Replacements for Wide 15" Wheels

[76 Targa]

OK guys....I've just spent the last three hours reading the epic number of threads about wheels and tires, and am not sure which way to go. I've got a 76 turbo look targa that has a set of 15" Gotti wheels all around. The fronts are 9" and the rears are 11". I love the look of the super-wide deep dish wheels in the rear, and would like to maintain that look. The tires I have on them right now are in good shape, so there's no urgency to get replacements, but it's fairly obvious that when the time comes, I'm going to have a serious problem finding new tires, particularly for the rears, unless I want to spend $500 a piece for the expensive Goodyears. Some of the threads I've read seem to indicate that I would have the same issues if I changed to 16" rims as well, since the selection of really wide tires for those is also getting limited. If I'm going to go with different rims, I'd like to change back to the classic Fuchs look (polished petals), and I was considering the Linea Corsa (Rota) 17-inch wheels that our host sells. I've read about some wheel runout and other quality issues in other threads, at least on the early production wheels. What is the story on the Rotas these days? Any other recommendations for wheels in a similar price range? Will the 9" Rotas fill out my rear wheel wells with the proper spacers?

[ttweed]

Personally, I would have some 16" Fuchs widened into a set of 9 & 11 x 17" or buy a custom alloy wheels in that size from CCW, Kodiak, Bogart, etc., made up to the correct offset in order to not need any spacers, and not limit yourself to 7.5" & 9" rims. It will cost a little more, but if you add the cost of spacers and new studs, etc., it isn't that great a difference, and you are not limited to 245 & 275 tires, which is as big as you can reasonably fit on the Rotas.

Talk to Rich at Bogart wheels in Phoenix. you might be surprised by what he could do for you in a custom set of 17s.

TT

[78SCRSMAN]

I believe his concern is price. You just spent 3 big uns of his $ before we even think about tires. IMO the Rota's would be fine. (I can't speak for the quality... I havn't got mine yet) You will need some spacers, for the front especially. There are threads on Rota's. A few have reported problems but I believe it has been ironed out now. LOTS of happy customers out there.
Good Luck

[88-diamondblue]

I have the Rota's from the first go around and they have been great. I put 225/45 and 255/40 on a 88 Carrera and have no problems with fit. You should be able to go larger with the wide body. Factory turbo's used spacers with the 9" Fuchs. Shouldn't be a problem using spacers. Large selection of rubber for the 17's and the price is affordable. Not turbo flairs but shows how they could look.

[ttweed]

Originally Posted by 78SCRSMAN

I believe his concern is price. You just spent 3 big uns of his $ before we even think about tires.

Not true. You can buy a set of unloved 6 or 7x16" Fuchs for $400 and have them widened and converted to 17" barrels by a number of companies for $2-300/ea. By my math, that's $1600 total for the worst case, not 3 megabucks. Try True Design Wheels in CO or Eric Vaughn Machine in CA.

The last set of custom billet Bogart wheels I bought were less than $400/ea. This was a while ago and in a smaller size, but I would guess you could get a new custom set from his shop for less than $2K, if he likes you. Rich doesn't suffer fools well, though. You had better have your specs complete and correct before ordering.

When you take the $1200 for the Rotas and add the cost of spacers and new stud installation (which is not a trivial cost), you aren't far from these numbers, and have a set of rims that are maximized for the body configuration, and not limited to a set of cast wheels that were designed for a narrow-body that can't fit an optimized tire size for a turbo-look.

YMMV,
TT

[78SCRSMAN]

But... but... it's a Targa...

[76 Targa]

Ouch....Some of us love Targas. Especially those of us fortunate enough to have a factory fiberglass top. Best of both worlds...closed coupe or vert.