Hey everyone, so I'm looking at getting a set of Stern ST-1's and there's a couple questions I have.

If I go the 19x9.5 in the rear with the 18x8 in the Front...will the stock tires fit back on?

What does everyone think, "hyper black" or chrome on an Alabaster Coupe?

Who should I deal with? I know a good amount of people here have bought sterns and if I could be pointed to a reputable site...possibly even a name, that'd be great... I'm looking to keep the stock tires because i just bout new ones FYI.

 

I think the rears will be a little stretched to fit 255 mm = 10" for tread width. The fronts 225 mm = 8.9" for tread width.

I would think they'll be OK.

As I am sure you know, I prefer the ST1 Hyperblack. (See my signature!)

 

Is that considered hyperblack? It is the only style those rims look good in.

 

The chromies might look pretty nice on Alabaster, but it's hard for me to have rims and front/rear badges as the only chrome items on the car. It kind of clashes with all of the silver/matte bits.

JMHO, ya' unnerstand?

Yep. Here's a closeup:

 

Chrome would look ultra cheesy on anything, they would look like pepboys wheels. That gunmetal "hyperblack" is the only way to go.

 

Cheese is a good thing.... as long as you don't overdo it.

i

 

That's what I'm thinking, look at the XFire in the SLK sideskirt section...gorgeous. and the reason i dont like the gunmetal is that on a white car...black looks good, and chrome looks good, but gunmetal just looks "dirty" to me, on any other color i'd prolly get the gunmetal, hyperblack, etc...but chrome on white looks soooo clean.

BTW I'm about as bad as andrew when it comes to keeping my car clean. that's my problem with the "dirty" look No offense to you max, they look amazing on your car and i cant imagine it any other way.

UPDATE: the guy at the wheel shop wanted to know definative yes/no answers...

Will the tires fit? I said yes.
Will they mount? I said yes.
Will they need spacers?...and here's the roadblock...I tried to figure out that tool but can't get a definative answer.

 

So if anyone can just throw me a bone and say yes or no, and if yes what size?

looking at you max...even though yours are 19/20 and mine are 18/19

 

I can do the tool:

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp

I just looked at the Stern Wheel website

http://www.sternwheels.com/

and found that only 35 mm offset is available front and rear. So you will be buying:

(2) ST185851235XX 18X8.5 35 mm offset (front)

and

(2) ST195951235XX 19X9.5 35 mm offset (rear)

(The XX is the finish code)

Front turns out the same. The concern is the upper balljoint nut, and you might have to think about that if you go wider in the future. (Spacers).

Continental USA says rim width of 7.5-9 inch. Good.

Rear looks 13 mm closer to suspension/components. I would think they will rub the inner tire well on bumps. 15 mm spacers will do it (back to OEM offset and it will look MUCH better), but remember to get longer lug bolts (tapered seat!) for the rear. But, not TOO long, they will stick through the inside of the spindle flange and wipe out your e-brake assembly.

Cont-USA says 8.5 - 10 inch so they will fit the rim ok.

http://www.ezaccessory.com/Billet_Hu...es_p/5112m.htm

http://www.ezaccessory.com/Lug_Bolts_s/20.htm

It's a tricky thing to order these and know what you need. I got the tires mounted on the new rims, and then test -fit everything before ordering the lugs. Since you are re-mounting your tires, you don't have that luxury.

Since you have no chioce, I will offer to you my labor: I'll go home tonight and remove a rear wheel and tell you the lugs to buy. Assuming you go with the 15 mm spacers.

PM me?

Max

 

I'm in the market for the same wheel. When getting suggestions on what to run I was told for the fronts:

18x8.5 - 35mm offset

Rears:

19x9.5 - 25mm offset

Your saying use a 15mm spacer with a 35mm offset for the rear. If you order a shorter offset that means you don't need spacers?. I was told I don't need them if you run a shorter offset.

Also some info: Looking on websites they display certain sizes and such, but if you ask they can manufacture any size you want from what I'm told. (Hence I was looking for stock sizes and only saw 35mm, but they can get 25mm it just wasn't listed.)

Comes with new lugnuts also.

 

Running a shorter offset (35 vs. 22) will put the wheels WAY inside the fenders-and closer to the centerline of the car. It's a bit confusing. Use this tool:

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp

to see the spacing and differences.

I just spoke to ADR/Stern (Golden Apple Corp.)

http://www.adrwheels.com/brand.php?id=stern

and was told the 5X112 pattern of ST1 is available ONLY with 35 mm offset.
Just like the product data sheet says.
The toll-free number is on the bottom of the page. As I recall elites-wheels.com told me the same (wrong) thing when I was looking for wheels. I caught it before I ordered.

Check it out though-I've been wrong before!

 

PM sent. thanks.

 

Hey Max,

Thanks for all the great info you posted in this thread. I just ordered a set of ST1's for my xfire. I got 2 of the 18x8.5 and 2 of the 19x9.5. Both have 35mm offset for the 5x112 bolt pattern like you confirmed before. I sitll have to figure out what I am doing for spacers and lugs. I may just copy what you did with the spacers and try to find black lugs that I don't have to grind down.
-xfirecoupe

 

I guess I like CHEESE !


xfirecoupe, you will end up having to use spacers on front with Stern wheels to get the center cap to snap in, I used 10mm hub centrical spacers.

 

Wouldn't that be blue cheese in your case? You know, I like the cheese on your car. Is the grill cheesy too?

Les

 

Thanks, velociabstract. Yeah, the grills (top & bottom), side stakes and the windshield surround. The inside is just as CHEESY too, it's got almost eveything you can get from CTD in chrome. I guess I'm just a cheesy guy that like's shiny chrome .

 

Ok, so as far as I can tell, I am going to be on the hunt for some 10mm hub centical 5x112 spacers for the front and 15mm for the back. Did you guys buy the ones from Eibach or just any ole spacers work fine? Judging by the ones I have found on ebay, partamerica, etc, some come with a new set of bolts and some just cover up the bottom 10 or 15mm of your current bolts. And they all seem way more expensive than I thought they were gonna be.

 

Hi, I'm glad you made your choice! And a fine one it is.

I forgot about the front bearing cap-you WILL need a spacer to clear it.

I used these:

http://www.ezaccessory.com/Billet_Hu...es_p/5112m.htm

2 15 mm for the rear and 2 10 mm for the front.

You won't need black lugs-they fit so far down inside the socket, you can't see them. And while they may provide lug NUTS with the purchase, I used lug BOLTS. I'm sure that studs and nuts will work fine (?) but I have no experience using them.

Let us know?

Max

 

Ok, that definetly gives me something to go off of. I'll probably order those spacers as soon as my order for the rims go through. Not having to find color specific bolts is great too. If you were doing it all over again, were there lug bolts that you could have bought that you wouldnt have had to grind 2mm off of AND not worry about your e-brake springs AND work with the Stern ST1's, or is this gonna be trial and error on the bolts?

 

Well, he asked for opinions, I wasn't looking to ruin anyone's day. I think chrome is cool on cars that are made of metal. Then again, I would prefer the huge grilles on some of the oldies to be flat black. The whole 30" wheel craze ruined chrome for me. Plus, chromed engine parts such as alternators fail because the chrome doesn't allow heat to escape. There is alot I don't like about it... but I do have to say I love black chrome, but its expensive and nobody in NY does it (or chroming for that matter).

PS: fritz, those wheels have a nice shape, but I don't like the chrome. You paid for them though, and you seem satisfied. thats all that counts.