Anyone have pictures of Gunmetal Panasports? Non in gallery!

[PrOxLaMuS©]

hmm sounds good! I really wanted to go 16x7 with a 0 offset...

but i have heard alot of reviews about the 15's.... and that 16's were too big.. and cause tire rubbing... and blah blah blah but they look soo good on Z's!

Steve.. what size do you have on your car.. soo sexy!

Looks like i'll be getting some gunmetal 15x7's with a 0 offset and a polished lip! yummy!

[Victor Laury]

I met a fellow from groupZ at the National convention that had 16 panas on his Z. He said he order them with a slight positive offset (+ 10 ? ) to avoid the rub.

Pana's are not light. 15's are heavy, 16's are heavy-er somthing to consider.

Keeping it in the Datsun Family - Both CDM and Motorsports Auto sell Pana's. They might even know the majic formula for the 16's better than a non-Datsun wheel distributor.

[Steve Parmley]

You don't want to use the UL, ultra light Panasport racing wheels on the street even though they look like the regular Panasports. The heavier street wheels are one of the more popular wheels so they can't be too bad, though I have never owned a set myself. My wheels are the 3 piece 16x12 with 5 inches backspacing. I have coilovers with smaller diameter springs to make that backspacing fit. The wheels weigh 16 lbs.

The SCCA is allowing 12 inch wide wheels with slicks in the F Prepared class for the first time this next season.

[bpilati]

MSA use to sell the gunmetal with polished lip Panasports, but they are no longer displayed on their site. However googling these wheels shows a link to MSA that doesn't work.

[CoastGuardZ]

Prox - I'm disappointed bro. I've got a couple of pictures in my gallery of Gunmetal Grey Panasports on an Orange Z. I took them at the '05 National Show. Enjoy...

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=16884&cat=500&ppuser=2476

Nate

[bpilati]

Are the gunmetal wheels only sold as racing wheels, because I thought the ones on MSA were street versions?

[240ZMan]

hmm sounds good! I really wanted to go 16x7 with a 0 offset...

but i have heard alot of reviews about the 15's.... and that 16's were too big.. and cause tire rubbing... and blah blah blah but they look soo good on Z's!

I have 16x7 Panasports with 225/50 Yokohama ES100s and have no rubbing except at the top outside edge of the rear tire where it can touch the inside lip of the fender. This only happens when I go over a large dip in my neighborhood, and only at speeds significantly above the speed limit. I do plan to roll the fender lip this summer when I put lower springs on. I doubt you would have any clearance issues.

Here's some pictures from when I first put them on:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19022

BTW, make sure you can find tires that meet your price/performance objectives in 15". I would have gone the 15" route, but there is very little performance rubber still available in 15" unless you let the overall tire diameter shrink more than I was willing.

Pretty amazing that 16" is becoming "small"

[SJGREEN71]

MSA use to sell the gunmetal with polished lip Panasports, but they are no longer displayed on their site. However googling these wheels shows a link to MSA that doesn't work.

If MSA no longer carries them, you might try Les at Calssic Datsun Motorsports:

http://www.classicdatsun.com/

[240ZMan]

BTW, if you are going to go with 15 x 7, check out the Konig Rewinds. Half the price of Panasports:

http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=25-1067&Category_Code=WWC19

[Jeff G 78]

240ZMan, did you get your Panasports from MSA? I am still trying to get somebody to give me a definative answer on the offset MSA sells. I have been told it was +6mm, not zero. Since MSA no longer sells the gunmetal ones, I want to make sure I end up with proper clearance if I buy elsewhere. If that doesn't pan out, I might end up getting +40mm offset 16x7 wheels and Modern Motorsport spacers, but that would put me back to a zero offset unless I spec a different spacer thickness. From what I hear, MSA's Panasports don't rub while other Panasports do rub with 225/50R16 tires. Can you clear this up?

If I go the adaptor/+40 route, I might do the Rota Grids like these http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=11033&cat=500&ppuser=5217

They are about 1/2 the price of Panasports even after buying Ross' spacers.

[240ZMan]

Jeff, I did buy mine from MSA late last fall. They had just begun carrying the gunmetal so I'm surprised they dropped them already. They said they were VERY popular so maybe there's a problem getting them from Panasport.

The offset on mine is zero. As I mentioned above, there is minor rub at the top outer edge of the tire against the inside lip of the rear fender over large bumps, otherwise no rubbing. I'm sure that a 215 tire instead of the 225 I have would cure it as well.

I'm not a fan of spacers as it's just one more thing that can add to balancing and vibration issues. That's a big part of why I spent the $$$ for the Panasports. Still, I think the Rota Grids do look sharp. They are a bit more "modern" vs. "classic" in style for my taste, but they go nicely with a lowered Z and an airdam.

Good luck!

[Jeff G 78]

Thanks for the offset clarification. Does it look like you have a few mm's of extra inboard clearance, or is zero offset the best fit in a 16x7?

I really love the Panasports in gunmetal/polished, but the price is getting really high. I figure that with spacers and Rota Grids, I can get a second set of track wheels and still be cheaper than one set of Panasports. I too don't like the idea of spacers, but I think Locktite-ing them on, would cut the chances of losing the joint. As for vibration, yes, I expect that it will be worse. Our options are getting very slim for 16" wheels, unfortunately.