Watanabes

johnymd

Club Member
My Rota's have seen a lot of track, drag, street and 160mph autobahn miles and no issues. Side swiping a kerb when street racing is probably the biggest cause of wheel failure or hitting a pothole with super low profile tyres and I don't take part in this. I love my Rota grid and RKR's. If I could afford gold chains and rolex watches then I'd probably treat myself to a set of proper Watanabe's but I can't so I won't.
 

Robbie J

Club Member
so the mark 2 car is in the Atlantic now, still determined on larger brakes but the wheel and tyre thing is not solved yet. I have a trip to the US in April where I can likely carry one set of brakes back. What size wheels... Minilites do a 16x8 and 16x9 should meet the semi-original look, 6 week delivery £1200. Not seen a decent picture of them on a car?

Yes, I'm using flares which are on order from Japan. To go Rota's sourced in the UK you need to go to 17inch, if so what size 9.5 all round? lots of pictures don't have the wheels sizes or how they handle, help. I don't need a discussion on material or production method I did all that a uni 30 years ago
 
I don’t think you’ll find any with that wheel type in that size.

Regards handling, bigger wheels, more unsprung mass.

If that’s what you want and you’re happy you might have to just be the first to tread the path.
 

Robbie J

Club Member
I don’t think you’ll find any with that wheel type in that size.

Regards handling, bigger wheels, more unsprung mass.

If that’s what you want and you’re happy you might have to just be the first to tread the path.
It does depend on the material, of course of wheel and tyre, you can pick up an F1 wheel in one hand. Minilites are reasonable light likewise planning aluminium based callipers
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
I don't need a discussion on material or production method I did all that a uni 30 years ago

Robbie J said:
It does depend on the material, of course of wheel and tyre...

I've noticed that the tarmac in our local Sainsbury's is partly in shade during the afternoon, so you have to be careful in the esses over the back when making your exit. Especially near the trolley park. I put the shopping on the left side of the boot to aid traction.

Robbie J said:
...you can pick up an F1 wheel in one hand.

13" diameter hampers your caliper choice a little. Difficult to get the six pots under there...



To be serious for a moment, in the real world (ie, mostly driving on UK roads for pleasure at reasonable speeds) how much difference will such things make on a 280Z 2+2? Obviously you don't want a 10kg wheel and 15kg tyre combo, but most of the aftermarket wheels you will be considering are likely to be just a couple of kg different to each other at the most. And if you want Mg, you have to pay Mg prices.

The modern version on the Minilite casting tends to look OK on a rally car, but possibly a little too 'chunky' on a road car (especially with ZG-style overfenders) and a slimmer spoke design tends to make a world of difference to the overall look of the car. The classic Watanabe 8-spoke design in the size range and offset you are likely to choose for such a car is oft repeated because it somehow seems to look 'right' most of the time. They tend to keep their value too.
 
It does depend on the material, of course of wheel and tyre, you can pick up an F1 wheel in one hand. Minilites are reasonable light likewise planning aluminium based callipers

They were 13 inch until very recently. They only changed for 'fashion/road links' all the factories were against it.
 

datsfun

Club Member
Yes, I'm using flares which are on order from Japan. .....

if so what size 9.5 all round?

If you want a strong \ aggressive fitment when using ZG flares, then it would to be 9J minimum with -ve offsets .

With 17" diameter, you don't have the luxury of using meaty sidewall tyres either to fill up the arch gap.:thumbs:
 

datsfun

Club Member
The design team at Atara are busy with 5x114.3PCD which should go into production shortly. I believe these will be available in 17x9 IMG-20190314-WA0019.jpg IMG-20190314-WA0020.jpg


And YES, I have asked them to consider 4x114.3PCD fitments in 16" ( 8J, 9J and 10.5J)
 
The design team at Atara are busy with 5x114.3PCD which should go into production shortly. I believe these will be available in 17x9 View attachment 32603 View attachment 32604


And YES, I have asked them to consider 4x114.3PCD fitments in 16" ( 8J, 9J and 10.5J)

At least they started on 14’’, your wheels are really ace looking in that size.

16’’s seem to be the biggest you can go and still have some profile on the tyre, they look crappy without.
 
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