New 20's on my AWD R/T

[desmo_dude]

Well, my AWD wheel ordeal is finally over, and I'm lovin' the way it turned out.

What didn't work ::doh:
1. 20x8.5 Foose Nitrous - MHTWheels accidentally sent me wheels with a (RWD) 15mm offset. We didn't realize this til we mounted it. Looked like a damn mini-truck with two inch spacers. Sent it back.
2. 20x8.5 Foose Nitrous, 42mm offset - spokes *just* rub the front caliper. Don't know if the rear would have fit since we didn't waste time beyond test-fitting the front. Sent it back.
3. 20x8.5 TSW Zandvoorts (machined silver), 40mm offset, with 265/45-20 (I really wanted those Pirelli Scorpion Zeros). The 40mm offset sits perfectly (almost flush with the protruding fender well), but the tire clearance was just under a finger's width from the front well with wheel cranked inward. Too close for my comfort. Sent just the tires back.

Finally, what did work: :thumbs_u:
TSW Zandvoorts, 20x8.5, 40mm offset, Nitto NT420S 255/45-20, and I can fit about two fingers between the tire and well at its closest point. I think I could have gotten away with a 50 series, but my 40mm offset would probably cut it close...?

http://www.916rider.com/misc/magnum_tsw.jpg

[DawsonMagnum]

those are some NICE lookin' wheels!! Congrats!!! :thumbs_u:

[SoCal_Magnum]

I like them. They look like they were modeled after the factory RT wheels hehe

[MAGNUM8R]

Those do look nice, great choice in paint color also!!

[Token]

awdsome
those wheels look great

[bipto]

Those may be my favorite AWD-fittin' wheels I've seen yet! :rock:

[phil385]

Wow! Yea I really like those too. Awesome job

[AZCHARGER]

I like them!!!

Simple, and straight foward wheels!!!

[DriveATransam]

nice wheels! i would like to see the lugs though.

[Hardrock]

Really nice wheels there desmo.

Our choices for an AWD are getting a little better.

I actually like the RWD RT stockers, wish they'd fit.

[Batman]

Sweet!!!

[Hurst Equipped]

it looks like you have the perfect fit. not too big where it sticks out and not too small. perfect offset, perfect size tire.

[desmo_dude]

Thanks for all the compliments! New wheels/tires were definitely first on my list of upgrades. Now it looks the way it should have come from the factory.

There's also a chrome version of the Zandvoort, for anyone so inclined. And yes it's a 5x115, not 114.3.

So far the tires are handling great in the dry, much more road feedback than the stock Conti's, which felt like the car was riding on Pilates exercise balls. :smile: I've heard some bad things about the NT420S in the wet/snow by RWD'ers. We'll see how the AWD does.... Anyone? I'm considering getting some Scorpion Zeros mounted on the stock 18's for those rare occasions where Cal-Trans can't keep up with the snowfall in Tahoe, but I'm curious if anyone thinks it would be crazy to take the Nittos up in those conditions.

[desmo_dude]

nice wheels! i would like to see the lugs though.
You mean you prefer wheel designs that you can see them, or you'd like me to remove the cover and take some pics? :confused:

[DriveATransam]

i prefer designs where you can see the lug nuts :)

how does the 115mm spacing fit? too snug?

[desmo_dude]

i prefer designs where you can see the lug nuts :)
So do thieves. :smile:

how does the 115mm spacing fit? too snug?
Perfect, like factory. That was why wheels were so hard to find - 115mm AND >40mm offset. Anyone can throw a 114.3mm wheel on it if you don't mind bending your wheel studs to make it fit. I wanted to do it right. Function over form.

[DriveATransam]

oh. i wasnt sure what size factory was. thought it was 114.3. guess its 115 :)

[desmo_dude]

Here's a before/after pic... I wish I'd taken more unflattering pics of the 18's at different angles before the swap to show just how dramatic the change is.... I'm sure you guys have seen plenty already. :)

http://www.916rider.com/misc/magnum_before_after.jpg

[VanillaRT4me]

Thanks for all the compliments! New wheels/tires were definitely first on my list of upgrades. Now it looks the way it should have come from the factory.

There's also a chrome version of the Zandvoort, for anyone so inclined. And yes it's a 5x115, not 114.3.

So far the tires are handling great in the dry, much more road feedback than the stock Conti's, which felt like the car was riding on Pilates exercise balls. :smile: I've heard some bad things about the NT420S in the wet/snow by RWD'ers. We'll see how the AWD does.... Anyone? I'm considering getting some Scorpion Zeros mounted on the stock 18's for those rare occasions where Cal-Trans can't keep up with the snowfall in Tahoe, but I'm curious if anyone thinks it would be crazy to take the Nittos up in those conditions.

Great looking wheels, Desmodude. And you can't do any better on quality and style than TSW from Germany. Do the wheels have a protective clearcoat as well?

[desmo_dude]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure they do have a clearcoat, judging by the look/feel of it. The only thing that makes me unsure is how quickly they turned it around. According to the guy at America's Tire, his TSW distributor said they have to drill the lug holes when the wheels are ordered. So if that's true, would they have had time to drill the holes, clearcoat and ship to me within 3 days? :confused: I'm gonna have to take a closer look tomorrow. Maybe the guy at America's Tire was just pulling my leg...


By the way, one thing I forgot to mention about these rims is that I actually gained clearance (probably about 4 mm) from the steering knuckle than with the stock wheels and Contis. An inch wider wheel and still gained clearance. That kinda gives you an idea of just how much those wheels need to come out of the well to sit properly.

[Rev.Hammer]

Clean and smooove!!! You made an excellent choice Des! Well worth the aggro~!

