Looking to buy 18 inch Rims.. Fitment question
 

Hi guys, I'm looking on putting on some 18 inch rims. I really like the Blue Series rims but of course there just 17s. Im looking to go with a flush look just like the blue series. I've narrowed it down to the Ambit RE02 which are very similar but the question is what exact size should I get in 18s so it looks flush like the blue series? Thanks for the help.

You'll see i've posted a question about the RE02 as well today! I do believe that the RE02's only come in one size of 18s (18x9.5 + 38). So, does that answer your question?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25177

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7535

Go check those out guys.

I'm not sure what you mean regarding the flushness on the s.B. The STi wheels are the exact same fitment as stock.

I don't know much about the Ambits, but I do know that the RE02 is a replica of the Enkei RS05RR. It's way cheaper than the Enkei, but I don't know how robust or reliable the Ambits will be.

18x9.5+38 spec wheels will poke just a little up front and require some camber to fit if lowered.

Old photo of our car when we had the same spec Enkei RS05RR wheels.

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/medi...5rroncar-5.jpg

Do you think that these wheels would hit the stock spring perches if on springs (and with the additional camber that you mention)?

Would coilovers be necessary for the extra clearance?

Ray's te57 extremes might be something to consider, they aren't the cheapest thing on the planet but I believe the look fits what you are after. Can't help for size though, unless you want me to take pics of how they look on mine (18x9.5).

Oem replacement springs or lowering springs? think if they are same height you will be good but if lowering springs you will need to adjust camber in order for the to fit (could be wrong) maybe someone else can chime in with more detailed info

The location of the spring perch will remain the same relative to wheel/tire, regardless of how much you lower the car.

-alex

Depends on how you add the camber. If you use bolts, then you would most likely hit the spring perches with the additional camber. Also, I would limit tire size to 255/35/18...

However, if you go with camber plates you would not have that issue.

I've purchased these RS05RRs in that same size, and IIRC you (FT86SF) said you would need coilovers as the OEM springs are too wide to clear these wheels. I even remember seeing a pic showing the clearance between these wheels and Fortune coilovers, though I can't find that post now. Am I just imagining this?

I already had KW coilovers before installing the wheels so I'm not sure about clearance with the oem springs.

It all depends on the tire size. If you asked and wanted a 265 tire, then we would have confirmed that they don't work unless you use coilovers. A smaller tire give will give you the minimum amount of clearance necessary with OEM spring perches.

It's also possible that we stated that because we could not confirm at the the time for you.

Sorry I didn't notice the spring perch part, I was talking general clearance :) but yeah, what you said

Question from someone with no experience in cars, how do you camber? Why bother if you can fit a smaller wheel or don't lower it.

Larger wheels and tires will give you much more traction and grip. Guys looking for the most grip will fit as large of a wheel and tire they can for that advantage.

Camber can be added in the front by using camber bolts or camber plates.
http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/susp...ber-bolts.html
http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/susp...mounts233.html

In the rear for our cars, an adjustable lower control arm is needed for camber adjustment.
http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/susp...l-arms-98.html

Camber also helps in the handling department, as when cornering the contact patch will be larger as the tire leans on its outer edge.

You can get really in depth with this, but this covers the main reasons.

Thank you, I guess these are important factors when you are on a race track.

I just love these posts:

Newbie: "I dunno anything and I dun wanna do any search werk stuffs, can you guys tellz me wat I should do becuz I dunz know anythin"

Forum posters: "here you go, we're nice people with lots of wisdom, here are some good ideas to try, etc etc"

Newbie: *crickets*

Sorry OT min-rant :)

Best thing to do if anyone is looking for a wheel setup is to comb through this forum, find a look that you like, and ask that person what their wheel setup is.

I want to go ahead and BUMP this up for a very specific reason.

I own a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and was looking for wheels a few months ago. I came across Ambit, and like you guys, I saw very very inexpensive wheels in a few appealing designs. Most importantly, what I saw was that Ambit claimed JWL / VIA Certification on their wheels.

As an Engineer with years of experience in both product testing and manufacturing, I thought to myself "How can they sell these for so little, and still afford to QC them like they're claiming?". Short answer...they can't.

I promptly contacted Ambit with a question, requesting proof of their certification for the wheels I had bought (RS18 Flow Formed 15x8, ET+25). No reply after a week. I contacted them again, insisting that they back-up their claim. What followed was a 30 email-long argument, finally ending in Ambit's admission that their wheels ARE NOT in fact JWL / VIA certified.

Jacky, the Ambit rep, went so far out of his way to try and baffle me with BS. He sent me fake testing certs for wheels that they don't even produce; he sent me a blacked-out version of the JWL Certification for their manufacturers testing equipment, in which he went out of his way to hide the actual manufacturers name. Well, I'm crafty, and I found out who makes them. I also applied for access to the VIA Wheel Registration Database, and was granted full access. I can literally find any wheel that is VIA registered. Ambit nor their manufacturer were listed. I contacted the VIA personally, and they also confirmed that these people had not had a single "Ambit" wheels certified.

Finally, last night, I requested that Ambit remove the VIA and JWL marking from their wheels and website, because use of those trademarks on unregistered wheels is not only highly illegal, but dangerous and misleading. The Ambit rep agreed to do so, but begrudgingly so.

Straight-up, these guys are clowns. My advice is to avoid them at all costs, unless you're just looking for a very cheap wheel. I would not in a million years drive hard on these wheels, nor would I track them.

For anyone wondering, I have all of the emails between us, photos of their manufacturing plant, the test report, etc.