Inovit RD21 Wheel

[McDude 40]

Has anyone tried the Inovit RD21 wheel on their car? 

https://m.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/inovit/rd21/gold/18-inch

It looks like a copy of the Prodrive PFFF7 which made it onto the Impreza. The Scoobynet people seem to rate the wheel and it is available in BRZ (or GT86) fitment or so the link above claims. 

It looks pretty saucy to me but don’t know what it’s like in real life. It looks like it might be a bit domed in some pics but in others it looks flat if not nicely dished.

It’s not an especially expensive wheel but by the time you’ve put on tyres your probably staring at the thick end of £1000 

I’ve had a good search and can’t find evidence of anyone fitting them, including on the very extensive FT86 wheel directory

Thoughts and opinions welcome! 

 

 

[Paul 442]

They're going to be properly tucked at 18x7.5" and ET 42.

[McDude 40]

1 hour ago, Paul said:

They're going to be properly tucked at 18x7.5" and ET 42.

Do you think they will?

A stock wheel is 7" and ET48 - so the new wheel is half an inch wider or ~10mm, cut that down the middle and you are talking 5mm wider from centre. Does that not mean with 6mm less offset it will essentially have the same position of the face of the wheel as stock?

I could easily have that totally wrong! I can also see that a bigger offset would be desirable to push the wheel out from the stock position.

[Church 209]

x7.5", so 1/4"/6.35mm wider to each side vs (if same offset) x7" stock wheel + 6mm lesser centerline offset then stock's offset.

Wheel will be to outside in total by 12.35mm, and less then mm closer to inside.

[MartinT 514]

You want a lower ET if you want to push the wheel out more. As a guidance, I'm running ET 35 with 17 x 8 wheels and have near-on flush fitment.

[Paul 442]

39 minutes ago, McDude said:

Do you think they will?

A stock wheel is 7" and ET48 - so the new wheel is half an inch wider or ~10mm, cut that down the middle and you are talking 5mm wider from centre. Does that not mean with 6mm less offset it will essentially have the same position of the face of the wheel as stock?

I could easily have that totally wrong! I can also see that a bigger offset would be desirable to push the wheel out from the stock position.

I consider the stock wheels to be extremely tucked yes.

[Varelco 211]

It was quite a few years ago now but Inovit weren't very highly rated. They were cheap and brittle. May of changed now but it's worth looking into.

[Church 209]

IIRC that tucked-in stock wheel placement is due EU own regulations, for car to be sold in some countries here it needs to be able to fit snow chains (no matter how little sense it makes for ours, as in places with deep unplown snow or deep mud where chains over normal winter tires might be needed, low ground clearance will prevent driving anyway. Well, but then again Toyota lists among official options for ours also towing hook .. and puts in manual that this car is not for towing ). So if car was made/designed for sale world-wide .. hence the tucked in stock wheels sizing. But it's norm, most cars are. And i don't find it THAT big of an issue worth caring much about.

[McDude 40]

Thanks for the replies people!

So have we concluded that the wheel face would sit as near as dammit in the same place? But that that is actually quite inboard/tucked in because that’s how the stock wheels are?

I think I’d agree that if I was going to change the wheel I’d push it out a bit. But surely that means a bigger offset (higher ET) and/or wider tyre?

Perhaps this is why no one else is using these rims!?!

[Deacon 1357]

2 minutes ago, McDude said:

Thanks for the replies people!

So have we concluded that the wheel face would sit as near as dammit in the same place? But that that is actually quite inboard/tucked in because that’s how the stock wheels are?

I think I’d agree that if I was going to change the wheel I’d push it out a bit. But surely that means a bigger offset (higher ET) and/or wider tyre?

Perhaps this is why no one else is using these rims!?!

It'd sit 12mm near enough closer to the arch so it'd be better than stock but not as good as something like an 8" wide et35 wheel would be as was mentioned earlier. 

[McDude 40]

13 minutes ago, Deacon said:

It'd sit 12mm near enough closer to the arch so it'd be better than stock but not as good as something like an 8" wide et35 wheel would be as was mentioned earlier. 

Sorry, I’d done my maths the wrong way!

Okay 12mm further out.

Thanks

[KevinA 695]

Debs has just put 17x7.5 et35 on and I wouldn't want them anymore tucked than that tbh

[MartinT 514]

1 hour ago, McDude said:

Thanks for the replies people!

But surely that means a bigger offset (higher ET) and/or wider tyre?

No, lower ET.

[Church 209]

I'd probably would do some mix. A bit wider wheel & tire, a bit lesser positive offset, and wouldn't go for completely flush looks, as there are some slight ill-effects too, such as too wide tire might be too grippy and loose some of stock playfulness at legal speeds/more tramlining, centerline moved too much out with small offsets/spacers will make heavier steering (changed scrub radius) and extra load/wear on wheel bearings. Also for sake of simplicity of getting damaged wheel replacement would get all four wheels same, even if for flushness one may need more spacing out in front.

