Lantana I would have to say " I Luv'em" !!!
With the lowering kit and the chrome wheels, I think would accent your car perfectly !!!

Just my Dos Centavos

 

It is definitely a style preference as most that want custom wheels (IMO) are doing so for a true custom and different look with the goals of getting a clean, low, and distinctive look. Otherwise the stock wheels are pretty neat. I get compliments on my car and wheels all the time too but they are stock.

Not trying to disagree but only clarifying what the intent of my comment was to convey. Wheels are highly subjective so my comment (highly subjective) is my thoughts on wheels. Too many put new wheels on an they look even worse than the stockers. Often a little larger size provides a more aggressive look and adds a great stance to the car. A little less rubber and more filled wheel well often achieve these goals, and if this is your goal (which is mine) then my comment applies.

Hope this clarifies.

Nate

 

BTW post a pic of your ride with your wheels I am always lookign for ideas.

THanks

Nate

 

I believe you can see a picture of my car in Post #1 above in my signature. Let me know if you can't see it. In that picture I have 255 40 18's in the rear which is exactly the same width and diameter as stock. Since that picture was taken I have changed to 265 40 18 G-force KD's which are a little wider and slightly taller than what comes on the stock Crossfire 19's. This set up reduces unsprung weight along with the little taller sidewall improves the ride. since these cars have a retro design I think the big meats filling up the wheel well in my lowered car looks pretty agressive. I will be moving up to 235 40 18 in the front as soon as I need new front tires as the stock size tire doesn't look quite as good on a 8" wide wheel. I will also be switching to the McLaren wheels after the V8 is running and my brake upgrade is done. the overall look I am going after is taking the OEM look as far as I can. In other words, I am trying to make the car look stock as I wish it would have come from the factory. Am I making any sense

 

My car is on the far left. Not a great picture of the rear wheels and tires, but you get the idea of what 18's look like. I will take better pictures this weekend of the rear.

 

Absolutely,

you obviously have good tast in cars, and the color (the same as my roadster) so you must be making some sense!

It all comes down to preference and I like a larger diameter wheel just a little over stock to give that aggressive stance. And while the staggered look does not make it easy to find options, I am really appreciating it for the look that it gives with the lines of these cars.

So while I think that your wheels look pretty good, I instantly noticed the little rear wheel and its high sidewall. Stock even looks better IMO, but thats the perfectionist in me wants that awesome look for my wheels. But hey this is your car right so I like it for Latana! Just not for me.

I view wheels as similar to shoes. If someone wear sneakers with a suit it totally changes the look. Now some poeple like that look and for me it has gotta be a real classy set of shoes to make that suit look amazing. Its all in the preference so to each his own and thats what makes all of our cars have their own looks.

But your ride looks good nonetheless!

 

I am also a perfectionist and have been racing, building restoring and showing cars for years, but we just disagree on what perfection is. To me class isn't Bling Bling of 19's or 20's on a very small car. To me, class is understated elegance and performance is also very important to me. The bigger the wheel the more unsprung weight which hurts performance and ride quality. On car that isn't much larger than a Miata I think 18's are plenty big. the SLK which our cars are based on come with 16" or 17's and ride better than our cars with the exact same suspension. I also don't like worring about hitting a pot hole and bending a wheel. I hang out with a lot of road racers and auto cross racers and we all laugh at the kids who put giant wheels and tires with very little sidewalls on their cars. it may look good to some, but it is not the way to go if you are looking to improve performance and ride quality.

 

[quote=LantanaTX]I am also a perfectionist and have been racing, building restoring and showing cars for years, but we just disagree on what perfection is. quote]

I will let this one rest after this post but we can agree that we each are entitled to our positions on perfection as it relates to our rides. I am very happy with the ride quality of my car with the stock setup and since my ride is not for racing I am very content with a little larger wheel.

And I most definitely I not a fan of the bling effect with monster wheels on little cars and surely dont think that plus sizing to 19's and 20's even slightly denotes that, but it again comes to each his own. I am a minimalist in the styles that I create with my bikes and cars. Thats my style and I can appreciate folk that have opinions similar to yours and even the blingers! I am intrigued with their approaches and while it is not me, well everyone has their preferences. So perfection is a highly relative term especially when it relates to opinion so its all good.

So to summ it up:

- I like my style
- You like your style
- and some people out there like either yours, mine or both our styles! (as I have been featured in magazines and news articles for mine as well)

Thats what makes the world work, and our opinions are just that, our opinions!

Its all good!