In my dreams: Watanabe wheels

[v12horse]

Hmm, they are similiar to Panasports in that they are both of the 8-spoke style, but the Watanabe is the Japanese version. I am not sure when the company started making wheels, but these were the wheels of choice for Z owners of the time and today in Japan. The works race cars in Japan used Watanabe's, although the sizes and offsets were much more extreme than these. There are a few types- Type A, Type B, and Type R (oooooh). The 7.5j wheels in this auction are surely type B, however the front ones I am not sure of. Type R Watanabe's are made of magnesium and they have a little "R" next to the luguts. The Type "B" has a "B", and the Type A is on the reverse side of the wheel which is the most positive type you can get. Type "B" is the middle ground wheel, although you can get some pretty extreme type "B" as well.

Panansport and Watanabe are 2 totally different wheels. They are both great looking and they are both very high quality wheels. Panasports are more common here, but in Japan it is the opposite, but that is not why I prefer Watanabe's. There is a JDM essence of the Watanabe's and their affiliation with the S30 that make them so intriguing.

Best Regards,

Ben

[v12horse]

Aww man, it is a no go. The parents said no can do on these wheels.

[Alfadog]

Why not? Too expensive? This is terrible... they look like theyre going to go on a SUPRA.

Keep looking, Ben

[kyteler]

I missed out on the wheels Lachlan (I only mention Lachlan because Ben already knows )

They were a pair of 14x7 and a pair of 14x8 Hayashi Street rims with slightly negative offset, unfortunately they sold for slightly more than I currently have available, but as I said to Ben, I'll just wait til I can afford some Type-B Watanabes and go with the best instead of something to fill the gap.

[Gav240z]

Hmm what's the difference between Type-B and Type-R Watanabe's? You skyline boys seem to know lots about these wheels I am but a newbie

[Alfadog]

OH!! I love those Wheels Michael... they're up there near the Watanabes on my preference list! You already have those Watanabes fitted on your car, you shouldn't complain! But if you want wider ones... well, good things come to those who wait

Gavin, I am not sure of the difference. I thought it was just the Offset which made them different "types" ('tyep' on my engrish Watanabe box!). I have 14x7.5 Type-B and 14x9 Type-R. Only difference I can see is the size!

[v12horse]

I was under the impression that the type R wheels were only in magnesium, but a friend of mine told me that the "R" came in Al and Mg. On the R type the "Mg" was stamped on the wheel, or there was no stamp at all (this was on the older type). The type R in the 16 only came in AL though.

To answer your question Gav, and to clarify what Lachlan said, the type "R" has a much more negative offset than the type "A" and "B" and the smallest width you can get type "R" is 8j. That I pulled off of the RS-Watanabe site, so I am not sure if it is correct for the older styles.

I wasn't going to say anything, but I bought the Watanabe's that started this thread. They just got in shipment yesterday. I am so excited, but they won't be going on the car for a while. I just hope that when it comes time to painting the rears that I can get a shop to color match them to the front gunmetal ones.

Ben

[S30ZT]

Congrats on the wheels. I scored my wats on ebay late last year after searching for a deal for at least 2 years. I got the exact style I was looking for too. The 2-piece RS-8s. 15x7 Black centers with polished lip. I'd only sell them if I came across a set of the same style in 16" or 15x9s.

[v12horse]

Very nice S30ZT. Are the Wats that you have the ones with the +15 offset? Those are nice wheels.

[Alfadog]

I had another look at my wheels - sorry - the 7.5J ones are Type-A. What is the difference between A and B?! Surely not the offset, since these ones are decently deep. I think the 9J ones are an older style, no markings I can see (except for 21 & 114.3, and the Watanabe logo on one of the spokes). They both look to be al-u-min-i-um to me.

[Gav240z]

As oppose to A-LOO-MAN-NIM.

[v12horse]

I had another look at my wheels - sorry - the 7.5J ones are Type-A. What is the difference between A and B?! Surely not the offset, since these ones are decently deep. I think the 9J ones are an older style, no markings I can see (except for 21 & 114.3, and the Watanabe logo on one of the spokes). They both look to be al-u-min-i-um to me.

It says on the RS-Watanabe site that the 14 by 7.5j type A wheels have a -3mm offset and the 14 by 7.5j type B wheels have a +1.5mm offset. Mine are type B. The fronts (14 by 7j) are type B as well and they have a +8mm offset. The type A wheels in the same size have a +3mm offset. I always thought the type A's were a little more positive than the B's, but in this case it is the exact opposite.

I am excited. They should be here in two days.

Ben