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Quality of Rota Wheels?

smokin.legacy

By smokin.legacy
in Wheels/Tires

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Underdog Grand Master

Underdog

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http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1703/img2964cropedbalancedcs7.jpg

 

1.5 years on these Tarmac II's in Full-Royal Steel Gray, no problems.

 

The paint on the inside faces has held up well (I clay and wax them when I take them off for the winter) and the polished face pulls together the chrome side rockers, front end, and tail lights.

 

At $150/wheel, I won't be too heartbroken if one of them eventually bends, but with everything Massachusetts roads have thrown at them, they've held up admirably.

The Crimson Dynamo

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HansGT Grand Master

HansGT

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+1....for the price they can't be beat.

 

I've noticed a few minor flaws in my torques, but you have to look really close. It's not the finish, but the metal itself. Like not a super smooth edge or something like that. Again, you have to be REAL close to tell.

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SubLGTaru Mentor

SubLGTaru

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+1....for the price they can't be beat.

 

I've noticed a few minor flaws in my torques, but you have to look really close. It's not the finish, but the metal itself. Like not a super smooth edge or something like that. Again, you have to be REAL close to tell.

 

:whore: I have noticed the same thing as well in my SDR's. You have to look REAL close though, like you said. I have noticed however, a few spots on my wheels that probably have had rocks hit them..where some paint is chipped off....just got the wheels in the middle of July.

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AKLGT Grand Master

AKLGT

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I just ordered a set of G Forces for the STI. :D As long as they look pretty good and hold up under drag racing conditions and 2 more autox events, I'm fine.
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah!!!
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JoeFromPA Grand Master

JoeFromPA

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Gentleman and ladies - If you have an 18" wheel with 225/40 tires, that means you have less than 2" of rubber between your 3500 pound vehicle and terra firma.

 

Even the stock 18" wheels won't hold up well to that over 75-100k miles (they'll get little bends that will most likely balance out fairly well).

 

Rotas are pretty solidly made wheels. They hold up well, and their finishes are usually not quite as high quality as some other manufacturers. They have to keep their costs down somewhere.

 

But the point is, they hold up. Most of the time, if you hit something hard enough to bend the rim (or blow the tire, or bubble the tire) it's going to be bad for the rim whether it's a solidly made cast wheel or a good quality forged wheel.

 

And if you are that worried about it, get some tires in sizes like 225/45 or even 235/40 for the extra sidewall height. Inflate them on the higher end (i.e. 36-40 PSI) to help them resist bending. Give your wheel every chance it can get.

 

But if you just want the foolish looks of an 18" or 19" wheel with the lowest possible sidewall. Pay the piper one way or another. Either pay on the way in (buying the wheels) or pay on the way out (replacing the wheels).

 

Joe

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AKLGT Grand Master

AKLGT

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^ what about tarmac III? i think they are about the lightest 18" rota. Maybe a bit better for racing.

Not all Rota's come in 5x114.3. Plus I really want that concave look :D They are Advan RS take offs. Getting black with red lip to match the rest of the car...

Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah!!!
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JoeFromPA Grand Master

JoeFromPA

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225 * .4 = 90mm

 

90mm * (1in/25.4mm) = 3.54"

 

3.54" > 2"

 

Yes I am nitpicking your approximation even though I agree with you.

 

 

Underdog...that's 3.54" on both the top and bottom (i.e. total sidewall height from the part touching the ground to the part near the fender).

 

So divide that in half to get the amount of rubber, in height, between the wheel and the ground.

 

Thanks for nitpicking though.

 

Joe

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Underdog Grand Master

Underdog

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Underdog...that's 3.54" on both the top and bottom (i.e. total sidewall height from the part touching the ground to the part near the fender).

 

So divide that in half to get the amount of rubber, in height, between the wheel and the ground.

 

Thanks for nitpicking though.

 

Joe

 

Actually, that's incorrect. The 3.54" is the sidewall height, which would be doubled and added to the diameter of the wheel to get your unloaded diameter.

 

:)

 

Here's a reference for ya, note the very last paragraph on the page: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire2.htm

The Crimson Dynamo

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AKLGT Grand Master

AKLGT

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actually, I'm wrong. I meant the P1.

 

w/red lip....5x114.3

 

http://www.wheeldude.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=65

but that's +48 offset. I want the concave look: +30

 

http://www.wheeldude.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=90_217_307_308&products_id=548

 

http://www.wheeldude.com/gallery2/v/newwheels/RotaG-Force/18x9RotaG-Force-FlatBlackRedLip/?g2_showId=55951

Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah!!!
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JoeFromPA Grand Master

JoeFromPA

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Actually, that's incorrect. The 3.54" is the sidewall height, which would be doubled and added to the diameter of the wheel to get your unloaded diameter.

 

:)

 

Here's a reference for ya, note the very last paragraph on the page: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire2.htm

 

 

So I read this, pulled out my trusty ruler, looked at how tall 3.54" is, and said "No way in hell are my 215/45/17 tires having that much sidewall. I'm going to prove him wrong."

 

At that point I grabbed that trusty ruler, walked down three flights of steps and about 100 yards out to my car and measured my sidewall at top and bottom (to compensate for where the weight is compressing).

 

My prediction = ~1.8-1.9" at top

Underdog's math = 3.54"

 

What I got = ~2.5" at the top

 

My total tire/wheel height is ~22"

 

Obviously, Honda cheated me out of 2" of rubber and wheel...I'm writing to complain.

 

Anyway, I don't know what's going on in this math class anymore. My point was that there is very little rubber between the wheel and road....I stand by that.

 

And I ain't got no cad-y-lack 3.54" of sidewall to protect my rims :)

 

Joe

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Underdog Grand Master

Underdog

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:lol: Gotta love it when experimentation trumps theory.

 

My numbers were intended solely as an estimate. This just goes to show you how inaccurate the XXX/XX-RXX system is in actually defining a tires geometry.

 

Our conclusions remain harmonious: The Rota's are just as durable as any other wheel 1) stamped by the JWL, and 2) put through the same rigors of aggressive daily driving.

The Crimson Dynamo

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smokin.legacy Contributor

smokin.legacy

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So I read this, pulled out my trusty ruler, looked at how tall 3.54" is, and said "No way in hell are my 215/45/17 tires having that much sidewall. I'm going to prove him wrong."

 

At that point I grabbed that trusty ruler, walked down three flights of steps and about 100 yards out to my car and measured my sidewall at top and bottom (to compensate for where the weight is compressing).

 

My prediction = ~1.8-1.9" at top

Underdog's math = 3.54"

 

What I got = ~2.5" at the top

 

My total tire/wheel height is ~22"

 

Obviously, Honda cheated me out of 2" of rubber and wheel...I'm writing to complain.

 

Anyway, I don't know what's going on in this math class anymore. My point was that there is very little rubber between the wheel and road....I stand by that.

 

And I ain't got no cad-y-lack 3.54" of sidewall to protect my rims :)

 

Joe

 

 

I thought his math was for a 225 40 but i could be wrong....didn't look back. Guess it doesn't really matter much. What also might come in to play is the tread life of your not so new tires. Granted you buy two different manufacturer tires with the same sizes on the side wall and the tires wont be exactly the same size. Tiz the nature of the beast

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HansGT Grand Master

HansGT

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^ +1

 

3.54 was 225/40/18.

 

3.80 for 215/45/17

 

3.98 for 225/45/17 (my set up. doesn't appear to be that much. must be the # prior to mounting or just the fact the rim is overlapping part of the tire you can't see.)

 

You guys suck. :lol:

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