Rob Tomlin

I finally had a chance to get some pics taken of my new SSR Professor Wheels in SBC (Super Black Coat).

I really like these wheels. I definitely need to get Center Caps for them though, looks pretty bad without them. My vendor said they didn't offer them from Japan, but the Tire Rack website shows them (Tire Rack will have these in limited sizes at the end of February).

As mentioned in Cortc's thread, I had to use spacers (6mm) to get them to clear the calipers on the front (18 x 8.5 offset 43). I am using the stock 225 tires for the time being.

Here you go:

An overall shot:



This shot lets you see how close the brake calipers come to the wheel (not good):



Rear angle:



It is somewhat difficult to capture the way these wheels look in person with the SBC coating. They look different depending on the lighting, and the angle of the light hitting them. Pretty cool.

And before you say it: yes, next step is to lower the car! Any suggestions for springs?

adrian-1

Super Black Coat? That's not what I had in mind. Still looks good.
I suggest MS springs/ shocks. Not too much of a drop and handles great.

sohcpunk

did it come without center caps?

rotarenvy

look great! I'm suprised they don't have enough clearence. they make the rx-8 brakes look big but the wheel looks small due to the spoke ending well before the lip. they look a bit like a 17" centre bolted to a 18" rim.
the 225's look good streched on the rear rims too

Rob Tomlin

Yes, they came WITHOUT center caps.

Looks ridiculous without them in my opinion, so I will definitely be getting some.

Rotaryenvy- I agree! They look small. When I got them on I said to myself that 19's would look better. I thought 19's would be too big. Hindsight..........

goforwand

You'd think that something that says "black coat" would look more "gunmetal-ish" but it doesn't. Mine are RMC (Ray's Metal Coat) and are basically the same type of idea.

The SBC/RMC actually turns a normal chrome into a more subtle chrome by adding a black tint to it. It's actually quite cool as the coating will look different under different lighting conditions.

Rob is correct.. doesn't photograph well at all (which is a bit wierd) but looks great in person.

Here's a pic of my Gram Lights which in "real life" the wheel looked very dark, but still photographed light.

goforwand

Sharp looking wheel Rob....good to see them on the car (which looks great BTW!)

Rob Tomlin

Thanks!

I really like yours too. It is weird how these don't photograph very well. You described it just right when you say

Mikelikes2drive

you need some wheel caps though :/ but wheel looks great

Rob Tomlin

How much will the MS springs lower the car?

Can you use the MS springs without the MS shocks (and just use the stock Tokico's)?

XDEEDUBBX

rob....love the wheels! I'm picking up a set in February but won't install till i get my hks hipermaxx...so these are 18? what are your offsets?

flip

Nice.. they look Hawt! :D

.. i want some wheels! ARRGH! actually, i've got my eye on something...

goforwand

If I recall the discussion(s) correctly, you will need to do both springs and shocks in order to get the full benefit of improved handling.

With springs only, someone mentioned you get a "bouncy" suspension.

That being said, I beleive there are a bunch of people that have used various "lowering" springs and have not had any adverse effects to ride quality.

The Racing Beat springs are designed to work with the stock Tokico's, but don't lower the car all that much.

(I think mine car dropped maybe a half to 3/4 of an inch at the most with the RB set up)

Omicron

Beautiful wheels, but not what I would call "black" in any shade! Still look awesome Rob. How much do they weigh?

mikeb

nice rob

gofarwand
got any more pics

Rob Tomlin

Just so nobody is mistaken, I knew EXACTLY what I was getting when I ordered these wheels. Although they are called Super BLACK Coat, I knew that they didn't come close to looking Black, and that is NOT what I wanted. I wanted something a little less "blingy" than pure chrome, and that's exactly what these are. Under certain light, they do look more like a gunmetal coating. They DO offer these in a pure BLACK color, which is what Cortc has ordered.

Goforwand- any other reco's for lowering springs? RB's don't lower it enough to make it worth it....and I really don't want to spend the extra cash on new shocks to go with MS springs. I would like at least a one inch drop with springs only (if possible).

BTW, I don't know exactly how much they weigh. They definitely seemed light though!

XDEEDUBX- they are 18 x 8.5. Offset was 43mm all around, and this was wrong because of the "Face" (spoke configuration). I had to use spacers (6mm). Don't order the "Super Low Disk"!

irish8

Rob, very nice!! Very nice indeed.

- Irish

mtnpass

Rob, very nice choice!!!!! I absolutely love those wheels..Tire Rack will not have my size in until end of Feb or beginning of March. I can't wait those look amazing.

PS: I am wiping the drool off the keyboard as I type.

Rob Tomlin

Thanks for the compliments!

The wait will be worth it mtnpass!

cortc

Rob,

Did you mount the TPMS?

Thanks,

cortc

Rob Tomlin

Nope.

The TPMS would not work with these wheels, and I didn't feel like waiting any longer to have them sent out to be drilled (which they easily could have done).

cortc

They look really nice...