What are the real differences between the rota slipstreams and the soppon rims? Weight? Strength? Is the name spoon printed on the real ones? And where's a good cheap place to order the rotas?

 

Weight

Price
http://www.groupbuycenter.com

 

How much difference in weight?

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~cvlocas/wheels.html

Jason

 

Strength, durability, weight, and finish...

 

Spoon 15 inch 8.8 pounds, Rota 15 inch around 11 to 12 pounds. I think. Not a big difference in weight but i got the spoons anyway!


[Modified by typer694, 5:43 AM 2/9/2002]

 

I definitely noticed that pyromaster's Rota's didn't hold the finish very well. When we were taking it off for a brake pad swap (f/r), the paint just flaked off so easily.

 

j/k

ok to seriously contribute to this thread, you're really comparing apples and oranges:
rotas are a cheap cast wheel that s 3 lbs lighter than stock
spoons are an expensive forged wheel that are like 7 lbs lighter than stock.
they just happen to look the same. if you do a search, you'll find tons of rota/spoon threads out there

 

how strong are knockoffs? i mean desmond (spoon) wheels are so ugly because they are gutted for weight, but it's the forging that gives it strength... but the knockoffs are cast? i assume the weight gains come from this too, but...?

 

Mine seem to be pretty strong. I bought them because they were a good price, and if I did happen to chip, bend or break one, I was out minimal money, compared to the Spoon rim. The roads are terrible around here. Potholes, sections missing, lumber in the road from construction... I think you can see why I settled on the Rotas...
I love the look of the Spoon rims, this just got me close to that look it a very small price. Call them the "Poor Man's Spoons."


Jason

 

it's the breaking part that i'm worried about. we've all seen that pic of the mugen copy in which the impact separated the rim from the hub and spokes and did considerable damage to the bodywork, brakes and suspension... i'm scared!

 

There's plenty of meat on those things(not very thin spokes). If you're not hitting curbs sideways, you'll be fine.

 

I agree with that too. Meaty, they do not appear any less strong that stock. Like I said, already had a few encounters with holes that take out the new C5 Z06 wheels, and no problems with the Rotas yet...


Jason

 

I got them for the use on road courses to wear my azenis, and they should fufill that duty well, and inexpesnively (total for wheels and tires around 800 bucks...you can't beat that). The finish isn't that great (i do like the color though), but like the Azenis, bang for the buck is stellar. Just don't think they're anything like spoons, they just happen to look like them, but it is apples and oranges. pics on my site if you want to get a closer look.

 

People seem to forget that the stock ITR rims are cast too. I've never seen anyone complain about the durability of those. True, forged wheels are stronger but cast wheels hold their own.

Just a thought...with the money you spend buying 1 set of 16" Spoon wheels, you can buy 3 sets of the Rotas and then some for the same amount of bills.

 

u misunderstood what i'm trying to say... if itr wheels were forged in the same design i'm sure it would be one of the strongest wheels out there.

desmond wheels are so minimal and lightweight because they use forging for strength and reduce mass. the same goes for other wheels like mugen or rays. there are so many knockoffs out there that copy but use casting to reduce cost... but is the strength still there?

i wouldn't mind a good knockoff wheel too at a cheaper price. i bought mine way back when there was no such thing as a knockoff rota, and i don't have any regrets because i feel that i got the best wheel for what i wanted (lightweight and strong)...

 

Forged wheels are light AND strong due to the process. Cast wheels are normally heavier because there is more material and making them weigh less involves using less material in the process. If you abuse ANY wheel it will bend. Buy what your wallet allows, but there is no denying that a forged wheel is stronger than a cast, esp a "light weight" cast. As for those Z06 rims, aren't those CAST magnesium?

 

the only reason im considering rota's instead of the spoon cause i would like to use them for track only , well at least just to buy 2 rims so i could use slicks for 1/4 track. since 15's is the only wheel that will clear type R bracking system ! or how are the kosei1 or is there something better to use slicks !

 

Hi,

I have a new set (5) of the 15" Slipstreams that I got from Walee at Mach iii.

Price was better than expected, shipping was great and Walee was a good guy to talk with. He followed up with shipping no#'s for UPS, so I could track if I wanted. He packed the 5 in such a way as to minimize shipping costs (2 in one box and 3 in the other).

He also warned me about the (f'ugly) center caps and told me that the stock lugnuts should work just fine (any comments there?). They were here quicker than I expected and the manufacturing quality seems quite good. Most of the "beef" seems to be in the spokes and the rim section is fairly thin which would be good for rotational mass considerations.

If the flat black chips off it should be pretty easy to touch up.

Not as light as the Spoons, but I can put the $1000 difference into tires, suspension, cams, and/or flywheel and be further ahead.

I'll bet you that you're faster with a set of Slipstreams and a SMSP header than just a set of Spoon wheels at the same price!?

Bottom line: I'm happy!
John

 

Can I get an AMEN for this gentlemen

 

That's what I am screaming...


Jason
-Who got the Slipstreams and with the extra money got an SMS header

 

what about braking? just as important on the track..


[Modified by addicted2VTEC, 3:04 PM 2/9/2002]

 

Braking??????

Slipstreams + Big Brakes vs. a set of Spoons? Which will stop me sooner?

Ahhhhhhhhhhh..... Probably either way the tires will flat spot first<LOL>

John

 

Whoever said Desmonds are ugly..........how the F**K do you figure. Its the same wheel as the SW388 except it comes in colors better than flat black.

 

and then cornering?