I was wondering if anyone could help me here. I don't want my car to stand out very much because so many Hondas get stolen where I live. I want my car to look "factory" so I am considering buying some factory GSR alloy wheels to replace the steel ones on my 2000 civic. I already have a race tuned suspension, so I need some wheels that can take the abuse of some hard street driving. Will the wheels from a '95 integra be strong enough? I found a deal for 500 bucks for a set of new ones. Or is this money better spent on some aftermarket wheels? The teg wheels are the size I need, plus the're not too expensive, so I'm looking for some input from my fellow enthusiasts.

 

yes the oem rims are usually stronger then most cheaper aftermarket wheels, but they are light, which means, slower acceleration and more pounding on the suspension, because a wheel is a part of unsprung weight...

my advise would be to simply get some lightweight aftermarket wheels, such as Rota C8/Slip Stream, Konig Kilo, and few others or go with some more quality fordged wheels by Racing Hart or SSR

from expirence:
I have a set of 12lbs (15x6.5") aftermarket wheel as well as a set of 97 (mesh GSR) wheels (15x6) these weight about 16lbs, the difference in acceleration, braking, turning and even regular driving is so much better on the lighter rim...

as far as my suspension i also have Teins and ITR sway bars...

 

Hey, eg6ajk, I thought the factory GSR rims are pretty light. Like about 15 pounds. That woul be better than my factory steel rims that weigh in at around 18 pounds (civic) don't you think? Lighter rims ARE better for faster acceleration aren't they?

 

I know that the most people prefer aftermarket rims (usually fo looks and apprearance), but how well suited are the '95 teg alloys (15x6) for performance. They are a decent weight at 15 lbs. They are the size I want. So, are they worth it? Lighter rims INCREASE acceleration I thought, so wouldn't they be a good choice? Plus they make for a smooth factory look IMO, so appearance isn't really an issue here. I'm talking about performance. Any comments welcomed. Thanx

 

rota c8's are lighter(~11lb) and cheaper(~$400) than any stock rims i've seen for sale. walee at machIII is the man to talk to for rota hookups.

 

Ok, well, no one is answering his question...

Factory rims are VERY strong. I have been in 2 wrecks where the suspension to major damage. The one car was a civic with '95 GSR Rims, and the other was a civic with '95 Del Sol rims. In all instances, the suspension took major damage (full replacement) yet the rim was still round and true. I was run off the road by a semi and hit a curb straigt on. I hit it so hard it blew the tire, pushed the wheel back to the wheel well, and accually buckled my roof due to the right front of the car torquing so violently. After all that, I still have the wheels, and they are perfetly straight and balance with very small weights.

I have also been told, take this with a grain of salt, that the OEM wheels are designed to be droped on the rim at a 45 degree angle from like 10 feet or something, and must not bend/break. Again, I have been told this, I don't necessarily believe it.

Hope this helps!

Reefer_Bob.

 

Hey, Reefer- Bob, thanks for the info! You're right though, it seems like people are just suggesting different rims instead of answering my question about the durability of the stock GSR rims. I want info on stock rims not specs on aftermarket rims! ARe they worth 500 bucks a pop (per set)? Anybody else?

 

you can get factory sets for about 200 if you look around, i got a set of 96's for that much, if your just concerned with weight that's about the best bang for the buck you can get.

 

I also smacked a curb with a set of GS-R wheels, 94' to be exact. Backwards and sideways at about 75-80 mph. Destroyed the entire trailing arm and bearing. Rim lost a bit of metal, but it is still true and round.

 

Used to be that the 94-95 GSR "fan" rims were one of the most popular kinds among thieves. Dunno if it's still that way now... Just something to think about.

Rainmaker

 

the rims should be strong enough for it not to be a real consideration. As for performance, yes it will be improved over the civic steel wheels. You can get better but for a higher price. As for the price, I'd say look around. $500 seems a bit high to me for stock rims. If you've got the time, look for some companies that specialize in stock rims and give them a call. look for used ones also. You can usually find that kind of stuff for $2-300 if you try hard enough (hell, pick up the paper and look for them, lots of people selling theirs after getting rims).

 

Thanks for the info guys, it really helps to know what other honda owners think.
Rainmaker: That was an important piece of info you told me. The reason why I wanted to get stock integra rims in the first place was so that I would have a better performing wheel without the flash. I DON"T want to attract thieves, and I prefer the sleeper look. I did find a set in my hometown that are used. The seller is asking for 350 for the set and he has already sent me pictures. I think I'll probably go for it!