New Wheels?

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi,

I've been hankering to change the wheels on my 51plate Rav 4 gx and I really like these :

http://www.madmotors.co.uk/lenso-bsx-black-with-mirror-lip-17-alloy-wheels-and-tyres.html

It seems like a good deal although the tyre make isn't listed , I could go for just the wheels and fit my own choice of tyres

The question is, 1. will they fit ok ( I want a wider / chunky look ) 2, what's the widest tyre size I could safely fit. 3. Will the change to 17" rims affect the ride / handling

What I really wanted was a deep dish set of wolfrace or cobra slot mags but trying to find a set of these that would fit the Rav, without going to the states is virtually impossible !

Thanks,

Norm

[crustyclam]

Well can't advise on your post, but I like how they look. I am with you on the wide/chunky look with tyres, it just completes the look. If you do get something fancy photos would be good. I always fancied some chunky tyres, but went with the norm, regretted not getting geolander ats.

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi Lee,

Thanks for the reply, I was beginning to think I'd suggested something terrible with no replys ! I haven't totally made my mind up yet, I still need to check which wheel size option to get and what tyre sizes as well. Hopefully someone will come along soon who knows what's viable and what's not !

What ever I decide I'll post pictures, all car forums like pictures !

Norm

[anchorman]

If you are thinking of jacking the back end up and having two furry dice in the window they could be alright but the look like tacky bling to me. However, forty years on, I prefer a traditional look more like these;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-17-ALLOY-WHEELS-x-4-/251286625236?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item3a81d99bd4#ht_984wt_914

They will look nice and fit properly but if you ring Derek at Merlin he will find you something nice for your RAV.

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi Don,

Thanks for that, I always find wheel choice is such an emotive subject, they're a very personal thing and quite rightly one persons perfect wheel is another's bling ! To be honest I'm still not really sure about the ones I linked to, but what I'm looking for is something deeper centred than the normal 'spoked' wheel.

Sorry who is / are Derek at Merlin? is there a website or contact details? Irrespective of the wheel choice, I'd still like to hear from people who have had different wheel / tyre combinations and they're experience of handling and ride. I'm not trying to bling it, just make it look a bit different from the crowd. I'm a bit old school and in my youth I loved the deep dish wolfrace wheels I had on a couple of my custom vans, they gave them a sort of chunky off road look without going over the top. If I could get that style now they would look a lot less fussy than those Lenso ones.

Out of interest does anyone know of a way of taking a picture of your car then superimposing different wheels onto it - only thing I can think of is photoshop but I'm not very good at it.

Norm

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Don, apologies, I've just gone back to the ones you linked on eBay and realised the seller was Merlin international (doh) well it is early !

Norm

[Big Kev]

Norm........Hoovie may agree or not, bu there are two weak points on the linked wheels........black paint to chip much more readily than normal alloys with topcoat, then those polished rims, perfect for winter salt to munch on. Cannae fault yer "deep dish" (is that no a pizza.....?) aesthetic though...loved the old Wolfies that did that.

[anchorman]

I got these anthracite finished wheels from Merlin........

No doubt there is a photoshop whizz here but I would cut them out and stick them on a photo!!! You'll have to watch the offset as you might need spats and you might gubber the wheel bearings.

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Right,

Think I've discounted the Lenso wheels but I have found these which are more to my taste ! Whilst I appreciate they are steel not alloy, if looked after they should give a good few years service. My tyres of choice would be the Geolander 235/60/16 from camskill

http://www.larkspeed.com/index.pl?p=DOTZDAKARSV716&a=i

Sorry Don, as much as those graphite wheels from Merlin are very nice, they're still just a 5 spoke flatish alloy, i just feel they're too similar to what's already on the car.

Nice to see I've got some support for the deep dish design from north of the border

Norm

[silly sausage]

Right,

Think I've discounted the Lenso wheels but I have found these which are more to my taste ! Whilst I appreciate they are steel not alloy, if looked after they should give a good few years service. My tyres of choice would be the Geolander 235/60/16 from camskill

http://www.larkspeed.com/index.pl?p=DOTZDAKARSV716&a=i

Sorry Don, as much as those graphite wheels from Merlin are very nice, they're still just a 5 spoke flatish alloy, i just feel they're too similar to what's already on the car.

Nice to see I've got some support for the deep dish design from north of the border

Norm

I understand Kev prefers everything in a deep dish, soup, cereal, porridge even humble pie................

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Right,

Think I've discounted the Lenso wheels but I have found these which are more to my taste ! Whilst I appreciate they are steel not alloy, if looked after they should give a good few years service. My tyres of choice would be the Geolander 235/60/16 from camskillhttp://www.larkspeed.com/index.pl?p=DOTZDAKARSV716&a=i

Sorry Don, as much as those graphite wheels from Merlin are very nice, they're still just a 5 spoke flatish alloy, i just feel they're too similar to what's already on the car.

Nice to see I've got some support for the deep dish design from north of the border

Norm

I understand Kev prefers everything in a deep dish, soup, cereal, porridge even humble pie................

Ouch !

[Hoovie]

Norm........Hoovie may agree or not, bu there are two weak points on the linked wheels........black paint to chip much more readily than normal alloys with topcoat, then those polished rims, perfect for winter salt to munch on. Cannae fault yer "deep dish" (is that no a pizza.....?) aesthetic though...loved the old Wolfies that did that.

