Ordering black Kazera wheels--any new tire size ideas?

[studio460]

Finally there are BLACK wheels for our cars that fit! I'm going to order the Kazera wheels in black from TireRack.com: 18" x 8.5" for the fronts and 18" x 9.5" for the rears. I've got lower-series Nittos on my stock rims now which lower the car an additional inch, but the ride leaves a lot to be desired, and now, I'm having to deal with the SECOND Nitto I've popped due to new potholes created by our recent California rainstorms.

So, any suggestions?

[stevengerard]

no, but I'd like alink to those wheels.

[Marauder]

If you're aiming to keep the smaller diameter tires, go with 275/40-18 out back...I would say 285/40-18 but I don't think Nitto makes that size in the 555 series.

If you want to go back to stock heights, put your rear 255/45-18 in the front and get 295/45-18 for the back.




Finally there are BLACK wheels for our cars that fit! I'm going to order the Kazera wheels in black from TireRack.com: 18" x 8.5" for the fronts and 18" x 9.5" for the rears. I've got lower-series Nittos on my stock rims now which lower the car an additional inch, but the ride leaves a lot to be desired, and now, I'm having to deal with the SECOND Nitto I've popped due to new potholes created by our recent California rainstorms.

So, any suggestions?

[studio460]

Okay, I just went to the Nitto site, and here's what I found . . .

BRAND/FRONTS/REARS

Stock BFGs:......................... ......235/50/18........245/55/18
NT-555 Nittos I have on now:........245/40/18........255/45/18
NT-555 Nittos for KAZERAs:...........255/45/18........295/45/18

Do the 255s fit in the front? Will the 295s fit in the rear?

[2003 MIB]

So, any suggestions?
I got an email back from Tire Rack that says they'll start shipping the correct lug nuts. That was my only issue with mine. Love them.

[duhtroll]

How about pics?

-A

[Haggis]

How about pics?

-A


YEA...We want PICS!!!

[Cartman]

Somebody on here ordered chrome ones after he found out about them. He took pictures ... don't remember which thread that was in. If you want a general idea of what they'll look like you could always go to tirerack.com and look up the Marauder and after the picture loads up, click on the wheels you want to see.

[2003 MIB]

Somebody on here ordered chrome ones after he found out about them. He took pictures ... don't remember which thread that was in. If you want a general idea of what they'll look like you could always go to tirerack.com and look up the Marauder and after the picture loads up, click on the wheels you want to see.
I bought chrome one. Constable posted pics in the gallery.

[hdwrench]

http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/CallJsp?target=wheelSearchClos eUp&wheelIndex=5&sizeIndex=1&showRear=yes&setIndex=1&filterSize=&filterFinish=&filterSpecial=&colorInd=3

i think they might be these

[BK_GrandMarquis]

Okay, I just went to the Nitto site, and here's what I found . . .

BRAND/FRONTS/REARS

Stock BFGs:......................... ......235/50/18........245/55/18
NT-555 Nittos I have on now:........245/40/18........255/45/18
NT-555 Nittos for KAZERAs:...........255/45/18........295/45/18

Do the 255s fit in the front? Will the 295s fit in the rear?


I'm working on a set of new rims and tires too. Mine are also 8.5" fronts and 9.5 rears. The 255 and the 295 I think would be real close to the limits. I am trying 19" wheels instead of the 18's which might account for the wider flatter tire per size. I am using 245/40/19 up front and 285/35/19 in the rear. The fronts look like they clear at full lock. The rears are close to my Metco control arms. They miss the bolt fine but the Metco arms are thicker than the stock arms and might rub a bit in hard cornering. I see about an 1/8 clearance now. The tires are real close to the edge of the fender with the 285's on a 19" rim. The 18's with a higher profile should be thinner but if your choosing 295/45 they might equate to the same as my 285/35. The 275's that Marauder mentioned or a variation of 275 might be safer.

You can use this link for a reference:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[SouLRioT]

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/kazera/swap/kazera_kz_a_bml_ci3_l.jpg

What I found cool, was that they now have a MM on it to see how they'll look on the car.

[Constable]

Shooter: the 255's and 295's should work out fine. I think they'll look really good and have JUST the right sidewall bulge. I wanna see some good pics when you're done!

