Adapters???

[stabbsy]

So I have been searching for a while for a set of 16 inch wheels for my VR6. I then widened the search to 17s as well, still haven't seen anything making me want to put my money down. Seen a couple of sets of wheels I like in 5x112, what I was just wondering is how hard would it be to find adapters to make this work and would anyone have a recommendation for a good tire shop in Melbourne that could sort me out with the right bits and will avoid the pitfalls of adapters like shudder etc.?

[team_v]

It is easy to find adaptors to suit however they are illegal and you don't want to be messing around with the only part of the car that keeps you connected to the road.

Best bet is to keep searching for a set of 5x100's you like in the correct sizing.
Until then just wait and rock the stockers.

[dylan8]

as above, they are illegal. so i doubt youll find a tyre shop willing to fit them for you.
however. I have run a number of sets and never had a problem, if they are made from good materials and used correctly they are fine.
5x100 to 5x112 is pretty standard, so check ECStuning.com, adaptec speedware and even ebay now.

[Buller_Scott]

It is easy to find adaptors to suit however they are illegal and you don't want to be messing around with the only part of the car that keeps you connected to the road.

Best bet is to keep searching for a set of 5x100's you like in the correct sizing.
Until then just wait and rock the stockers.

no offence to anyone running adapters for looks, but i would completely agree with clay's post, 100%.

if you dont plan to really drive your car, then sure, adapters are fine.... but i wouldnt be caught dead, pushing on in a corner at the limits of grip, with adapters - the apprehension would be distracting imo.

stabbsy, have you checked places like tirerack.com and 1010tires.com? they have quite a good selection of wheels that cater to everything from oem+ to lightweight for serious driving... no, they dont have "stance''/ ''legend'' wheels that will make people spunk at car meets, but for that you've probably got to either come across some good luck in the for sale section of this forum, or otherwise clean up someone else's mess (refurbish someone else's schloppy seconds).

[stabbsy]

Thanks guys, yep this was pretty much what I figured. Was really trying to get something in Australia, but as you say tirerack prices are so good it is a pretty good option. I was originally against anything bigger than 16, but given the stiffness of the coilovers on my car I don't really think 17's will be too bad for the ride, and I have calculated that running a 205/40/17 tyre they will only be .4 inches larger, so shouldn't prove to be a massive problem.

I realized that they were illegal, but due to the importance of the part I would have preferred to get something that was professionally fitted, and not have to run both hub adapters and nut adapters hence the shop question, I dont really trust something off ebay to bolt onto my wheels and at 100Km/h+ work flawlessly

[dylan8]

if you dont plan to really drive your car, then sure, adapters are fine.... but i wouldnt be caught dead, pushing on in a corner at the limits of grip, with adapters - the apprehension would be distracting imo.

no, they dont have "stance''/ ''legend'' wheels that will make people spunk at car meets

bhaha love that second bit.

thing is im yet to hear of any problems with decent made adapters (or any adapter for that matter of fact). if used correctly they should just be like running wider track wheels.
Porsche supply wheels with adapters/spacers. if porsche are doing it, im pretty confident its ok.

[Guest001]

The ADR rules state that Factory spacers are legal Anything else IS NOT

Despite another thread on here more or less advocating the use of them, do you really want to wonder

Will they be Ok, will I kill wife and kids if the studs break. Will my insurance company pay out if a crash is caused by the use of them or even if they just find the car has them..
If any of the above is a concern you know the answer.........

[Buller_Scott]

bhaha love that second bit.

lol.

i will address this when im not quite as tipsy....

"oooooooooooooooh" (lol@ VAG stance/ upturned control arms LMFAO)

[GoLfMan]

woh everybody, WOH.

Everyones talking like adaptors are like signing your death warrant. Wrong. A well made and CORRECTLY fitted set of adaptors are more than safe enough. Ive done 10's of thousands of km's on my adaptors (and stretched tyres, OH NO watch out, what a rebel, cheating death everyday!!!), and yes Scott, even hard driven km's without a single issue.

[ffoff]

Lolfest, I have run 3 inch drop plates in the rear of my mk3. Drove to melbourne and back with them. And sure it's a 2.slow but I still took corners fairly hard. I'd be more then happy to run adapters. If they were so unsafe I doubt companies like adaptec speedware would even exist..

[Blitzen]

Will they be Ok, will I kill wife and kids if the studs break. Will my insurance company pay out if a crash is caused by the use of them or even if they just find the car has them..
If any of the above is a concern you know the answer.........

(Adopts Maude Flanders voice)... 'Won't you think about the children!!??'

[MCiN7]

I've been running 25mm and 30mm H&R bolt on spacers (which are very alike adapters because they are bolt on) for a very long time now now, not a single problem.

[Buller_Scott]

, and yes Scott, even hard driven km's without a single issue.

yes, that's true - no one could accuse you of going easy on your pog during a cruise.

(not trying to have the last say at all) personally i wouldnt take the risk IF there were wheels that i liked in my own stud pattern, even if i were to order the wheels from overseas...

but there you go, stabbsy - peeps in here seem not to have any problems running them, so i guess the ball's in your court. if you DO get them, though, like other peeps have said - get good quality ones from a reputable brand, and have them installed properly.

[dylan8]

Will they be Ok, will I kill wife and kids if the studs break. Will my insurance company pay out if a crash is caused by the use of them or even if they just find the car has them..
If any of the above is a concern you know the answer.........

studs breaking? what about the majority of the cars out there that runs studs from standard?
i cant speak for ebay specials, but im pretty confident my adaptec built ones are use higher grade materials and higher grade bolts then you will find on any standard car

I've been running 25mm and 30mm H&R bolt on spacers (which are very alike adapters because they are bolt on) for a very long time now now, not a single problem.

pretty much. iv had stock bolts come lose before, but never adapters.

yes, that's true - no one could accuse you of going easy on your pog during a cruise.

(not trying to have the last say at all) personally i wouldnt take the risk IF there were wheels that i liked in my own stud pattern, even if i were to order the wheels from overseas...

but there you go, stabbsy - peeps in here seem not to have any problems running them, so i guess the ball's in your court. if you DO get them, though, like other peeps have said - get good quality ones from a reputable brand, and have them installed properly.

^this, basically if your worried about being 'correct' dont do it. they are illegal, wont pass roady, and if a police officer spots them you may get a defect notice. but for all the people saying 'your going to die', 'they fall apart' it just rubbish. we were discussing it the other night at dub addiction, someone did have a problem with spacers once, but that could have been a number of things, plus the car was a animal from memory so stock gear could have also failed.
but its the same as if you got a 5x100 wheel. need to make sure the centre bore is correct (or has hub rings to suit), and bolt seats, size, and length need to be correct (something people never seem to look into).

if you decide to go down the adapter path, get the wheels first, and check the things iv listed above, and then get adapters to suit. not the other way around.

[Jarred]

if you want a phat set of 16's you can always buy my schmidts.

they're 5x100.