On Kevs point, I would certainly agree about polished (or diamond cut) wheels being a nightmare to keep from the salt and general road detritus. I would always steer away from a feature like that if possible.

On the black front, I wouldn't say they would chip MORE easily then a silver type colour, but for sure ANY chipping will stand out way more then a silver finish as the base metal is of course 'silvery', and wheels can suffer stone chips just as much as any other parts of a car.

I love the Anthracite finish as well personally, as well as the classic 5-spoke design, so Don's wheels just look dead right to me :)

[CharlieFarlie]

Hi,

I've been hankering to change the wheels on my 51plate Rav 4 gx and I really like these :

http://www.madmotors.co.uk/lenso-bsx-black-with-mirror-lip-17-alloy-wheels-and-tyres.html

It seems like a good deal although the tyre make isn't listed , I could go for just the wheels and fit my own choice of tyres

The question is, 1. will they fit ok ( I want a wider / chunky look ) 2, what's the widest tyre size I could safely fit. 3. Will the change to 17" rims affect the ride / handling

What I really wanted was a deep dish set of wolfrace or cobra slot mags but trying to find a set of these that would fit the Rav, without going to the states is virtually impossible !

Thanks,

Norm

The linked wheels look like Alley cats... Corrrrrrr theres a wheel from the past ! I had a set with gold centres on a 3.0S Capri and they were an absolute sod to clean ! But I was 20 then.. Sorry but for me they would look........Well errr.... Carp on a Rav4. I like plain big spokes like the ones that came standard on the T180/SR.. Bonus is they are easy to clean.

[crustyclam]

Hi Don,

Thanks for that, I always find wheel choice is such an emotive subject, they're a very personal thing and quite rightly one persons perfect wheel is another's bling ! To be honest I'm still not really sure about the ones I linked to, but what I'm looking for is something deeper centred than the normal 'spoked' wheel.

Sorry who is / are Derek at Merlin? is there a website or contact details? Irrespective of the wheel choice, I'd still like to hear from people who have had different wheel / tyre combinations and they're experience of handling and ride. I'm not trying to bling it, just make it look a bit different from the crowd. I'm a bit old school and in my youth I loved the deep dish wolfrace wheels I had on a couple of my custom vans, they gave them a sort of chunky off road look without going over the top. If I could get that style now they would look a lot less fussy than those Lenso ones.

Out of interest does anyone know of a way of taking a picture of your car then superimposing different wheels onto it - only thing I can think of is photoshop but I'm not very good at it.

Norm

Try typing wheel configurator in google, select your car model, and choose different alloys. Gives a good idea of what looks good.

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi Charlie,

You're right about cleaning, the more I look at the Lenso wheels the more I think they aren't right, what about the Dotz Dakar's though? They've got that deep dish design I like, should be easy to keep clean, and they're not too flash, downside is they're steel, but the price is good as well, looking at about £670 with tyres + tyre fitting.

I've had loads of cars with steel wheels, including a custom escort van with cheapish white 8 spoke deep steel wheels, they were on the van for 2 years and looked as good as the day I put them on. The secret was to remove them 3 or 4 times a year and clean them thoroughly, not a big chore really and quite satisfying.

Norm

[crustyclam]

Try this link to view different alloys:-

http://www.dotz-wheels.co.uk/about/configurator

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi Lee,

Just tried that one unfortunately it won't show the dotz steel wheels only the alloys :(

Norm

[firemac]

Right,

Think I've discounted the Lenso wheels but I have found these which are more to my taste ! Whilst I appreciate they are steel not alloy, if looked after they should give a good few years service. My tyres of choice would be the Geolander 235/60/16 from camskill

http://www.larkspeed.com/index.pl?p=DOTZDAKARSV716&a=i

Sorry Don, as much as those graphite wheels from Merlin are very nice, they're still just a 5 spoke flatish alloy, i just feel they're too similar to what's already on the car.

Nice to see I've got some support for the deep dish design from north of the border

Norm

Larkspeed, eh? I didn't realise that they were still around. Brings back a few memories.......

Nice wheels, by the way.

[crustyclam]

Hi Lee,

Just tried that one unfortunately it won't show the dotz steel wheels only the alloys :(

Norm

I tried the link for my model 2006 and the Dakar wheels showed as an option, tried for for a model from 2000 and they did not show. I found when I was looking for alloys one site had an alloy as compatible, yet another didn't. You'll need to confirm they are definitely ok for your model.

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi Lee,

Finding wheels is a minefield, I might have to discount the Dotz Dakar's after I found a thread on Ravworld forum where someone said the offset on these wheels is only 13mm whereas I believe the correct offset is 45mm ! As far as I can ascertain a smaller offset will mean the wheels are further out ( not a bad thing if looking for a slightly chunkier look - I am ) but some say there is a possible increase in pressure on the wheel bearings, leading to premature wear. Again some on that forum have said they haven't had any major problems with a smaller offset.

I must admit I do like those wheels, I may need to talk directly to the makers to establish if they are ok to fit. It would be nice to hear

from anyone who has used wheels with a smaller offset.

Regards,

Norm