Need some help with tires/wheels! - Honda CRZ Forum: Honda CR-Z Hybrid Car Forums

david.foster · 12-09-2011, 01:11 PM

Hey everyone, new to this site and forum.

Got my CR-Z back in April, and its about that time to get some new wheels and tires on it. Excited

I am looking at the TSW Silverstones. Link here:
TSW Alloy Wheels | The Silverstone in Silver and Gloss Black| www.TSW.com

I'd definitely get gloss black. My car is silver and I have done nothing to it yet.

My main question is, what is better to do?

My two options are I could get coilovers and lower the car, and just powder coat the stock wheels gloss black,

or

I could get new wheels and tires altogether. I have the 16" stock that came with it, and Im thinking i'll get 17" tires if I get new ones.

What do you guys think is the best to do? I know the first option is probably cheaper, but i'm not TOO worried about price. And I really want those silverstones!!! I have about $1500 I can spend.

Any feedback/comments/help would be awesome thanks

Klasse Act · 12-10-2011, 08:39 AM

Gloss black wheels are hard to take care of and will not look as good over time, think about how hard it is to take care of a black car,imagine wheels getting brake dust on them and getting cleaned with wheel cleaner, using any type of brush, etc. I for one wouldn't want to maintain a black wheel, too much work. Not only the color but that style of wheel, all those spokes, that's enough work by itself, add gloss black to the mix and you've got alot of work for yourself there. I know there's good wheel cleaners out there but they usually just get the main layer of dirt/brake dust off, to get them completely clean you need to scrub them with a brush, kinda like when you go to a touch-free carwash and don't clean your window with the provided squeege and you come out of the wash and you've still got the area around the wiper area still dirty.

Now the wheels you picked are VERY nice, its just gloss black isn't my cup of tea and what I said about them being hard to take care of is just the detailer in me. BTW, this thread will get moved to the tires/wheel forum, just giving you a heads up.

sohcsol · 12-10-2011, 10:13 AM

Id go with the wheels, those are very nice. Ive always had black wheels and black cars as well, but I am meticulous and clean them every weekend. Dont let brake dust build up and it wont be an issue.

With coilovers youre getting into a lot more than just bolting up a set of wheels, and the cars ride and drivability can change. You might be better off getting the wheels, then looking at a set of lowering springs for $200-300 to complete the look.

hoisumguo · 12-10-2011, 11:36 AM

+1 wheels and then lowering springs later.

oh, almost forgot, Congrats and Welcome!

Don't forget to post pix once you decide and get your wheels.

-Hoi

sleighman · 12-10-2011, 12:07 PM

I just put semi gloss black enkei fujin wheels on mine. Look at my build thread. I almost went with tsw nurinburing in 17. The wheels you are looking at look real nice but they may be heavy.

david.foster · 12-10-2011, 01:20 PM

I'm not too worried about weight or cleaning them every week, that's not a problem really.

As far as suspension, I have had a lot of people tell me to get coilovers over springs because they are better for your car over time and give you a really smooth ride.

I'm new to most of this stuff because I've never had a car that I wanted to put aftermarket things into.

Any recommendations as to what springs/coilovers to get would be awesome and if someone can explain the difference as to why coilovers are better for your car?

david.foster · 12-10-2011, 01:37 PM

And also a friend of mine said that wheels made of aluminum can bend/get damaged very easily, for example going over a speed bump too fast. He said it's happened to him before because his wheels were aluminum and it bent the lip. Every wheel I've checked out seems to be aluminum, though..

JCRZ · 12-10-2011, 03:16 PM

Not a fan of the wheels

sorry gotta be honest. I'd say get coilovers first.

sohcsol · 12-10-2011, 04:57 PM

Coilovers have a few advantages, first being that you are replacing the spring and shock, so they will be matched for better handling but usually a stiffer ride. Also the height adjustability is good to have.

Springs alone may wear on your stock shocks more since they are not meant to ride lower than oem height. Springs will be softer to match the oem shocks, usually providing a more comfortable ride but inferior handling compared to coilovers. The difference should only be noticable if you drive hard, though.

Any wheels you find on a car nowadays should be cast or forged aluminum alloy, unless its on steelies with hubcaps. You will not be at risk of bending an aluminum wheel unless you have very skinny tires and drive carelessly, or buy very cheap wheels. This will not be a problem with TSW wheels.

The only other materials used in wheels are much more expensive, lighter materials used for high performance applications, such as magnesium.

lldsandsll · 12-10-2011, 10:29 PM

check the classifieds. people are selling wheel setups and various suspension setups on the cheap in there.

12-10-2011, 08:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Klasse Act Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Woodridge IL, USA Posts: 1,101	Gloss black wheels are hard to take care of and will not look as good over time, think about how hard it is to take care of a black car,imagine wheels getting brake dust on them and getting cleaned with wheel cleaner, using any type of brush, etc. I for one wouldn't want to maintain a black wheel, too much work. Not only the color but that style of wheel, all those spokes, that's enough work by itself, add gloss black to the mix and you've got alot of work for yourself there. I know there's good wheel cleaners out there but they usually just get the main layer of dirt/brake dust off, to get them completely clean you need to scrub them with a brush, kinda like when you go to a touch-free carwash and don't clean your window with the provided squeege and you come out of the wash and you've still got the area around the wiper area still dirty. Now the wheels you picked are VERY nice, its just gloss black isn't my cup of tea and what I said about them being hard to take care of is just the detailer in me. BTW, this thread will get moved to the tires/wheel forum, just giving you a heads up. __________________ 2011 SSM CR-Z EX/6MT Surface protection count...(48) v..JOIN US..v https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16Y...e_gdata_player

12-10-2011, 10:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
sohcsol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 564	Id go with the wheels, those are very nice. Ive always had black wheels and black cars as well, but I am meticulous and clean them every weekend. Dont let brake dust build up and it wont be an issue. With coilovers youre getting into a lot more than just bolting up a set of wheels, and the cars ride and drivability can change. You might be better off getting the wheels, then looking at a set of lowering springs for $200-300 to complete the look. __________________ 2011 CR-Z EX, 6MT, CBP, #7960

12-10-2011, 03:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
JCRZ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Hartford, CT Posts: 1,781	Not a fan of the wheels sorry gotta be honest. I'd say get coilovers first. __________________ "For those 17 seconds or more, I'm free..."

12-10-2011, 04:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
sohcsol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 564	Coilovers have a few advantages, first being that you are replacing the spring and shock, so they will be matched for better handling but usually a stiffer ride. Also the height adjustability is good to have. Springs alone may wear on your stock shocks more since they are not meant to ride lower than oem height. Springs will be softer to match the oem shocks, usually providing a more comfortable ride but inferior handling compared to coilovers. The difference should only be noticable if you drive hard, though. Any wheels you find on a car nowadays should be cast or forged aluminum alloy, unless its on steelies with hubcaps. You will not be at risk of bending an aluminum wheel unless you have very skinny tires and drive carelessly, or buy very cheap wheels. This will not be a problem with TSW wheels. The only other materials used in wheels are much more expensive, lighter materials used for high performance applications, such as magnesium. __________________ 2011 CR-Z EX, 6MT, CBP, #7960

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12-10-2011, 12:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
sleighman Supporting Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 986	I just put semi gloss black enkei fujin wheels on mine. Look at my build thread. I almost went with tsw nurinburing in 17. The wheels you are looking at look real nice but they may be heavy.

12-10-2011, 10:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
lldsandsll Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: S. Florida Posts: 1,601	check the classifieds. people are selling wheel setups and various suspension setups on the cheap in there.