Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Post by **Dave Patten** » 02 Dec 2011 09:57

Dave,
Hopefully I was of help. One thing I will caution is the Miata shares nothing similar in suspension design to the 510 so what may work on a Miata could likely turn into a nightmare on a 510.

I'm finding it hard to understand why Miatas using such a wide wheel for the tire width are going faster than with a more typical width combo. That is not typical. If they are having gains it may be from other issues that this set-up is overcoming and this particular tire/wheel width combo is compensating for where a more traditional combo worsened the issue.

I had a buddy that raced a Spec Miata. The advised ride height that all the hot guys were using actually put the car on the bump-stops in most loaded suspension conditions. He raised his car's ride height to over an inch higher than what he was told was optimum and kicked everyone's butt. He found that the supposed "hot set-up" was actually slower than what he ended up using, even though his car had more ground clearance than the others.

The fast guys were actually not as fast as they could have been because they were sacrificing proper suspension travel for a lower ride height.

It isn't always the best to follow what others are doing. I would be asking the tire manufacturer what they recommend for wheel width for the tire you want to use and start there, again IMO.

indy510 · Post by **indy510** » 02 Dec 2011 10:32

Byron510 wrote:so if you were going 15X8, then you'd need a 25mm offset,

Dave is right. .. . my 16x8 +12 has almost the same fender clearance as a 16x7 +0 ... but not the same strut tube clearance

.. . add half an inch on either side, for every inch wider the wheel gets

That being said..... There is NO WAY you are ever running a positive offset 15x8 in the front of a 510

280zx struts or 510 struts you need at least a zero offset to clear the struts.... and some guys still need spacers

I personally HATE how my 510 felt with 16x8 front wheels and 215/40 tires.. . Troy said it's too hard on the stock steering
.. .. I tried a 16x7 +0 with 195/40 tires.. . . and it still drives like crap .. . very bumpy ride and "no extra suspension" from bigger tires

15x7 +0 in the front felt better with 195/45 tires ..... . . but 14x7 +0's in the front with 195/45 tires is the best.... (edit: my 13" minilites with baloon tires were the best) ...

Byron510 wrote: or 15X9 would require 50mm offset if running the same height tire.

NEVER going to happen .... . . I can't fit a 16x9 +15 with ridiculously streched tires

the lip of the rim hits the control arms .. .. so I notched them as much as possible... now the lip hits the inside of the wheel well near the shock towers

even my 16x8 +12 wheels hit near the shock towers ... (mostly because of stock camber)

dp61 · Post by **dp61** » 02 Dec 2011 11:01

Thanks, it is all good help!!! I am in no rush to pull the trigger on new wheels and am considering a wide variety of options. Essentially the input I get here from guys who have "been there, done that" will be most important when making the final decision on what to order. I also like the idea of just stepping up to 14's as I've always thought small wheels look best on a 510, but again tire selection suffers greatly and may soon be extinct like the 13" street tires...

As to the 15x8's I am considering they would be a -7 offset, I know that would be close to fitting but certainly "close" in this situation would certainly not be good enough! Unfortunately no one local has them so I would have to bring them in from the U.S. just to test fit, which would be a real hassle with duties, taxes etc if they have to go back!

banzai510(hainz) · Post by **banzai510(hainz)** » 02 Dec 2011 11:24

Here is my front set up
15x7 Rota RBs with 510 struts with a high perch T3 coil over and 7 inch spring. tire are nexen 195 /45 /15

tuck tuck in enough I dont need to roll the fenders.

If I did this again I would buy the +15 offset in the rear. if 280xz struts I would have to use the +15 or Zero for the fronts.

tire brands also will determin the with as not all tires are the same . Esp in the 205 size. It can vary in filling up a wheel well

As said earlier I believe there was a +4 offset on the Rotas.

dp61 · Post by **dp61** » 02 Dec 2011 11:51

For comparison sake this is a picture of my front wheelwell....lots of room for more tire and/or some negative offset. These are 215 50 13 on 0 offset 13x7's.....

indy510 · Post by **indy510** » 02 Dec 2011 13:00

.
Here's a 14x7 +0 front wheel with 195/45 Toyo's (discontinued) ........ . . and 16's in the back

16x8 +12 with 1/2" spacers to clear stock 510 struts 215/40/16 S-drives:... . all the way negative camber plates ... . like I said the steering felt horrible

These are 16x9 -13 Watanabes with 225/45/16 tires ... . stock rear camber and mini-tubs,, .. . only half the tire actually touches the road....

Post by **Byron510** » 02 Dec 2011 22:53

[quote="Dave Patten"]Byron,
If you are trying to keep the face of the wheel in the same position while adding width to the wheel, the offset increases by 1/2 of the wheel width increase. quote]

Dave, you are absolutly right - I must have been half asleep or something,

thanks for putting this strait in the thread.

Byron

dp61 · Post by **dp61** » 02 Dec 2011 23:27

Thanks for all the input, I thought I was weeks or even months away from ordering wheels but then I tripped over some "new in box", "stored since the early 80's" made in Japan wheels, 7 inches wide....might be a little flashy for an orange car but what the heck!

Post by **rnorrish** » 03 Dec 2011 14:20

Craigslist, in Mission.
Glad someone found those for a good purpose!

5NDIME · Post by **5NDIME** » 12 Jan 2012 17:23

On the subject of fitting under fenders, who seems to make the best BRE rep flared fenders?

Post by **Dave Patten** » 12 Jan 2012 18:24

5NDIME,
FutoFab has them.

5NDIME · Post by **5NDIME** » 13 Jan 2012 18:41

It would make sense that the company owner would promote his own product. Everyone else concur with this opinion?

dp61 · Post by **dp61** » 13 Jan 2012 20:20

That's a good looking set of flares and Dave is known for quality products, reasonable prices, and great service to realmers....

5NDIME · Post by **5NDIME** » 14 Jan 2012 08:55

Yeah, no doubt the products look good. Just curious if Futo was THE place to get accurate repro BRE flares.

Post by **Dave Patten** » 15 Jan 2012 20:22

5NDime,
Here are some pictures of the original #46, #68 & #85 BRE Cars for comparison to ours.

Its almost eery how close the shape of the FutoFab rear flare is to the #85 rivet on flare.

FutoFab BRE Style

#46 BRE Car

#46 & #68 BRE Car

#85 BRE Car

FutoFab Rear Flare Installed

The 510 Realm

Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?

Re: Flared 510 converting to 15"...will 15x8 or 15x9 fit?