New Rims for Taza's Forester

If you can ~ stick to Subi alloys, they are usually half the weight of cheap aftermarket ones, something like 10lb of extra un-sprung weight is like 40 lb of sprung weight so it makes a huge difference when you multiply it by four.
 
Not to mention they are engineered in Japan by a huge reputable company rather than stamped out in china by the shed with the lowest tender. For posers they are fine but cheap wheels won't usually take much abuse.
 
taza said:
Oh and thanks Mr T for your work, they came out great and gave me a good idea of what it would look like. I might hit you up again for doing a few more sometime if you don't mind..?
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Any time mate :iconwink:

stilson said:
Not to mention they are engineered in Japan by a huge reputable company rather than stamped out in china by the shed with the lowest tender. For posers they are fine but cheap wheels won't usually take much abuse.
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Good point :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Taza lots of good points to keep in mind noted above.

Also keep in mind some basic physics, bigger and or heavier tyres increases the rotational kinetic energy stored in the spinning wheel - thus sucking away power from forward motion, consuming more fuel, slowing acceleration, increasing breaking demand and heat generation.

Lighter the better for performance and economy, as others have noted.

The 15 inch rims will definitely give you better choice on tyre variants.

I liked the alloys on your machine definitely make it look sweet as
 
d_generate said:
These are actually MY00 WRX rims and the lightest ever used on any large production
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Yes they are!

taza said:
The stock steelies are just abit plain and boring to me, especially now they are rusting and the paint job looks like glued Milo on them :lol: It seriously does except grey, not even silver :rolleyessarcastic: :(
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I wouldn't worry about it - you don't want to jazz up your pride and joy to the point that it's attracting attention from those that steal, pull a part and sell your ride in pieces... Plus there's nothing wrong with the steelies - much easier to repair in the bush - you can hammer them back into shape in extreme cases without them cracking like alloys do/can.


taza said:
Thanks D-Gen but they don't really look that offroady...
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My thoughts on these rims you're looking at from the WRX - Venom had a set on his H6, that was until we went out one weekend and filled his rims with mud - after this he experienced huge wheel balance issues even after scraping out all the mud possible.
He then moved on to the outback rim which doesn't allow the mud in as easily as these rims did.
Personally they're a performance rim, not an offroading rim. While they might look good once you're in the real boggy/sticky stuff you might find you'll have issues with tyre balance etc.
taza said:
I am slightly concerned though about the weight of both the steel rims and the light truck BFG's affecting performance and economy in a big way. Anyone had any experience with this?
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You want to try and pick up a scorpion rim and tyre - VERY HEAVY!!! Yet I don't notice a massive change in performance or economy.

taza said:
Just don't want to make the little 2.0l gutless again becuase as it is now it goes great and has heaps of power for my needs.
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It won't. I think you're stressing about this too much. Basically don't get lead wheels at each corner and you'll be fine. I doubt you'll notice the change unless you go up a tyre size or two.

If you go for these rims and they don't work out for you I'm sure there's someone out there that would be keen on them for their project, and there's a thousand other factory subi rims to be had out there - at least your options aren't as expensive as the scorpion rims! But then again these really are the only choice for the L series :twisted:

Cheers

Bennie
 
Yep I think I'll stay with the steelies and 15's for now. I can think of better mods to spend money on, might just give them a respray when I have the time as they are looking a little worse for ware.

Going to stick with Geolander AT-S tyres again too, although I'd like to go BFG's I don't want to loose all the performance from my little 2.0l. lol :lol: I guess 50,000km from them is pretty good :iconwink:


Next project is rear bar with tyre carrier and possible rear mounted winch... :lildevil:
 
taza said:
Yep I think I'll stay with the steelies and 15's for now. I can think of better mods to spend money on, might just give them a respray when I have the time as they are looking a little worse for ware.

Going to stick with Geolander AT-S tyres again too, although I'd like to go BFG's I don't want to loose all the performance from my little 2.0l. lol :lol: I guess 50,000km from them is pretty good :iconwink:


Next project is rear bar with tyre carrier and possible rear mounted winch... :lildevil:
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havent got a price on the general grabbers? or even the bridgestone AT's?
 
The wrx rims i had on mine are also the lightest factory made 16" rim subaru has ever made. Thinking of putting them back on to reduce unsprung weight, counter acting somewhat the extra weight in the larger tyres. I think that mud issue was really a one off on a totally f-in ridiculous very muddy track in the Otways.

Something else to consider is that cast after market alloy wheels will shattered with a decent imact. They don't bend or have any give at all. Forged alloys on the other hand have some give and can be repaired.
 
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Anyone know what model/year/spec Subie these rims are off? I reckon they look great on the SF, might try and find a set in WA.. I think they are 15", anyone know for sure?
I thought they might of been off a late 1990's RX Impreza but the rims on the RX are only 6 spoke while these are 7 spoke.

0466gm520.jpg
 
Well it's taken me almost 12 months to get around to this but I found some nice light Impreza 15" rims in immaculate condition for $100 on Gumtree(set of 4).
Fitted them with my current 225/70R15 Dunlop Grandtrek AT3's. Wow do they look good! I found a massive difference in performance and braking going to lighter alloys over the stock heavy steel rims. General pulling power in the high gears is better even with the crapped out engine.
At the same time I turned the tyres inside out as the outer edges were wearing quite bad(20,000km on the tyres).

Before
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After
201305031743121.jpg
 
The new wheels look great taza :biggrin:

They really suit your Forry :raz:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Gidday Taz

You will like the fact that the alloys don't have the mud trap that the steelies have.

Mine shed the mud like it was poison. The steelies hang onto it like dog doo on your boot; then throw them way out of balance until you can wash it off. I'm sure you know that all too well!

Look good too :ebiggrin: :cool:.
 
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