BTW: I posted on one of your threads a few months ago. Have you been to www.SLPonline.com lately? They just released the LoudMouth mufflers in a "universal" style again. These have a new case with embossed SLP logo in 'em. Perfect muffler for you!

[Bowman9]

Does anyone else think these rims look kinda like the stock rims from the 94-96 impalla ss?

[Constable]

Kinda... but the spokes aren't as wide and there isn't a full center cap.

[Directedby]

Does anyone else think these rims look kinda like the stock rims from the 94-96 impalla ss?

yes they do look like Imapla SS wheels.

[2003 MIB]

yes they do look like Imapla SS wheels.
I respectfully disagree, gentlemen. It doesn't show well in pictures but the spokes are convex. Side view- SS, 3/4 view very different. I'll have the car at next Thursday's club meeting and some other folks will see them and maybe can describe the effect a little better.

[NAVCHAP]

NBC, you've seen the 295/45 rear Toyos on my car, they fit pretty good. You shouldn't have any problems with clearance or anything, although you may want to go up a half inch on your rear airbags if you want some more space. Don't think you'll need it though. Regards, -kjs-

[studio460]

Shooter: the 255's and 295's should work out fine . . . Have you been to www.SLPonline.com lately? They just released the LoudMouth mufflers in a "universal" style again. These have a new case with embossed SLP logo in 'em. Perfect muffler for you!Hey, Constable!

Thanks! I am ready for way more sound than my Flowmasters! I already have the SLP dual-walled tips (which I have been waiting to install until I decided on a muffler). Thanks for the head's up on the SLP LoudMouths! Are they louder than FlowMaster 40-series Original-Flows?

Thanks for everyone's help/advice on the tire sizes. After all that, I think I'm just going to have the stock rims powder coated dark, dark, (almost-black) gray instead. Finally found a vendor (Washington Tire in Los Angeles) that will do 'em for me for pretty cheap. The convex design of the Kazera's spokes and the hemispherical hub design kinda bothers me (too complicated a design for my taste). I actually think the stock wheel design is the prettiest of all. Thanks again, everyone!

[Marauder]

Okay, I just went to the Nitto site, and here's what I found . . .

BRAND/FRONTS/REARS

Stock BFGs:......................... ......235/50/18........245/55/18
NT-555 Nittos I have on now:........245/40/18........255/45/18
NT-555 Nittos for KAZERAs:...........255/45/18........295/45/18

Do the 255s fit in the front? Will the 295s fit in the rear?

It depends on what you want.....stock height or the lower profile.

Lower profile, I say 245/40-18 front and 275/40-18 rear.

255/45-18 will fit up front. Kenny Brown uses that size for the front of his cars.

305/45-18 has been known to fit....very tight but it fits.

As for those 295/45-18, as long as the new rims has the correct offset, they should fit.

It is really your call depending on what look you want.

[Constable]

Hey, Constable! Thanks for the head's up on the SLP LoudMouths! Are they louder than FlowMaster 40-series Original-Flows?

Flowmaster, schmowmaster... The SLP's are the baddest muffler anywhere. Now, the "LoudMouth 2" is like the original Loudmouth. The new "Loudmouth" doesn't even have packing in it anymore. It's a stainless case that's expanded in the middle. The two end pipes extend slightly into the case, providing a "one-chamber" style design.

My car sounded insane when I got on the gas. Yours should sound even better since you're putting those tips on. My "big" tips caused a lot of resonance.

[Fourth Horseman]

http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/CallJsp?target=wheelSearchClos eUp&wheelIndex=5&sizeIndex=1&showRear=yes&setIndex=1&filterSize=&filterFinish=&filterSpecial=&colorInd=3

i think they might be these

I'm glad I'm not the only one who fell for the "expired" link thing. When I posted about these very same wheels a couple weeks back it did the same thing to me. :D

[studio460]

Flowmaster, schmowmaster... The SLP's are the baddest muffler anywhere. Now, the "LoudMouth 2" is like the original Loudmouth. The new "Loudmouth" doesn't even have packing in it anymore. It's a stainless case that's expanded in the middle. The two end pipes extend slightly into the case, providing a "one-chamber" style design.

