the day, you can get some very sticky tyres for the narrower ones that ensure no rubbing.. Anyway, nuff from me on this one ! Cheers gav240z 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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