Kosei K1 TS question...

[Mark DeShon]

Could anybody who is running this rim (Kosei K1 TS) in 15X7 tell me what the center bore diameter is? I'm looking at possibly switching to this rim and I need to know if it'll fit over my large front wheel bearings/bosses/dust covers. Thanks.
Mark D.

[Max Likhterman]

I know they used to have 15x7 4x100 57.1 center bore with 27 and 30+mm offsets. However it was for 4 lug wheels, they may have 5 lug ones I don't know about.
Hope it helps.
You can always call tirerack, I believe they still carry some of these K1 wheels.

[Mark DeShon]

That's 57.1 millimeters, right? That does help, thanks. The 4X100s are what I want to use.
Mark D.

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

I just had a set of these very wheels show up at our office today. 15x7, 4-100, +38mm offset, and the hub center is 73mm. (edit, hub center was listed on the box)

[Mark DeShon]

I just had a set of these very wheels show up at our office today. 15x7, 4-100, +38mm offset, and the hub center is 73mm. (edit, hub center was listed on the box)

Awesome. Thanks to the both of you. Looks like I've got some machining to do (Lug-centric spacers, that is).
Mark D.

[Max Likhterman]

I believe there are centering rings to convert 73mm center bore into 57.1. I remember having TSW's with 73mm center bore in 4x100 ET 40 ish with centering rings and spacers on my e30 years ago.
From my experience as long center bore of the wheel is bigger than the hub of the car you can always find centering rings, sizes seem to be universal ( ie 57.1, 64,72,74IIRC for many german cars) Now if the center bore on the car is larger than the wheel's then there is a problem...

If you end up getting centering rings I'd recommend metal ones vs plastic ones.

Max

[Mark DeShon]

Well, I would definitely be machining them myself, so they would probably be 7075 aluminum (If that's too pricey I'll go with 6061). I'll be pulling the hubs/rotors on the 914 this weekend to see if this will be at all doable. }:)
Mark D.

[Steve Ekstrand]

What are you trying to do Mark? Because centering rings and spacers are DIRT cheap. Now hubcentric spacers are something else and much much more.

[Mark DeShon]

What are you trying to do Mark?

Convert a 4X130 lug-centric design to a 4X100 hub centric design for larger rim options without the expense of going to a Porsche 5 lug (5X130) suspension.
Mark D.

[Max Likhterman]

Well 4x100 is not so popular, especially for larger wheels. I don't know offset you need, but low offset (15-30) wheels are not that common, there are not many choices in anything wider than 7 inch too. People convert 4x100 to 5x120 in which you can find a lot of wheels with offsets from 15-45mm starting as small as 14 inch wheels to 18.
I think H&R makes converting spacers for that.

Additionally, assuming that your goal is fit wider wheels on your 914 ( don't you already have 15's with 205 tires or even 225's?) is to go to 17 inch wheels, that way, depending on the offset/fender gap you may be able to go to 235 on 8 or 9 inch wheel and have many more tire choices. Higher unsprung weight and drag is a downside, but I'd take extra grip of the wider tires over some of the acceleration...

[Mark DeShon]

15X7 is all I'm goin' for. I want to run 205/50/15 V710s in the front, and 225/50/15 V710s in the rear. DP rules have weight penalties on rims over 7" wide which I want to avoid, and I'm also afraid of putting too much tire on such a light car. Right now I'm running 15X5.5 rims (all you can get for 4X130) with 195/55/15 Dunlop Z1s all around and I already have trouble getting enough heat into the tires.
Offset is not an issue as I've already stated I'll be machining my own spacers. 17s are too heavy, a nightmare to fit under a 914, and since the main goal is to keep costs low, too expensive. And again, probably too much tire for the car. Just in the planning stages right now. I may consider 5X120 in 15" if I discover I have no room to machine a 4X100 bolt pattern into the hubs. What cars did use that bolt pattern? Preferably in 15"? Thanks.
Mark D.

[Max Likhterman]

Most BMW wheels come in 5x120 are, at least they did for cars built in the 80's and the 90's. Offsets and center bore varies, especially from mid 90's on. You can find a set of good 5x120 15x7 ET20 BBS mesh wheels for $100- these are from 5, 6 and 7 series cars (up to 1995). Same with E36 wheels- same bolt pattern and center bore, but offsets in the low 40's (1991-1999). They are vailable, light, high quality and dirt cheap.

I did not know you ran 5.5 wide wheels, it's definitely a limiting factor. 195's are probably too wide for the rim, I run 155 on the same sized VW wheels but I don't try to turn too fast.
Good luck,
Max

[Mark DeShon]

Thanks, Max. Good info. After you suggested 5X120 I researched it a little and may, in fact go that direction. I did find some rims, but nothing as light as the Koseis. Although, I'm sure BBS' are reasonably light. I also pulled some suspension pieces on Monday and found that I won't be able to modify the existing hubs, meaning I'll have to machine all new hubs. That's not entirely out of the question, but it does change the expense/time frame somewhat. Besides, engine work needs to be done before anything else. Still plotting. Thanks again.
Mark D.

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

Why not just work with the hubs you have... Cost a little more than the K1 TS, but Spin Werks 15x7 is 12lbs and comes in nearly any offset and bolt pattern.

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