Wheel Directory: Varrstoen ES221 18x8.5 +45
 

Hello ft86club I've had my Varrstoen ES221 18x8.5 et45 wheels and Bridgestone re760 tires on the car now for just over 4000 miles now. I'll be giving my impressions and review of the installation along with some pictures of the wheels. I need some time to compile the images and final thoughts so I'll update this thread when I can. Stay posted.

thanks guys!

EDIT: Car is finally lowered 1 inch on all 4 corners on ST coilovers. Pictures here:

Dang you could have went with the 18x9.5 +34. If you are an aggressive fitment type of guy...
Also, review of the installation? lololol

No thanks on the 9.5. Would have added another 150 for tires and however much more for rolling fenders. Also. Since I've been on stock struts and springs 9.5 doesn't sound like it would have worked without rubbing. 8.5 is plenty wide and makes too much road noise as it is. Going wider would only increase that. I'm not getting FI so I don't need super wide tires. It will still look good with 8.5 when I lower it and I'll throw on some spacers if I need them to get the fitment I'm looking for. But thanks for the advice:
As for install review, it will more or less be a review of Americas tire and the process. To getting them on the car. Just more content for the forums.

Don't be so quick to judge. I haven't really even written anything yet.


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That's fine. I said if you were going for aggressive fitment. I am running 235/40s on 9.5 and they were around 100 each for tires. And I rolled my fenders myself. As for tire noise, I don't think you would experience much more noise for bumping up one tire size. Width is only one variable in terms of tire noise. You would likely rub if you were on stock suspension, I just assumed you were lowered because my brain automatically thinks when I get wheels I lower my car at the same time. So my bad on that.

You are not wrong on the lowering part. I am currently on stock suspension, however I have ST coilovers sitting on my bed. They will go on the car as soon as I have a chance to. I'm in no hurry to start scraping everywhere. I have 245/35 tires on 8.5 and I unfortunately couldn't bring myself to buy the cheapest tire I could lol. Nexens come to mind:thumbdown:, ewww. I went with a size that I knew would work with stock suspension as I was unsure I was even going to lower my car in the first place, and got the best tire that I could afford. I also am not a fan of stretching a tire as you have done. If you had bought a proper size tire for the size wheel you bought, it would have been quite a bit more money. I have a wider tire than you on a smaller wheel. I think you have it assbackwards. As for lowering my car and getting wheels and tires at the same time, not many people can afford to buy all of their upgrades at the same time. I've been spreading out my upgrades ever since I bought the car as I dont have a huge income right now. I get things as I can afford them. It's something I knew would take a while from the start. And while that may limit my options slightly because of any fitment issues, I live with it. Anyways, you can check out my build thread for updates. :) :thanks:

lol I'm not trying to start a fight with you. 235/40 on a 9.5 is far from a dangerous amount of stretch. I think it is quite a good balance between form and function. You can easily fit a 215/40 on a 9.5 if you wanted. (not that it would be totally safe) I am not condoning stretching tires. And I am not trying to start an argument. And never did I tell you that you bought the wrong size tires and that you are ass backwards. Don't get your pantys in a knot. This all started because you took helpful advice I was giving IF you wanted aggressive fitment, and you thought I was dissing your setup. Be happy with your average fitting wheels and overly wide tires for stock power. (imo) Once again. 235 is extremely minor stretch on 9.5 compared to what some other people and car groups do. No need to get all high and mighty because when it comes down to it we are both on replica wheels pretending we are on te37s LOL.

No worries man. I'm not trying to argue with you either. Just stating my opinion just as you are. At the end of the day it is what it is and we both got what we could afford. I could never justify buying volks, if they ever got stolen Id go insane. If any wheel got stolen I'd go insane, but im less scared about a 900 dollar set of wheels getting ripped than a 3600 set. We just use our money more wisely than some, thats all:P:happyanim: They look similar enough to volks without being volks, but I dont care that they arent volks in the slightest, plus ill never see a track, so I dont need to spend a fortune for light and strong wheels that wont do me any good on the street to and from work. I got what I thought looked good for the price point. Enjoy yours! I know I'm enjoying mine.

