the Kumho transformation (pics)...opinions?

[uiuc240]

Here are pics of my adventures this weekend:

This one is of 240 2NR working like the biatch he truly is ;):

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~edjohnsn/steve.jpg

Here are the new tires I bought, mounted on my old 17x7" cheapie wheels (had them for 3 years...)

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~edjohnsn/tires.jpg

Here is a closeup of the Kumho Ecsta MX...so sexy in 225/45-17

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~edjohnsn/kumho.jpg

I decided to paint the wheels. Two cans of wrinkle black and a can of clear, and this is what you get.

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~edjohnsn/Zbrakes.jpg

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~edjohnsn/rear quarter.jpg

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~edjohnsn/almost flush.jpg

These are supposed to be +40 wheels, but I am beginning to think they're not. And strangely enough, the stamping on the back that should say what the offset is...is blank. And I didn't feel like measuring it. Whatever. I like it. These tires rock the party. I'm in love again.

Eric

[mistert]

that paint made all the difference, your car has a nice 'n clean look to it

i thinkt hey really make your front brakes stand out in that one pic

[WhiteNissanS13]

painting the wheels made it look alot better, your car has the clean but watch the **** out cause i might be fast look.

[boro240]

they look a lot better painted. nice.

[240Driver39]

very nice! the painted rims look excellent on ur ride!

i really like this pic...

http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~edjohnsn/rear%20quarter.jpg

[uiuc240]

I like it too :cool: That's why it is now my signature. I've never had a sig pic before...maybe I'll keep this one for a while.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I like it too. Makes me all giddy every time I walk up to it. I've had those wheels for 3 years now...I was tired of looking at them (and the polished part was all FUBAR). So yeah, it's happy.

Eric

[Dousan_PG]

looking sharp
i like i like
wheels look MUCH better
damn you people and your coupes :( so jealous

[240 2NR]

Actually they look like ass in person;)

No, they really do look good for a $15 mod. I was a bit skeptical of going black, especially without a glossy or metallic finish but they really did turn out good. The spoke pattern actually seems different in black than in silver, like a more expensive wheel (VOLKish).

[uiuc240]

Originally posted by 240 2NR
Actually they look like ass in person;)

No, they really do look good for a $15 mod. I was a bit skeptical of going black, especially without a glossy or metallic finish but they really did turn out good. The spoke pattern actually seems different in black than in silver, like a more expensive wheel (VOLKish).

hehehe...I probably shouldn't tell people what they cost me NEW...

***cough, cough*** $95 each ***cough, cough***

Eric

[Halz]

Whats stopping you from finding out the 'real' wheel offset..? Got a tape measure?

[uiuc240]

Originally posted by Halz
Whats stopping you from finding out the 'real' wheel offset..? Got a tape measure?

Yeah, I'll do it in a few weeks when I take the wheels off again to put my camber plates in. Now if Wayne would just hurry up and ship them........

Eric

[Bbandit]

nice! your coupe looks better and shinier than my 91.. :(
oh well.. i might just go with the flat black primer looks

[boro240]

Originally posted by dousan36
damn you people and your coupes :( so jealous
i know! damnit! i want a coupe sooo badly. :( i always did, but ended up with a fastback. (sorry for getting a lil offtopic, but i just made 300 posts, hehe)

[AKADriver]

Looking great!

Looks too close to the edge for +40. If I had to guess I'd say +35.

[Yoshi]

Here man, I fixed your dents or whatever they were, car looked to nice to leave them in your sig ;)

[uiuc240]

thanks Yoshi! i'll save that and update my sig

Eric

[Bliss]

Hate to sound like a broken record, but those rims really do look good painted. VERY good.

And nice car.

[NiteKids]

Originally posted by AKADriver
Looking great!

Looks too close to the edge for +40. If I had to guess I'd say +35.

hahaha Did you just make that up? 7inch wide wheel 35offset and that big of a diffrence from the 40 offset look? No way! Also most amazing part in my eyes is the decnetly lower offst in 7inch AND 4 lug.


*edit

Acually come to think of it I think it's very possible it is 40 offset. The over size tire gives the apearence of a lower offset and also whee design has a play in this too.

[mrmephistopheles]

Originally posted by 240 2NR
The spoke pattern actually seems different in black than in silver, like a more expensive wheel (VOLKish).

