Nah i prefer the ones on the GT... they are sweet!!! I now have a new fav set of mags!
The ones in that pic look very close to the ones they are now, just les chrome, which is good (i feel)
People keep whinging about this new GT not being enough like the GTs of old. What were the originals? they were Falcons with nice rims, a rear wing and i nice big engine...And thats what this new one is...
You know, I reckon if Ford hadn't released photo's of the XR's with big optional 18's on them, than this may never have been a problem.
The designs of the two wheels lend themselves to an unflattering (to the GT) optical illusion that makes the wheel from the higher spec car look smaller that those on the lower spec car.
I'm not a car designer, but I do have nearly 15 years experience as a packaging designer, so I feel I can speak with a little bit of certainty when I say this is entirely a case of your eye fooling your brain.
Having seen the two wheels in metal now, let me say that no photos I have seen are flattering to the GT wheel. It looks much better in person.
But... the optical Illusion is there, due to the fact that the GT wheel has a central split in its' spokes that gets smaller as they move to the outer rim, while XR 18's have spokes that get larger as they move out to the rim thanks to the way they machine the edge detail.
Also, the fatter spokes of the GT mean you see less 'airspace' behind the wheel compared to a thinner spoke, and this reinforces the illusion that you're looking at a smaller diametre wheel.
I like the new wheels personally. Look good, easy to clean and show the brakes What more could you want? It would be good if they could have a 19 as an option though. XRs 17's standard 18's optional, GT's 18's standard 19's optional, GTHO 19's std and maybe 20s optional.
The spy pics seem to show ROH Modenas which are my pick for fitment to my car, closely followed by Simmons FR style five spokes in 19 inch (due early 2003, just in time).
After having seen the wheels on the VY SS and the new 'Y' series HSV range, I have to say (ducking from flames here) that Holden/HSV have again shown an advantage in wheel design. The VY SS wheels look fantastic in my eyes, and if comparing HSV to FPV I have to say that the new GTS wheels (and slightly less so the Clubbie R8 items) are horn.
I have an old saying which I live by: "Wheels maketh the car." :bump:
Whilst I know that 19's are not very practical for those of us who don't have access to AS 1298 roads!! After having 18's on my AU they would be a must for any beast in the FPV range.The 19's that Nick has for sale in the NSWTOC forum are pretty suited, much like the KAHN, Herrod 18's.
What with big wheels? WHo the hell wants 20 inch wheels? They are unnecessary, not to mention they just look stiupid. 18's are enough, maybe if you have to 19s but nothing bigger.
After having seen the wheels on the VY SS and the new 'Y' series HSV range, I have to say (ducking from flames here) that Holden/HSV have again shown an advantage in wheel design. The VY SS wheels look fantastic in my eyes, and if comparing HSV to FPV I have to say that the new GTS wheels (and slightly less so the Clubbie R8 items) are horn.
I have an old saying which I live by: "Wheels maketh the car." :bump:
Totally agree with Cobra about the rim diameter. 17's are really at their limit on country roads (I know the VX must have a softer rim because they can easily be buckled, sent two back this year)
Apart from the rim size, what about tyre availability. You are really getting up into expensive territory. I know the B530 Bridgestones and the SP9000 Dunlops are up around the 380 - 400 retail. Not that great when you get around 20 to 35k out of the tyres, especially if the car has a heap of grunt and the driver decides he wants to have fun.
Keep the 18's, 19's and 20's for the stylised freaks that spend more time in grey import Jap car mags and style over substance mags.
I would like to see the modern intepretation of the 'Magnum' rim that appears on the 2003 Mach 1 Mustang. Looks great and really sets the car off.
What with big wheels? WHo the hell wants 20 inch wheels? They are unnecessary, not to mention they just look stiupid. 18's are enough, maybe if you have to 19s but nothing bigger.
After having seen the wheels on the VY SS and the new 'Y' series HSV range, I have to say (ducking from flames here) that Holden/HSV have again shown an advantage in wheel design. The VY SS wheels look fantastic in my eyes, and if comparing HSV to FPV I have to say that the new GTS wheels (and slightly less so the Clubbie R8 items) are horn.
I don't neccesarily agree with you here AP. The problem is that EVERYONE loves 5 spoke wheels, and from Ferrari on down, they have become almost synonymous with 'performance' oriented models in any makers car range.
Unfortunately, there are only so many things you can do with the design of a 5 spoke wheel, and trying to differenciate from your main competition when you both use the same basic design means some will always look better than others.
The optional 18's on the XR are a fabulous example of classic simplicity that look incredibly tough due to the sharp, sharp edges and machined final detailing.
Perhaps more fitting for a higher spec car as the GT is - and better looking than the wheels on the HSV GTO coupe for example - the FPV wheels are a softer, more elegant looking creature with a beauty of their own (look at the split 5 spoke wheels on certain late model Ferarris for a comparable design), but they are hampered by the fact that the XR wheel is using a small central radius with an outwardly expanding spoke design, whereas the GT wheels taper from larger radius centres as the move outwards.
It's all about your eye tricking your brain with an impression of false perspective (which makes the XR wheels look bigger).
I say again - if the press photos of the blue XR8 didn't exist, I doubt any of this complaining about the wheel would ever have taken place....
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