Drift R wheels

[Cosmoso4]

What's the deal here? I've e mailed almost anybody who lists the Drift R wheels. Nobody has them or can get them in 17x8. Don't want to go to 18" wheels. I might just give up and go with Ronal R28 or R38. Anybody use those yet? I think the R28 or R38 with some contrasting paint would really set the car off from everyone else.

[Solobarictahoe]

why do you wanna stay with a 17inch wheel?

[Cosmoso4]

When I bought it, it had MC2 wheels on it. Didn't like the lack of side wall look. If I go back to 18", I have to explain why to wife and that ain't no easy job. I'm sure that if I got 18" again that something in the house would get remodeled. I can pass off the 17" wheels. Besides, 17" tires I got, I don't have 18" tires.

[sccaGTO]

From what I can tell, ROH doesn't build the Drift R in 17" for the GTO bolt pattern (not for sure-I haven't asked). Considering how popular the design has been, I don't see why anyone would "hold out" on selling 17" versions if they are being built. I hate to be the one to break that news to you. I'd have a set of 18" already if I could find a tire other than Toyos that wouldn't rub in the rear (18"x9" only). I presume you have talked with Group A (http://www.groupawheels.com) since they are the distributor most on this board have bought from.

[Cosmoso4]

I've e mailed Group A about the wheels. Asked about 17x8 in black. Not available in the US. So I asked about the silver finish in 17x8, never got a reply. I think the interest is in using the 18" wheels so most retailers are stocking 18's. I just didn't care for the lack of side wall look. Car seems to ride and handle better with the factory wheels and tires than it did with the MC2 wheels and Toyos.

[Porthos]

I had a staggered set (8F/9R) of DriftR wheels in black ice on my 04 Phantom Black and they were beautiful. These wheels and the Toyo TS-1's significantly improved handling - both tracking and cornering. Now I have an 05 in Phantom Black and I will take delivery of the same configuration but with the 3 piece Strada ROH's in black ice in a week. I will post pics after tehy arrive.

[Porthos]

I forgot my main point ... these were 18" wheels and the car looked better for it. Also, the ride was only marginally degraded!

[sccaGTO]

Cosmos, ride quality can still be good with careful tire selection. One of the ways I test tires is to go to a tire store. Find one that has the same aspect ratio (middle #). Physically flex the sidewalls with your hands. Some flex more than others. Those will ride better than ones with stiff sidewalls (duh). Michelin Pilot Sport (not PS2), BFGoodrich G-Force Sport, Bridgestone Potenza RE750, are all tires I've flexed & liked as far as ride quality. Have not riden in a car with the BFGs, but I have the other 2. All of these tires can be had in P245/40R18 if you decide to get 18"x8" on all 4 corners. Just the experience I've had with tires that we sell at the store I work at.