But if flushness really is important to one, check Flush Wheel Offset Chart in first post here. Table lists it for different wheel widths and at stock and 1" lowered heights. It might be a bit different though if one for sake of better grip dials in non-standard alignment with more negative camber though, where wheel top will get more tucked in, lower side more spaced out, also different tires of same sizing might have different real thread width.

[Nimz 70]

As people have already mentioned the fitment isn’t ideal as the wheels will still be pretty tucked, another unknown is the weight of the wheel, being a cheaper brand I doubt these are the lightest.

This is a great website for checking how different widths and offsets will sit in comparison to stock. For reference most people use 25mm rear and 20mm front spacers to bring stock wheels flush to the arches.

[MartinT 514]

19 hours ago, MartinT said:

As a guidance, I'm running ET 35 with 17 x 8 wheels and have near-on flush fitment.

This is what I meant. No spacers.

[McDude 40]

I've been giving this quite a bit of thought over the past few days; thanks for the input, it's been a bit of an education because I've not really given offsets/wheel placement in the arch much thought in the past.

I'm very reluctant to do anything which would change the handling of the car; afterall this is why I bought it. I can see from an aesthetics point of view, pushing the wheel out does improve the looks, but it does concern me that the track is being widened. To be honest, I'd not really noticed the position of the wheel in the arch and it didn't really bother me.

On ‎10‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 11:59 AM, MartinT said:

This is what I meant. No spacers.

What rim is that you are running Martin? Same tyre size or have you gone up in width due to the wider rim? And do you notice a change in the handling? No denying it looks good in the arch.

I guess what I like about the Inovits is they would keep close to stock, similar offset and tyre width.

I'll probably end up doing nothing!

[MartinT 514]

It's a 17x8 ET35 wheel with one size tyre up: 225/45 R17 XL.  Not huge grip to spoil the handling but decidedly better contact patch than the stock 215/45 Michelin Primacy.  The handling just feels very assured.  I read somewhere that the slightly wider track is the ideal for the chassis and I had camber bolts and alignment done so that it all works as it should.  There is no bump steer or anything to suggest untoward behaviour.

[Lauren 2259]

5 hours ago, MartinT said:

It's a 17x8 ET35 wheel with one size tyre up: 225/45 R17 XL.  Not huge grip to spoil the handling but decidedly better contact patch than the stock 215/45 Michelin Primacy.  The handling just feels very assured.  I read somewhere that the slightly wider track is the ideal for the chassis and I had camber bolts and alignment done so that it all works as it should.  There is no bump steer or anything to suggest untoward behaviour.

The only one thing I would say having tried this setup myself with a ET of 38 is that going a size wider on the tyre leads to a corresponding increase in sidewall profile. This resulted in too much sidewall flex for me. So I went for stock sizes on an 8" wheel which I'm very happy with as it removes the sidewall flex and have kept ever since. 

[MartinT 514]

Thanks, Lauren.  I haven't had much chance to assess that yet and I'm not one to absolutely cane the car on public roads, but I'll keep it in mind.

[Lauren 2259]

3 minutes ago, MartinT said:

Thanks, Lauren.  I haven't had much chance to assess that yet and I'm not one to absolutely cane the car on public roads, but I'll keep it in mind.

No worries, I noticed it as more noticable an issue on track. Some aren't bothered by it though. 

[MartinT 514]

1 minute ago, Lauren said:

No worries, I noticed it as more noticable an issue on track. Some aren't bothered by it though. 

As a matter of interest, how does it manifest itself in terms of the feel of the car?

[Lauren 2259]

Just now, MartinT said:

As a matter of interest, how does it manifest itself in terms of the feel of the car?

Well, yes, it's less precise as you have the take of the slack in the sidewall now it's bigger than it was compared to a 215. I didn't like how it affected precision. Though pulling the tyre a bit with an inch wider rim and the stock tyre made it more precise than stock. It does make it more reactive though, so it may depend on how sharp you want your car to feel. 

[McDude 40]

A 'mixed' response to the Inovit wheels. I've got another contender to put to you:

Braid Fullrace A: https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/competition-wheels/braid-fullrace-a-wheels-set-of-4

If you want them in Gold (which I do) you are looking at 18" x 8J with 5x100 and an ET40 fitting. You can get more offsets in white but 8J with ET40 should push the wheel out ~14mm from stock and 5mm less than flush (which I'm okay with).

Braid wheels have a small but loyal following on the FT86 forum in the US. They are actually a Spanish company and specialise in wheels for rallying.

Appreciate thoughts and feedback as always.

[Nimz 70]

Certainly look a better shout than the inovits, supposedly well made wheels too. Quick google puts the weight at more or less the same as the stock 17s, but with the larger tyres will almost certainly be heavier overall. Should look good against the blue though, quite a classic Subaru look I guess.