[DriveATransam]

i really like how the spokes bend back in to give you a nice sized lip. kinda sad that we can put 20s on our cars and they still look small. ill bet 22s wouldnt even fill up the huge wheel gaps.

whats the web address for your wheels? can you get any design to fit from them? im wanting some bigger rims just for the visual factor. i really wish we could get the srt8s to fit :(

how would you say the 20s changed the handling characteristics of the soft rt ride? till we get some suspension mods, maybe this is the only solution :(

[desmo_dude]

whats the web address for your wheels? can you get any design to fit from them?

The TSW site shows quite a few high offset wheels, but not the bolt spacing.
http://www.tsw.com/new/productline_passenger.php
If you try to use their application guide it'll just crash. If it had worked for me, it would have saved me a lot of time/headache. Oh well, live and learn. Some of their skinny spoke wheels I wouldn't trust with the Magnum's weight no matter what they're rated at. The wrong pothole will do 'em in.



how would you say the 20s changed the handling characteristics of the soft rt ride? till we get some suspension mods, maybe this is the only solution :(
It's a LOT sportier. Not only did I add close to 3" of lateral wheelbase (side-to-side distance between parallel tires), but went from those spongy Conti's to a more serious performance tire. So it's made all the difference. I don't know that I really need to go any stiffer. My wife's '04 Maxima has a much stiffer suspension, handles nicely, but I can't say it handles better than the Magnum, yet. Time will tell...

[Himmy]

Excellent choice for wheels Desmo Dude. Those appear to be a near perfect choice for AWD's and their original. Enjoy them and all the compliments you will definitely receive on an almost daily basis.

[hemiwagn]

Great look'n wheels and rubber. Sweating the details was worth it!

[hops23]

Dude! That's the same set up I've thinking off! I too have been looking for 20's in silver or the machined finish. I really don't want to go chrome but our choices for the AWD are few. I already got a hookup with the tires, same Nittos as yours, from a kid who works for me. He's got a part time job with a local wheel shop and can get them at cost. I've just been waiting to find the wheels. I really like the look of the TSW's.

[Res18cuE]

Great looking setup! I have photo shopped about five different wheels into my AWD and was between the Silver TSWs & Gray Coys. Your photos and the pattern difference just made up my mind! One question though, do you or anybody else have any info/experience with the Nittos in snow? I would prefer not to have a summer winter set but will if I have too!

[desmo_dude]

Dude! That's the same set up I've thinking off! I too have been looking for 20's in silver or the machined finish. I really don't want to go chrome but our choices for the AWD are few. I already got a hookup with the tires, same Nittos as yours, from a kid who works for me. He's got a part time job with a local wheel shop and can get them at cost. I've just been waiting to find the wheels. I really like the look of the TSW's.
Great minds think alike!

[chrome rant]I know what you mean about chrome. Jay-Z said it best, "No chrome on the wheels, I'm a grownup for real!" Being a sportbike enthusiast, I have a natural aversion to it that crosses over into everything else, just by the association of chrome to Harley Davidson and their all bark, no bite line of products... Nothing like a $30k chromed out, air-cooled behemoth with the power/weight ratio of a car to wake up your entire neighborhood at 5 a.m. :roll: They just boggle the mind. Sorry, I really have nothing against anyone who likes chrome, it's just not for me. [/end of chrome rant] :smile:

[desmo_dude]

One question though, do you or anybody else have any info/experience with the Nittos in snow? I would prefer not to have a summer winter set but will if I have too!
Sorry, I don't. It hasn't even rained much at all since I bought the car about a month ago (Bay Area, Cali). It's the same question I had in my original post... Would it be crazy to take these Nittos to the snow? No feedback from anyone yet.... I'm taking her up to Tahoe after Xmas, so we'll see what happens.

[ACE]

Very nice to look. If you rid the roof rak cross peices will look even beter.

[desmo_dude]

I know, I keep forgetting to take them off!

[moparman53]

Them are sum real nice wheels, but what's with the fake bolts between the spokes?

[BurntOrange]

The pics look great. Is that stock height????

[desmo_dude]

Them are sum real nice wheels, but what's with the fake bolts between the spokes?
Yeah, yeah.... that's just getting nitpicky though... the important thing is I got rid of the Brokeback Mountain gayness of the stock wheels. :smile:



Is that stock height????
Yup, stock height. It's AWD. No way I'd cripple this car's versatility by lowering it.

[RandomAccess]

Great looking setup! I have photo shopped about five different wheels into my AWD and was between the Silver TSWs & Gray Coys. Your photos and the pattern difference just made up my mind! One question though, do you or anybody else have any info/experience with the Nittos in snow? I would prefer not to have a summer winter set but will if I have too!

Coys will fit the AWD?

[67alecto]

Very nice - looks great against the color.

[Res18cuE]

Coys will fit the AWD?

When I was looking at them, someone here had just put them on. The problem was that the bolt pattern is slightly off but could work & they need hub rings. I don't remember the back spacing.

[tedbiele]

Let me say, as the first guy to do the AWD wheelswap, those are some bitchin' wheels brother! Very Nice!!
I am wanting the lowering springs though - personally, I don't see snow here in Houston and the AWD goes through the rain like a hot knife to butter. I do noit know though.... am going to trade in next year for the SRT. Lowering might lower the value of the car?
Nice wheels desmo!

[F1fan]

I've been trying to find a set of wheels that have the outer ring chromed and the rest of the wheel is black. We've all seen these for the RWD's. Anyone got a lead on these for the AWD's?

thx,
John

[createdbyone]

I like them. They look like they were modeled after the factory RT wheels hehe


of course you like them, there not foose nitrous :roll:

[createdbyone]

am going to trade in next year for the SRT. Lowering might lower the value of the car?
Nice wheels desmo!

keep your old springs, and then lowering is VERY reversible

[tedbiele]

Not one to threadjack - but good idea.