what's the deal with mesh wheels?

[fleaf]

While watching the drift session / club4ag drift videos, a lot of drivers are using low profile tires. Now I understand the reason why a low aspect ratio tire will consitute to better handling and track performance, but what I don't understand is why people use mesh wheels with a 205/65/15 tire. I'm not "dawgin'" (:p ) peeps with mesh wheels, because many people own them, myself included.

The main reason I kept my mesh wheels on the car was simply because it had a classic look with a hint of "drift" (even though I can't "drift"...why yes, call me a poser). But I've never actually seen low profile tires on a mesh wheel. Granted that they will look a little cheesy, but wouldn't you sacrifice looks for performance?

We all know that tires are everything when it comes to all types of racing. It is the only thing that keeps your car in contact with the ground. A bigger aspect ratio tire will have a softer firewalls; while low profile tires have stiffer and firmer firewalls that will allow it to withstand the lateral forces while turning. My question to you is why people are using mesh wheels (with larger tires) besides the looks aspect of it? Wouldn't it be considered "rice" in this case?

[96SEChick]

my question kinda goes along with your topic. What is the deal about mesh wheels? Why does everybody drool over them? What's the point in putting different rims on the front and back?

[ca18guy]

While were asking questions on mesh wheels :p
Can someone tell what model of BBS rims are on my car and what would the retail be on them if I sold them? I'm probably gonna keep them cause they grew on me :D



http://www.zilvia.net/photo/data/504/87MyCar01.jpg

[Fastback180]

Everyone likes mesh rims because you can steal them off of old Firebirds. :cool:

[Bbandit]

Originally posted by ca18guy
While were asking questions on mesh wheels :p
Can someone tell what model of BBS rims are on my car and what would the retail be on them if I sold them? I'm probably gonna keep them cause they grew on me :D



http://www.zilvia.net/photo/data/504/87MyCar01.jpg

ugh that mesh wheel is ugly man

sell them to me! :p

[RacerBoi]

Originally posted by Fastback180
Everyone likes mesh rims because you can steal them off of old Firebirds. :cool:
And find out they wont fit:(

[Fastback180]

Whatever, I was lookin at my cousin's girlfriends "RED B1RD" a few weeks ago.

Kent Island?? What, are you gonna swap an SR into your crab boat? You're thinking about the wrong kind of "drifting" guy.
Just foolin you :p

[KiDyNomiTe]

For some I think it is just having a different look. Right now the big thing, is big 19 inch + rims, with an open design (5 spokes manly) and show off your colored brakes and such. But you know how "anti-rice" people are, they look for things that "ricers" don't want, so smaller (but functional) wheels fit the bill.

For poor people (like me) its easier to get some out of a junkyard, than going out and buying new rims.

For the offset whore - a lot of wheels over this side have FF offsets, and a lot of mesh wheels came on RWD cars, and were generally designed for FR cars, so they work better for our cars.

I am sure there are other reasons, but mesh wheels also look very nice IMO.

[RacerBoi]

Originally posted by Fastback180
Whatever, I was lookin at my cousin's girlfriends "RED B1RD" a few weeks ago.

Kent Island?? What, are you gonna swap an SR into your crab boat? You're thinking about the wrong kind of "drifting" guy.
Just foolin you :p
The yamaha does just fine on my carb boat thank you.
I think the bolt pattern is different, 5x120 iirc

[russian]

i dont know maybe its me but i dont like mesh wheels, to me it looks ghetto :)

[Got Sileighty?]

i like this thread. i used to hate mesh wheels but they kinda grow on u. so now theyre not bad anymore. but i still wouldnt choose them over some really "nice" wheels (e.g., 5zigen typhoons). the best thing about mesh wheels imho is their price. u can get em by the boat load in junkyards if u look hard enough and if u have the right tools (stupid wheel locks :mad: ). anyway, its all about what floats your boat.

[russian]

yea typhoons are REAL nice... although that 250$ tag a wheel kinda bitting my butt:) but hey, ADR is cheap! :)

[RBS14]

why are there so many mesh wheels in junk yards? I havn't seen any in the places i go but i havn't looked either. If there are a bunch, i'll have to pick some up i guess.

[andrave]

mesh rims: cheap, look good on silvias and stuff...
taller sidewalls: cheaper to replace...
thats my guess.
for lowered cars that drift, a smaller tire would be better, for greater clearance, and the cheaper the tires the better since you burn through em so quick.

NOTE: this is me thinking out loud.

[nrcooled]

I fell in love w/ the meshies about a year ago and finally sourced some Volk Racing Mesh. Can't wait till they get to my door and get them on the ride. I like the "old skool" look on s13 it gives me the warm and fuzzies.

Also it is a depature from the same humdrum 17" bling bling rims that are so prevailant in my area

Also the stupid theiving ricers (that stole my gauges) most likely won't want 16" ol skool meshies

[DoriftoSlut]

Wow. Has no one heard about keeping the same wheel+tire diameter? That is the reason for all types of aspect ratios. If you go wider, you lower the aspect ratio so that the sidewalls are the same height as stock (assuming stock sized rims) and you wonte throw off ground clearance, speedo readings, etc.. Naturally as you go up in wheel size, the sidewall height will go down to preserve the SAME (or very close) overall diameter of the wheel+tire. And yes, 205/60/15 is much cheaper than 225/45/17 both of which have the same overall tire diameter adn will not throw off the speedo. To find out tire diameter you can use the formula:
((tire width x aspect ratio) x 2) + (rim diameter X 25.4) = Overall diameter.

Mesh wheels? the look. And *most have proper offsets that either perform well or look good on our cars. Also, most were made around the era of our cars (SSR's are still being produced, thoguh). Therefore, the styling coincides somewhat, etc.. etc... (they old skool babay).

Different rims front to back? Most people cannot find 6 or 8 of the same wheel (or afford that) so the spare tires are mounted on whatever they can get a hold of. If I could find someone selling 2 R33 GTR rims (wink wink) I would probably buy them so avoid this. Plus, it would give me 2 rims as replacement if I messed up any of mine on teh road or track. But since R33 GTR rims are fackin expensive here in the US and most people wont sell just 2, I think i will get the FN01R-C (<$250 each) in 17x9 +30 or +20 or +15 (i forget what offsets they do indeed come in. I remember that they are good choices though). Also, some people may use a full set of 4 different wheels for the street vs. track, and on the track they designate 1 set to be rears and one to be fronts (mostly people have 17s in front and 16s in rear or soemthing liek that. Bigger in front will give you more control/better brake clearance/venting, etc, and smaller in rear (sometimes) will mean lower weight, cheaper tires (for drift... burn through sets of tires) etc... So it is all dependant upon the individual, their skill, and their preference etc...

(that was MOSTLY talking about drifting, since that is the "crowd" that runs these type of wheels/looks).