Helping Me Pull The Trigger On Purchasing New Wheels

[cargirl2B]

I've been trying to squelch the desire to buy a new car, especially since my 2000 Solara is still in great condition. I've wanted to make a few significant, but not costly changes to the exterior look of my car to give it a little facelift. You guys in the Lara forum here have suggested going a new set of wheels route.
I am very close to pulling the trigger on purchasing a new, summer set of wheels and tires for my Diamond White 2000 Solara. I am providing a link here to the wheel, a 17" MB Seven. Is this a decent wheel that will maintain its shine? And for those of us who live in the Midwest and have to endure harsh winters, is April 1 a good rule of thumb to change out the wheels? And what's a product you might recommend to keep the new rims shiny and well kept?
Anyway, here's the link. Let me know what you think. One of you may help sway me to pull the trigger, because truth be known, I'm on quite a fence:
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direc ... false&fcb=

[woa_its_j3ff]

okay why not just keep your stock wheels for the winter???
I woudln't ever keep rims on in the winter.. and def not in the midwest or east coast or canada..

those wheels are good but I'd recommend 18s since they arent super flashy or anything, just subtle but a good punch, I think with 18s it'd give you a a more significant look. And there really isn't a 'date' that you are set to put on your new rims, you just have to look at the weather reports and decide in your own mind when you think is the best time to do so.

Personally, I'm waiting til after this snow f-ing melts and the temps hit a minimum of 50.

[CamryOnBronze]

honestly, dont go larger than 17" if you arent going to lower the car- it will just look donked out and will end up looking worse than with the stock wheels.

As for the date to swap, there isnt one... we got snow the second week in april here last year. Its just a matter of guessing really, the sooner you do it the more of a gamble it is.

IMHO wheels are a waste of money without lowering springs, but I cant help having that opinion anymore... it doesnt bother some people, but it just looks awkward to me.

I think MB wheels are probably decent for the price and for what you want them for...

[akora12]

^^^I agree. I usually try to lower my car before doing rims.

[shocar4]

honestly, dont go larger than 17" if you arent going to lower the car- it will just look donked out and will end up looking worse than with the stock wheels.

As for the date to swap, there isnt one... we got snow the second week in april here last year. Its just a matter of guessing really, the sooner you do it the more of a gamble it is.

IMHO wheels are a waste of money without lowering springs, but I cant help having that opinion anymore... it doesnt bother some people, but it just looks awkward to me.

I think MB wheels are probably decent for the price and for what you want them for...

i've had 18's on both of my solara's and both were lowered! no donk here! I prefer 18's but 17's look nice as well!

[CamryOnBronze]

I prefer 18s as well, but it HAS to be dropped or else it will look really bad IMO

[SleeperSolara]

I suggest stickin' wit 17" rims.
You could go wit black spoked rims wit a polished lip, or bronze colored rims too.
And then lower the car ASAP. IMO.
As for the polish mantainance you can you some wheel polish from Mother's to keep the rims nice a shiny.
As for the date to change the summer rims to winter, i usually watch the weather to see what the weather would be like for the winter.
Also you should invest in some 17" rims for the winter, like Gen 2 Solara rims.
That's my plan i'm tryin' to do, since i'm lowered now.

[**PoshPepper**]

My vote would be to lower your car first and then get at least 18" rims.
If you don't plan on lowering the car then stick with 17s at the largest, but they will still look a little strange IMO on a stock height car.

G/L with the mods!

[shocar4]

I prefer 18s as well, but it HAS to be dropped or else it will look really bad IMO

sorry man i misread what you wrote in the above post...yeah i agree that if you are going to stay of stock height then 17's max, if you are going to lower then 18's for sure...............like others have said, lower then rims!

[CamryOnBronze]

^ no worries man

even a mild lowering spring with 17s would look great, tons better than stock..

[cargirl2B]

It wasn't an easy decision, but after reading these good and insightful posts, I ended up not biting the bullet for the new wheels. The new, bigger wheels would have required new tires, the new wheels and tires would have required a lowering of the springs to look the most effective, the second set of wheels and tires would have required storage, which I don't have, and I would have had to pay twice a year for changing and balancing, etc. etc.

Rats.

[CamryOnBronze]

^ you could do the swapping yourself, that isnt difficult at all... but it is a cost you have to be up for, thats for sure.

[SleeperSolara]

It wasn't an easy decision, but after reading these good and insightful posts, I ended up not biting the bullet for the new wheels. The new, bigger wheels would have required new tires, the new wheels and tires would have required a lowering of the springs to look the most effective, the second set of wheels and tires would have required storage, which I don't have, and I would have had to pay twice a year for changing and balancing, etc. etc.

Rats.

If you haven't heard that very good car phrase.....

You gotta play to pay......

At work when i was bored and it was slow wit no customers i somewhat added p what i spend on my car so far.....
It ended up bein' about: $6000 over 3 years....
That's even addin' up the new tires i need and to fix my Revo's too.

About $1200 more and i'll be done hopefully.....**crosses-fingers**

[cdeez]

go 19's with a drop.. i have 19's, and a drop and my car looks clean..so i have I heard..