Nakayama Zen-SPi 18" rims on '05 Vibe GT

[MaxxVibe]

Hello List, Im new to the list and recently found you after buying my 05 Vibe GT on Thursday night. Im in the midst of making a decision on putting aftermarket rims and tires on it and choosing the rims is where im at now. Im thinking hard about the Nakayama Zen-Spi 18" rims and debating on going 8" or 8.5" on front and 9" or 9.5" on back. Will this be an issue or present me problems?? Any likes or disslikes you can give on Nakayama brand wheels?? anybody have a vibe with Zen-Spi rims on it? All opinions and information is much appreicated. I wanna make a wise choice in wheels for the money. thanks in advance. John

[Kamikaze]

I have 8.5" w/ 235/40/18's no problem with rubbing...not sure about 9" on the rear...

[02csnow]

Don't have an answer to your question b/c I still have the stocks, but Welcome to Genvibe.

[kevera]

If you're going staggered,don't buy directional tires.

[lovemyraffe]

Wish I could help with your question. Sorry. But, WELCOME!!!

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by MaxxVibe »Hello List, Im new to the list and recently found you after buying my 05 Vibe GT on Thursday night. Im in the midst of making a decision on putting aftermarket rims and tires on it and choosing the rims is where im at now. Im thinking hard about the Nakayama Zen-Spi 18" rims and debating on going 8" or 8.5" on front and 9" or 9.5" on back. Will this be an issue or present me problems?? Any likes or disslikes you can give on Nakayama brand wheels?? anybody have a vibe with Zen-Spi rims on it? All opinions and information is much appreicated. I wanna make a wise choice in wheels for the money. thanks in advance. JohnWelcome John...!! and you joined more than a "list" but an actual "forum" with real members that talk back to you and everything.... lol....You are speaking of this wheel correct? A Kevera said, if you stagger sized you can't rotate if you get directional tires, and there REALLY is NO advantage to staggering sizes on this car OR going really wide, unless it's all for looks.. I know a 8-9" wide wheel will fill things out a bit, but it will also caost you a lot more for tires and the ends really don't justify the means on this mini-SUC... What are your thoughts on tires??

[MaxxVibe]

Well that rim also is amongst my choices too. i really like the wide lip look of the offset on these rims, which is also on the Nakayama Zen-Spi which theres a set of (4) on ebay right now.......ebay number320104742586 and they have a +35 offset on them. I hadnt thought about the stagger and yes your right..........i dont want to not beable to rotate my tires due to that issue......so with that being said, if i were to go 8.5" all around, ill beable to rotate but my next question would be>>>>>does upping the width increase the price of tires dramatically or reasonably?? As for tire brand.........i really havent got that far yet. This is a daily driver and i want good tires with good wearability and mileage so, im not looking to go el-cheapo route, but i dont want el-break-the-bank-o either. LOL LOL!! Cheers also to all Vibe owners...........i love this car. I actually just started looking a few weeks ago for a nice one and my local pontiac dealer that i put a request in for a used one with all the goodies and low mileage- took one in on trade last weekend, so i went and looked at it and bought it. Its a '05 GT--- cloth two tone interior, 6 speed manual, 6 disc changer, Platinum silver, all ground effects-fascias and both spoilers, AC and the works!!! with 20,000 miles on it. Now im just looking to hook it up with some nice roundies and treads. When i get a chance and the weather breaks ill send some pics. Vibe=

[Kamikaze]

if you go with a 8.5" you can get 225 or 235 40 18's... they should be about the correct size for speedo and everything...I was looking at Kuhmo's for about $100 each... the treadwear was pretty high on them too. so they weren't like my Dunlop FM901's that lasted about 10k miles. Obvioulsy they won't be as sticky, but I think a fair compromise... I haven't posted yet with a few different tires I was thinking of going with, so not sure of everyone elsels opinions, but you know what they say about opinions... they're like a-holes, everyone has one....

[Sublimewind]

Well, if i were you I'd look at Kumho as well for tires.... The SPT particularly... It might not be a "high miler" or anything but you can't beat them for the price....Pair them with some snow tires on the stock wheels and you have a summer/winter combo that will extend the life of both sets...

[MaxxVibe]

Well ive been reviewing pics and tossing ideas, reviewing pics and tossing ideas and reviewing pics...............you get the idea !!!! LOL. and what im pretty much leaning heavily towards for wheels and tires............is....................drum roll please---------------------HP Racing EVO rims Hyper Light 18X8 with machined lip and 38 offset with either Nexen 3000 or 5000 tires, General Exclaims or Kumho AST. not sure yet on tires but im pretty sure on the rims. I think these are totally bad (removed) rims and the pics ive seen of them on cars are really HOTT!!!

[Sublimewind]

I like the choise of rims...!!! The tires, not so much, out of what you listed the Kumhos are the only thing I would look at.... The Generals, while they get good reviews, they suck as a performance tire, from MANY "real world" reviews i've read on places other than the tire sites... The tire sites (tire rack, discount tire direct) reviews ARE biased and many of the reviews are by people that really don't know tires that well (not all of them but certinly most of them) The Nexen tires, well, I have no expierence with them, so that is a crap shoot... Something to look at for price point would be Federal tires 595RS which can be had here rather cheap... http://www.citytireonline.com/Federal595RS.htmIt's winter, you got time, don't rush it... Much depends on how far into performance you want to get to...