:)

Updated the OP with some pictures from my build thread. thanks

Dont listen to someone who says 235's are fine on a 9.5" wheel. Car looks clean. Thanks for not running ridiculous camber and stretched tires. People could learn from this setup.

Pretty sure his build thread says he's running 225 in the front lol. Whatever makes him happy. I'm not knocking him. I'd just feel like my tires would just slide right off the rim on the freeway or something. As for camber. I like my tires. I want them to last as long as possible. They won't be cambered even after it's lowered.


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I'm still alive! no worries. I am running 225 on the front but my wheels are being sold beginning of april

Which wheels are you going to get if you don't mind me asking?


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xxr 968. Can't afford to drop thousands on wheels so still on the fake wheel bandwagon. Not really an upgrade but I think I am going to like them.
Also...I'm not going to beat this to death. But 235/40 on a 9.5 is "fine". It is not ideal, but it is a very mild stretch. And stretched tires are the most dangerous if you are dumb and don't check tire pressure. There is no doubt that running stretched tires raises the probability of breaking the bead when your tire goes flat... So yes, it is slightly more dangerous...but I am more worried about being struck by lightning. Especially with such a mild stretch. Check out some of the setups on http://tyrestretch.com/
Many of those are extreme and I would never go that far..haha

Varrstoen ES221 18x8.5 et45/Bridgestone re760 Review and Pictures
 

The argument at the beginning was more entertaining than the pictures. Drop that thing!


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Not a bad choice on the wheels. I always recommend replica wheels. Unless it's a race car just buy any wheel you can afford that you hunk looks good.

I will never understand why people stretch their tires. I don't need to remind you how unsafe it can be. And honestly I think it looks terrible. I'm not bagging your setup but it seems to me to be the cheap way out. Running tire sizes 3 or more sizes lower than you should and running ridiculous camber makes it look like you couldn't afford to buy the necessary parts to make it look and handle correctly. 235 on a 9.5 wheel is too small and 225 is the same size as stock lol. Why would you want to keep the Prius width tire?! I was considering 235/35 for my 8.5 wheels at one point and I honestly would never go any smaller than that. Maybe I'm just more about the American muscle sense that wider tires look 10x better, regardless of the power you're running, and performance aside. If you check my build thread I have nothing that gives my car better performance only appearance. Stock power on these cars is more than adequate and that's coming from a guy with a 340 hp evo ix mr so don't tell me I don't know what fast is. Anyone that says this car needs more power is clearly ready for f1 and should be buying a different car. Plain and simple. If you can't afford a better car buy a steering wheel for your pc and play grid 2 or Mario kart.

While I understand there is a huge community that stretches their tires for the "look". I'll never understand why they think it looks good. I think it just looks cheap


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LOL. I thought we were done with this. but here we go again. There is so many things about your opinion that contradict each other but I won't go through them all.

First: 225 is NOT the stock tire size. 215/45/17 is

Second: You cheap out on replica wheels but then say that when people buy a tire size smaller than you (aka about 15-20 bucks a tire cheaper), that it looks like they are cheaping out....hmmm

Third: If you are going to say buy a steering wheel for my PC at least recommend a game that is closer to a simulation not an arcade game.

Fourth: An Evo is not that fast...Not going to go there but I grew up driving cars that my dad and his friends owned. (porsches, audis, aston martins)

Fifth: Tire stretch is not only for looks, used in moderation it can also decrease tire flex. (although you can get the same effect with increasing tire pressure) (still not recommending people to go stretch their 215s onto an 11 inch wide wheel)

Sixth: "If you check my build thread I have nothing that gives my car better performance only appearance."
That my friend, is what some people call a ricer...

Seventh: I am not running ridiculous camber...Now you are just saying things because you think it will provoke people to get on your side because that is a popular opinion on this site. I also agree running ridiculous camber is stupid..So I don't know why this was even mentioned in your response

I know it is just your opinion, but don't attack me because my setup is perfectly safe. If you think it looks cheap, fine...I think your car looks like a 4x4...Or like some person in the ghetto put wheels on the car that look too big just because you didn't lower it at all and are running a taller wheel/tire than stock.

Are we done?

