Rota RBR wheels staggered .

richiep

Club Member
Okay - thought they looked more like RKRs in style but wouldn't have expected them to have the negative offset. Spacers explain that though!!

You can get the 15x9 RKRs in ET-15 - not in the UK, typically, but they are available via eBay from the US. That would negate the need for spacers. One could put the 9" ET0 on the front (same outward appearance as 8.5" ET-6, although could foul standard suspension due to higher backspace) and 15x9 ET-15 on rear. I guess that would fill standard-style ZG arches.

The stuff I think about. I'd be a lot better off career-wise and money-wise if I spent this much time thinking about my day job!

Do you have any pics from any other angles of the RKRs fitted?
 

356boy

Forum User
oh my what a stunning car!


I know the view is (including my own) that the 17s look a bit too big, but one other option available to you are the Rota RKRs. These are Rotas' proper take on/copy of the Watanabe design (the RBs, RBRs, RBXs are an approximation and IMO look nowhere near as cool). There is more choice from the US in sizes and offsets for these - Rota in the UK are a bit lame in comparison with only a couple of sizes, albeit ones that suit standard Z arches, 15x8 and 15x9 et0. However, check eBay and you'll see sets with 17x8.5 and 17x9.5 with the required negative offsets to fill out the overfenders. Still think there are missing a trick by having these in 17" not 16" but here's a Z with them fitted:

JCCS-17-copy.jpg
 

richiep

Club Member
for these to be fitted (arches and wheels) does it mean cutting back the original arches.
thanks

Yep.

Well - the original factory Fairlady 240ZGs came with the arches fitted but the arches were not cut behind them. They were however delivered with the standard skinny steel wheels that did not fill the arches. The implication was there that to fit the wider wheels to fill the arches, you would have to cut. Occasionally you see cars with the bigger Watanabes and uncut arches - but they are jacked up suspension-wise for clearance and don't look right IMO.

It's one of those things where you have to be 100% committed to it as once done, that's it. Unless you replace the front wings and fit rear arch repair panels/new rear quarters and inner arches if you go off the idea!

It's been very popular in Japan for decades (where 240ZGs came with the arches fitted or could be purchased as a Sports Option item), but elsewhere, the overfender look has been a lot more recent (internet age) in terms of gaining popularity and was not natively offered. It's value-affecting consequences are also debatable, as is how long-lasting the JDM trend (fad?) will be when faced with rising values and the often associated concern for "originality" that creeps in.

I noticed you asked the question relative to the MZR car - I wouldn't go there personally with arches and that car, and I'm a fan of the overfenders and all Z things JDM. It's verging on butchery. :eek:
 

356boy

Forum User
What wheel size could be fitted for a straight swop to fill the arches more on the MZR car without to much hastle. They are 14" on it
 

richiep

Club Member
15x7 ET0 is probably the easiest, most common size on Zs. 15x8 ET0 works too if not super lowered with careful tyre choice (nothing too fat) to avoid rubbing rear arches (unless you roll the lips). 15x9 can work, but needs adjustable coilovers and tyre stretch, maybe some negative camber depending on ride height to avoid rubbing.

Some people have 16x7 (e.g. Konig Rewind, Rota Grid etc.) which work too. There's lots of variables in terms of tyre choice, ride height, camber, offset, car market (differences between struts in US and UK etc). The main issues are wheel clearance of the standard spring seats on the struts on one side, and potential for standard arch rubbing on the other.

Have a search on the forum - it's been discussed before. Here's a thread about 16x8s from US site HybridZ:

http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/112404-who-is-running-16x8s-with-no-flares/
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
On my 71 Zed with original arches, I run 15x7 Rota RB with 225-50-15 with no rub. I have another set of 16x7 Rota RB with 225-50-16 and they do rub on occasion. 0 offset on both.
 
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