RS-Watanabe / Speed Star Wheels Question.

[kyteler]

Hopefully someone can help me out here.

I recently convinced my brother to pick up a set of Watanabe RS-8 rims despite the fact that neither of us have an appropriate car to use them on, for the simple fact that they were too cheap to pass up.

Upon picking them up from the freight depot today I gave them a bit of a clean and noticed that.. on the top, it has the three birds inside the circle with "racing" cast in it, yet on the underside or inside of the rim, it has 'RS-Eight' , 'Made In Japan' & 'Speed Star' cast into it, there are also stickers on the inside of the rim itself stating it's a Speed Star Wheel.

I went to the speedstar website but it has nothing in regards to this, does anyone know (Alan, Maybe) what the deal is?

I've attached a picture of the rims 5x114.3 stud, 16x7 fronts and 16x8 rears for $300 + 35 freight (NZD)

... see what I mean? too cheap to pass up.

[1GENZED]

I am not sure who the rims are made by but the three birds in a circle are definitly Watanabe.

May be the rim has been replaced/repaired with SSR parts.

Does the rim look like it was refinished or is there an inconsitency in the wear of the rim and the face.(does the rim look newer)

can you take a picture that shows the three bird crest more clearly

I just went to the SSR site and It seems they still sell their old school wheels. Definitly an option when I get around to buying new wheels.

[v12horse]

I am sure there are people that know more about this than I do, but I think there was a time when Watanabe was owned by Speed Star Racing and that is why it says that on your wheels. I think all of the rs8 style wheels, like the three piece ones that you own kyteler, are the ones made by ssr, but they are technically still Watanabe's. Now watanabe is not owned by SSR, but when these particular wheels were made I think it was because Watanabe had a financial chrisis and SSR owned them.

I thought I read this somewhere. I could be totally wrong. Kyteler, go to the wheel section and look up watanabe. I think that is where I am getting this information. I think you should get another source about this topic, but I am sure this information is on the forum somewhere.

Ben

[v12horse]

You have gotton me interested. This link will help you some, but it will not fully answer your question to the association of SSR and R.S. Watanabe. If I find anything else I will post it. However, I am quite busy studying for finals. You can see what I do on my break.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9235&highlight=watanabe

Take care,

Ben

[kyteler]

Crap dammit!! I had a nice reply all written out and posted it but the attached picture was too big and then when I went back my reply was gone!

Ok, I'll break it down cause I'm not writing it all out again.

Ben, cheers for the link, Still confused, Still interested, at least them (Watanabe) going bust may go a slight way to explaining it.

1GENZED, yeah, I agree it's nice to know someone makes new oldschool style rims, if I wasnt so obsessed with Watanabe's I might even consider getting some .. somehow

I've attached an image of the various castings, you'll have to excuse the underside photo being slightly out of focus, the camera auto-focuses, and due to the surface mount area being closer, that's what it focused on it is still easy enough to read regardless.

[1GENZED]

I miss understood where the speed star was written.

Well there goes my theory out the window in a hurry.

I am also interested in this SSR and Watanabe association

Maybe Alan the "all knowing z guy" can shine some light.

Ahem, Ahem, Alan!

[Brett240]

Hi kyteler,

whats the website for speed star wheels? i have a set of them (not watanabe's) on mine and cant find the site. i need some centre caps for them.

thanks,

Brett

[kyteler]

Hey Brett,

http://www.speedstar.co.jp/

[S30ZT]

I also remember reading that at one time SSR bought out RS Watanabe. My RS-8s also has both the three birds and SSR markings. It also came with crome SSR caps.