EDIT: Tagged in hopes of a response. @dkx64

Wheel Directory: Varrstoen ES221 18x8.5 +45
 

Whatever man. YOU WIN! Feel good to get that off your chest? Hows it feel to win a pointless argument? I think someone needs a tampon.

What is this high school? Take your drama elsewhere. You need to be more considerate of people on the forums. You come in here giving honest feedback on my wheel choice. I expressed my views on your feedback and think that I'm attacking you. It seems you wish to wage war for no reason. Get a grip on yourself and go bug someone else. This is my thread to inform people about wheel choice and offset. If you have questions, ask them, but dont be a jerk about my decisions or views on the car. I got what I could afford that looked good to me. I could care less what you think of my mods. Get what you want. I dont really care. The end. Good day

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YAY
http://i.imgur.com/rsJX7gF.jpg

Not sure if that gif will work ^

LOL

New to the forum. Relatively new to the tuner type car modding scene(used to be alot more into lowered trucks-late 90's.) This is incredibly off topic and not trying to pick anything.
I love your fitment and flush look. Perfect tire size on your wheels IMO. I too think stretching and retard cambering look RIDICULOUS. Not a big fan of the wheels personally but I like thinner spokes on my wheels, and again just my preference.
BUT. The 86 is slow. Having had an 06 GTO, that was only 5K more than this car, that would absolutley smoke it everywhere but a corner. And I've got several buddies with other 4 bangers that are as quick as this car for not nearly the price. Hell my 2000 Maxima will walk the dog on the 86. To say that this car DOESN'T need more power is insanity. The torqueless wonder has been thrown around more than enough.
Now I know a GTO and even a Maxima are comparing apples to crayons here but the 86 is VASTLY underpowered. There is no thrill in this car WOT. This car, as we all know, shines in curves. Not a straight line drag car at all. Even FI wouldn't make this car THAT much faster in a straight line due to it's weight(too light to hook up.)
Brand new car, suspension, wheels, beefier tires, FI and tune and you're looking at $40K. Line up on a 10 yr old stock Vette that you can pick up for $18K and you'll still get smoked.

Thoroughly not trying to start anything here. But I, and alot of other people probably, whole heartedly disagree with the "stock power is more than adequate" comment. If anything "adequate" is a serious dillusion for the 86's power.

Way too many variables, but I'll say that you haven't been in a properly boosted FRS yet, have you?

The car hooks up just fine. $10k will get you 10s in this car. Anything short of a GTR against a properly built FRS doesn't stand much of a chance, IMO.

Wheel Directory: Varrstoen ES221 18x8.5 +45
 

I had a 2nd hand evo for 27k 2 cars back and without touching anything it would be on par if not better than any 40k frs. Plus you would have 13k left over to actually pay for the gas that you're using now and to mod the crap out of it. Most cars would get smoked by an evo with 5k put into it. I'm not saying this car is powerful. I'm just saying. I didn't buy the car to go fast. With the amount of horrible drivers out there I'm content driving a safe and legal speed anywhere I go. Do be a retard. The only time I ever feel the need to push it is the onramp to the freeway if it's completely clear of cars. I don't need more power. More power equates to less gas mileage and right now. I'd drive like a grandma if it gave me more than 30+. If I ever need power I'll go get another evo. That's all I'm saying here haha. But there are more reasons to buy a car than power.

To bring this back to topic a little bit. Wheel and tire choice aren't going to affect the amount of time it takes to get to and from work. Therefore this car doesn't "need" power, although there might be a "want" for it. Do what you need to do. It's more than adequate for what I use it for. :)

Also. I'd never own a corvette. I have always thought of them as a women's car. I just can't get into them enough to ever own one. Plenty of other cars id own before a corvette.


