Rim suggestions for S70

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 22 Jul 2011, 22:08

Hello friends,

I have been trying to find a nice set of wheels for my S70 and found this web site.
Please check it out and tell me which one you think it would look the best on my car, I can't decide.

http://www.tulipcitywheels.com/tcwstore ... list&c=960

I am planning to get 18in rims.
I am assuming they would fit, if there are any points that I need to be careful about, please let me know, such as offset and bolt patterns.

These in the link should be 5x108 bolt patterns.

Thank you...

Post by **burnout8488** » 22 Jul 2011, 23:31

My opinion, take it as you will, everyone has different tastes:

Everytime I see aftermarket (non Volvo) wheels on an S70, they almost always look quite bad. Especially the people that do black with a polished lip. It cheapens the look of the car IMO. There are a handful of very nice looking aftermarket wheels for the S70 that do look good, but you usually have to spend some $$ on a reputable brand. OZ Racing, BBS...etc.

Going with an OEM Volvo wheel from another model almost always adds a great deal of style. S60R Pegasus wheels come to mind.

As far as 18"... you'll probably bend a wheel eventually. To fit an 18", you'll need extremely thin tires to match the OEM overall diameter and keep your speedometer correct. 17" seems to be the maximum practical wheel size for a daily driver on these cars. You're looking at a 215/40-18 to match the OEM size... kinda getting down there in thickness. 17" would put you at a 205/50-17 or 215/45-17, (205/50 will be slightly closer to the original 205/55-16 diameter, based on the miata.net tire calculator, google it!) which would be a great daily driver tire height. Potholes shouldn't completely demolish them.

However, if one of those above wheels strikes your fancy and you really like them, no one's opinion is going to change that and you should go for your gut instinct! If I had to pick one from your link, it'd be the MSR 045's in Hyper Silver. Those have the potential to look pretty darn good... I'd just be worried about the whole 18" thing.

Post by **Juan62** » 23 Jul 2011, 01:03

The MSR 045. 065, or 086 in Hyper-Silver. The first two are within OEM Offset, the ladder is a bit much, but can be done. I have the 18 X 8 Pegasas with 42mm offset and 215/40/18 with lowering springs...will rub a little in the rear when loaded down with passeengers and truck loads. That said, I also must have 10mm wheel spacers in the front for these wheels.

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 23 Jul 2011, 10:50

Thank you very much for your replies. I like MSR 045 also but it would be really hard to clean them. I had the similar rims on my s80 and it was really pain to clean them, what do you guys think about the same model in hyper black? I don't like the black rims either but this one doesn't look that bad plus I have the windows tinted with 30% johnson ceramic tint. the picture was taken before the tint work performed.

Juan62: Do you think I will need those 10mm spacer as well for front?

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 23 Jul 2011, 11:36

Another fan of the various Volvo OEM wheels - I think they make some of the nicer oem wheels available. Agreed that 18's look ridiculous on these cars with rubber band tires and even worse, tiny brakes behind them.

Post by **Juan62** » 26 Jul 2011, 03:13

New Orleans; sorry for the late reply.
Only if you get the MSR 086, you will need 10mm spacers in the front. However, as I was stationed in Europe several times and came to learn more about performance with the locals, they usually place spacers on all four corners when the Offset of aftermarket wheels are near or equal to the OEM wheels. It gives that flush/even look. If you plan to lower the car in the future, then the spacers will come after. Remember, (must for the MSR 086 front only), optional on all fours for the 045 and 065.

Post by **tjts1** » 26 Jul 2011, 12:11

I just don't get the obsession with huge wheels. It seems like all new cars have gone to 17"+ wheels even the smallest cheapest cars to make them look 'sporty' or whatever at the expense of fuel economy, ride quality and tire replacement cost. Oh well.

ChiNorm · Post by **ChiNorm** » 26 Jul 2011, 13:38

I just rented a Buick Regal (surprisingly good car for a GM) which had 18" wheels. And, 55 series tires. Really a nice ride, even if the driving position drove my back nutz. Of course, this car was designed for this size wheel and tire from the git go.

Folks with 17" wheels and 45 series tires routinely destroy wheels and tires on Chicago's potholes, some folks more than one a year. If you have roads like this, you know why I stick with the 55 series tire on a 16" wheel.

Post by **jblackburn** » 26 Jul 2011, 13:47

I'm from Durham. We're perfectly accustomed to seeing awful things like this.

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 27 Jul 2011, 01:07

Those wheels are pretty fuggly.