Actually they're knockoffs of Racing Hart Hyper Tuners (semi-oldskool wheel)

[uiuc240]

Interesting! I didn't know that. Thanks for the info mrmeph. All I knew before this was that they were made by Prime wheels :o for MB Motoring (brand sold through Discount Tire). So yeah, they are really nothing special, so I don't feel bad about spray painting them (wouldn't do that do a set of Racing Harts)

Eric

[240Stilo]

They kinda look like my rims. Well.....before you painted them and made'em different.:p

[sykikchimp]

Looks sweet! I know you said the tires where awesome, can you compare to what else you've tried?

I'm still fighting the MX vs. Azenis battle...

[240 2NR]

Originally posted by NiteKids
hahaha Did you just make that up? 7inch wide wheel 35offset and that big of a diffrence from the 40 offset look? No way! Also most amazing part in my eyes is the decnetly lower offst in 7inch AND 4 lug.


*edit

Acually come to think of it I think it's very possible it is 40 offset. The over size tire gives the apearence of a lower offset and also whee design has a play in this too.

I dunno, I'm running a set of 16x7 +40 wheels with 225 section width tires and his definitely seem more flush. I suppose we'll never know.


By the way Eric, I've seen those wheels at discount tire places sold as Motegi's recently too.

[uiuc240]

Originally posted by sykikchimp
Looks sweet! I know you said the tires where awesome, can you compare to what else you've tried?

I'm still fighting the MX vs. Azenis battle...

I hate to say it, but in the MX/Azenis war, I don't have conclusive evidence. I decided to go with the MX just because it's different, and the reviews and tests (GRM, for instance) put it as a better tire. Before this, I had a set of Dunlop SP Sport W-10s, which were never very special. And before that, I had some mismatched Dunlop D40M2s and Goodyear RS-As on the stock steelies. So, I'm going from bad, to good, to great...with very little in between.

Personally, as far as I've pushed the MXs so far, I haven't seen their limits. I haven't locked them up with the Z brakes yet, and I haven't heard them chirp on a corner (even when I thought they should). But I haven't been to a track...that's happening this summer.

Anyway, I'd highly recommend these tires. They are grippy, quiet, and great looking. Well worth $120/tire.

oh, and Steve, thanks for the head's up...it's great to know that my wheels are still being produced for manufacturers that notoriously sell crap. :( :o Oh well.

Eric

[Zemus]

I just painted my AR rims, i will post all my stuff soon, im putting on alot of new stuff to show, you will soon see :).

[sykikchimp]

be careful feeling those tires out... GOOD tires like the MX's won't talk a lot.. maybe a little hum when they are are getting a good work out. But they won't squel like your old tires. They will probably let go pretty quick when they get near the edge of their traction... like grip, Grip, GRIP, GRIIIPPP/..SLIDE (probably never hear more than rubber scrubbing).

I know the azenis hardly make any noise at all except for the loud ass hum at highway speeds. :P

[Foxcolt]

Car looks PIMP!

Have you considered getting a silvia front end?

[s13silady]

sweet car man for a coupe its looking pretty sharp... i have the same exact rims as you except mine are the real racing hart Hypers... :cool: ..i was going to get mine repainted too... gunmetal spokes with a polished silver rim.. i always wanted to know what they looked like painted hehe...
very nice car though...now for you silvia front end!

[uiuc240]

the silvia front end is part of the plan...but not until other stuff is done first. Performance before Pretty.

thanks for the head's up sykik...i'm well aware of the characteristics. :cool:

Eric

[Foxcolt]

Originally posted by uiuc240
the silvia front end is part of the plan...but not until other stuff is done first. Performance before Pretty.

thanks for the head's up sykik...i'm well aware of the characteristics. :cool:

Eric

lemme know when your in the market for one;)

[KiDyNomiTe]

If you plan on getting that silvia conversion soon, sell me those turn signals :D. Where did you get em at?

I swear I posted to this before, and a few other thread, either I am going crazy or my comp is messed up.

But anyways, your car is real nice, are you going to make it to the meet, or are you still at champagne and don't feel like making the ride out here?

[uiuc240]

I got the 180SX Zenki turn signals from some dude in Hawaii...like $80 used. I'm sure you can find them if you look. I'm keeping them for the Silvia conversion...they are the same. :)

As for the meet, I won't be coming up this weekend (I was just up there last weekend). I have to finish up my thesis book by the 9th, and I'm planning to do a lot with it this weekend. And I'll probably be in Europe for the meet Art is scheduling in June. I suck, I know. But after that, I'll be living in Chicago, so you can see my car any time :cool:...we'll race [on the STREET] :eek: j/k

Eric