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I can attest to this comment. I purchased my evo for 24k and put about 2k into it. The thing was fast and sounded even better. I also didn't purchase my brz to go fast. It looks nice and has much of the amenities that my evo did not have.
I must say though... I really miss boost but I don't miss the hassle involved in maintaining a car like that. I would probably rather drive a brand new boosted brz/frs in the low 12's than a used evo


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I never had any problems with my evo so maintaining it wasn't really an issue. It had more storage space than the twins and 4 doors which was nice. But 2 doors look better for sure :) I'm with you. I don't need fast. I'll be low and slow:) hopefully sooner rather than later. I'm just practicing driving slower now before I hit something on the freeway or something, maybe a drive way haha


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I've never been in a boosted anything. LOL. I live a very boring existence with a bunch of broke/non-car guy buddies. I myself have never had the money to turbo anything I've owned. I'd love to go for a ride in one but I'm married so leaving the house for my own pleasure without reprocussions and an act of Marital congress is nearly impossible. Plus I have kids. NO LIFE.
I take that back. When I was 15 I rode in a twin turbo Supra. The owner said it was putting down over 600. Rode in it for about 20 seconds. fastest thing I've ever sat in.

I've got my eye on Ptunings kit. I've only put aftermarket wheels and tires on one ride(93 nissan hardbody) and it was a less than good experience. But I was 17 and naive. Had no clue what I was doing. I want some 18's for this car with none of that stretched /retarded cambered crap. Nearly straight up and down and flush-ish is ideal for me as far as aesthetics go.
So if anybody has suggestions as to which route would be affordable and what numbers(offset, width, tire size, etc.) would meet my criteria I would LOVE to hear em.

Xxr wheels look nice and are affordable!


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I'm married with two kids. I include them with anything I do. My wife is all about my swap... probably because she's going to drive it as well! In any case, having a wife and kids shouldn't prevent you from doing what you want.

So no excuses!

Married with 2 kids for 13 years now.
Takes the wife and kids with-
"We're bored." "It's hot." "I'm tired."
"Can we go home now." "Why are we here." "Honey, we're all ready to go. Now."

Leave the wife and kids at home.-
"I guess l don't care if you go. When will you be home?"
Phone rings. "Where are you?"
"Go ahead, leave me here with the kids all day." "Why?" "What's the point".
So fuck that. Either way is pure misery.



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The married life sounds fun. Lol. Give the kids a gsmeboy and tell them to stfu. And tell your wife that playing with cars is something you enjoy doing. If I have to give up everything I enjoy doing in life I'll never get married. That is unless my girlfriend likes cars and lets me keep having hobbies. Life's too short to let someone tell you that you can't do something.

As for wheels and tires. What's your budget? I paid 1800 for my wheels and tires but there were cheaper options. I wouldn't skimp on tires but you can always get nexens if money is an issue. I myself wouldn't go any cheaper than a toyo 4 proxes. As for wheels sparco assetto gara are about the cheapest wheel you can buy for this thing haha. I think it's 120 a wheel? Maybe less. Check my build thread. I have some wheel prices on there somewhere


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Lol. Marriage sucks. If you enjoy freedom, choice and hobbies then marriage ain't for you. If you're wife doesn't have a problem with you doing stuff that's all about you all the time, then your marriage won't last long. And dont get me wrong. My wife is smokin hot. And seems to want me to be happy, right up until it's time for it to actually happen. Lol.

A for the wheels, 1,800 only sounds fair. I cant imagine getting decent tires for less than a grand and wheels for less than 200. I'll definitely have to check out your build and some of the other pics. The numbers and results as tire/wheel size matter more to me. I don't want tucked, and l don' want mexican stuck out the side either. Flush. Flush is pleasing to the eye imo.


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Wheel Directory: Varrstoen ES221 18x8.5 +45
 

Well look at the pictures. I have 18x8.5 with 45 offset. And it's just a bit sunken in. Depending on the wheels they might have more favorable offsets. But honestly. It looks 100294839 times better than stock right now. I wouldn't change a thing. Well besides lower it. Which is coming in the next month or so. Tires I got were bridgestone potenza re760 245/35/18 bit more expensive than I had hoped though at 900 installed. There are definitely cheaper options out there. Hope that helps. It works with stock suspension. No rubbing at all anywhere


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Wheel Directory: Varrstoen ES221 18x8.5 +45
 

@Mooseknuckle44 assetto gara's are actually 178 a wheel for 18s. But for 225 a wheel I got the varrstoen's, not a huge jump in price and I got what I originally wanted. They were 900 on a free tax weekend or something from Aspec


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Might as well add these here for your viewing pleasure. Car is dropped 1 inch exactly all around

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/u9ene9yg.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/eny5ydy2.jpg