My car sounded insane when I got on the gas. Yours should sound even better since you're putting those tips on. My "big" tips caused a lot of resonance.Constable:

So do you have the equivalent of the LoudMouth IIs? How much louder would you guess the LoudMouth II is than a Flowmaster 40-Series DeltaFlow? How much louder would you guess the new LoudMouth is than a Flowmaster 40-Series DeltaFlow? I think I'm going to go with the new LoudMouth. But if the LoudMouth II is throatier (more bass) but still much louder than DeltaFlows, I might go with those instead. I don't mind in-cabin resonance at all. I like loud. But I want it to have a LOT of bass frequencies. Thanks for any info . . .

[studio460]

It depends on what you want.....stock height or the lower profile.

Lower profile, I say 245/40-18 front and 275/40-18 rear.

255/45-18 will fit up front. Kenny Brown uses that size for the front of his cars.

305/45-18 has been known to fit....very tight but it fits.

As for those 295/45-18, as long as the new rims has the correct offset, they should fit.

It is really your call depending on what look you want.Marauder:

Thanks for your input, but I think the 275/40/18 is too low a series-tire for the rear. The 245/40/18, 255/45/18 front/rear Nittos I have on now are way too bumpy as it is! Plus I would lose the 1" rake, which I really like, and think is important to the car's original design geometry.

[Marauder]

Marauder:

Thanks for your input, but I think the 275/40/18 is too low a series-tire for the rear. The 245/40/18, 255/45/18 front/rear Nittos I have on now are way too bumpy as it is! Plus I would lose the 1" rake, which I really like, and think is important to the car's original design geometry.

Yeah, the 275-40-18 would be a hair lower profile that the 255/45-18 you have now. I had 245/45-18 and 275/40-18 on my 2002 Crown Vic but there was no rake.


Just be 100% sure the 295/45-18 will fit. I know it is a tight fit with widened MM rims. If these new rims have the same rear spacing as the widened MM rims, you're good-to-go. :D

[Constable]

NBC: Go with the Loudmouth. It'll blow the Flowmasters away as far as sound goes. The new Loudmouth 2's are a bit bigger than the ones I had (more packing for more sound absorbtion).

[Rider90]

NBC: Go with the Loudmouth. It'll blow the Flowmasters away as far as sound goes. The new Loudmouth 2's are a bit bigger than the ones I had (more packing for more sound absorbtion).

http://www.slponline.com/img/part_img/31064-1.jpg
So if there is nothing much inside, won't these sound like straight pipes? I'm looking for a deep gurgle...

[Joe Walsh]

Yeah, the 275-40-18 would be a hair lower profile that the 255/45-18 you have now. I had 245/45-18 and 275/40-18 on my 2002 Crown Vic but there was no rake.


Just be 100% sure the 295/45-18 will fit. I know it is a tight fit with widened MM rims. If these new rims have the same rear spacing as the widened MM rims, you're good-to-go. :D

What is the offset of the 18 x 8.5" and the 18 x 9.5" Kazara KZ-A Rims??

I'm not sure that they are the right offset....I have a feeling that they are going to 'push' everything to the outside/closer to the fender lip.
There is some room on the rear to move everything closer to the fender lip, but I don't think there is much in the front.

I'd be careful because when I spoke with the Tire Rack recently they had our OEM Marauder rims listed as 18 x 8.5" in their computer.

[03marauder]

The current loudmouth sounds unbelievable. I have them with the cobra manifolds and x-pipe. The sound is awesome and just what I was looking for. Not too loud at idle or cruising, but when you get on it, the car is loud. There is also not much cabin drone, which surprised me. The car finally has the sound to go with the image.

[Sully008]

[/B]

What is the offset of the 18 x 8.5" and the 18 x 9.5" Kazara KZ-A Rims??

I'm not sure that they are the right offset....I have a feeling that they are going to 'push' everything to the outside/closer to the fender lip.
There is some room on the rear to move everything closer to the fender lip, but I don't think there is much in the front.

I'd be careful because when I spoke with the Tire Rack recently they had our OEM Marauder rims listed as 18 x 8.5" in their computer.

Hi Joe,

For anybody else interested in these wheels, the original thread can be found here: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=16021

Can't remember who bought 'em, but they liked them a lot.

[Joe Walsh]

Hi Joe,

For anybody else interested in these wheels, the original thread can be found here: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=16021

Can't remember who bought 'em, but they liked them a lot.


Thanks......Hmmmmmm, Both the 8-1/2" and the 9-1/2" rims are +45mm.
OK, now I've gotta sit down with a sheet of paper and a beer to do some 'figurin'.....