View Poll Results: What do you think of ROTA wheels?
They are great and good value for your hard earned dollar! Would rock them!
350
79.91%
They are bootlegs/knock offs with poor quality! Would not rock them!
88
20.09%
Voters: 438. You may not vote on this poll
ROTA wheels and your thoughts on them?
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: SF 415
Why?
I've owned both Advan RS (GTR face) +29 18x9 with 245's and Rota Grid +20 18x9.5 with 255's(currently)
Do Rota's have Advan Quality? No.
Are Rota's as light as Advans? No.
I have friends that DD and track their Evo's and Subie's with Rota's and not a single one has had a problem with the wheels or with wheeldude's customer service. Despite the Grid being a wider wheel and wearing a larger tire, I would say I picked up maybe 4lbs a corner. Perfectly fine for a DD with occasional track use. I'm not breaking records here or trying to get on the cover of a magazine.
If price is no option then go with the real deal. Obviously. It's a better wheel in every way. Is it worth the $$$$? That's up to you and your checkbook to decide. I saved probably close to $2000 by going Rota's over TE37's. That's basically another set of wheels and tires.
Just my $.02
P.S. I also have a knockoff VG but no one seems to mind or even ask
I've owned both Advan RS (GTR face) +29 18x9 with 245's and Rota Grid +20 18x9.5 with 255's(currently)
Do Rota's have Advan Quality? No.
Are Rota's as light as Advans? No.
I have friends that DD and track their Evo's and Subie's with Rota's and not a single one has had a problem with the wheels or with wheeldude's customer service. Despite the Grid being a wider wheel and wearing a larger tire, I would say I picked up maybe 4lbs a corner. Perfectly fine for a DD with occasional track use. I'm not breaking records here or trying to get on the cover of a magazine.
If price is no option then go with the real deal. Obviously. It's a better wheel in every way. Is it worth the $$$$? That's up to you and your checkbook to decide. I saved probably close to $2000 by going Rota's over TE37's. That's basically another set of wheels and tires.
Just my $.02
P.S. I also have a knockoff VG but no one seems to mind or even ask
^ What is your tires size with the Rota's? 225... 35,40 or what? Thanks. I'm about to order some Grids and wondering exactly what tires to use. Also are you running a 5 mm spacer?
Mikey
Mikey
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: SF 415
rolled the rears flat, grinded the bumper/fender line and relocated the bumper bolt.
congrats on your record mikey
i've owned a few sets of Rotas (Slipstreams and P45Rs mounted on R comps for trackdays) and more than a few sets of Volks (2x TE37s, RE30s etc.)
my experience with Rota is that while the smaller sizes are decently light, the bigger sizes - 17x9.5 P45Rs in particular - are very heavy, especially compared to my REs at the time. i'm talking about 4-5lbs heavier per corner
it made enough difference that acceleration out of boost was noticeably livelier with the Volks. needless to say, i sold the Rotas shortly after and never looked back.
FWIW, the Rotas did serve me well, especially considering the fact that they never got damaged despite being put through pothole infested Canadian pavement.
i personally believe that the wheels make the biggest visual performance-related statement about your car, so i would never rock fake wheels again, track beater wheels or not.
in all honesty, you can score some relatively inexpensive yet light and good looking wheels from reputable manufacturers for not much more money than Rotas. Enkei would be the first company that comes to mind
^ i chose to save my pennies a little longer and run the BBS' for DD/colder months, and TE37s for trackdays and summers
my experience with Rota is that while the smaller sizes are decently light, the bigger sizes - 17x9.5 P45Rs in particular - are very heavy, especially compared to my REs at the time. i'm talking about 4-5lbs heavier per corner
it made enough difference that acceleration out of boost was noticeably livelier with the Volks. needless to say, i sold the Rotas shortly after and never looked back. FWIW, the Rotas did serve me well, especially considering the fact that they never got damaged despite being put through pothole infested Canadian pavement.
i personally believe that the wheels make the biggest visual performance-related statement about your car, so i would never rock fake wheels again, track beater wheels or not.
in all honesty, you can score some relatively inexpensive yet light and good looking wheels from reputable manufacturers for not much more money than Rotas. Enkei would be the first company that comes to mind
^ i chose to save my pennies a little longer and run the BBS' for DD/colder months, and TE37s for trackdays and summers
Last edited by fightex; Feb 2, 2011 at 12:12 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville TN
I just received my Grids yesterday (18x9.5 +20 wrapped in 255/35s) and I couldn't be more happy. Waiting to roll and pull before I put them on. I DD mine and it probably won't see the track, just some spirited driving on 129.
It's just a balance of preference, budget and needs, for me. It allows for more $$$ for parts, makes it hard for me to stop staring at my car and putting more rubber on the ground. Win x3 for me.
It's just a balance of preference, budget and needs, for me. It allows for more $$$ for parts, makes it hard for me to stop staring at my car and putting more rubber on the ground. Win x3 for me.
I bought a set of Advan RS GTR's used in mint condition for not a whole lot more than some Rotas. Keep that in mind when looking around.
Rotas are a good alternative if you are going for the look but don't want to spend the extra money and save some rotating mass.
Rotas are a good alternative if you are going for the look but don't want to spend the extra money and save some rotating mass.
Evolved Member
iTrader: (33)
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,313
Likes: 1
From: Raleigh, Transplanted from Toronto, Canada
I've had Volks and Rota's (On my Honda) and have owned 3 different sets of Rota's (currently have Grid's).
There is nothing wrong with them. I'm currently looking at getting either some CCW's, GramLights (Don't see too many people rocking those) or Oldie but Goodie TE's.
So I will own a set of wheels that are authentic and ones that aren't...........
The knock on Rota owners is they can't afford better wheels and that may be true in some cases but in my case i wanted to go fast first and change the look of the car.
There is nothing wrong with them. I'm currently looking at getting either some CCW's, GramLights (Don't see too many people rocking those) or Oldie but Goodie TE's.
So I will own a set of wheels that are authentic and ones that aren't...........
The knock on Rota owners is they can't afford better wheels and that may be true in some cases but in my case i wanted to go fast first and change the look of the car.
Yea they are for the most part knock offs, but I believe they are establishing a name for themselves and have improved their overall quality over the years. I also like the fact there are options for us people who don't have money to afford a $3000 set of wheels and tires. Yes much respect to the guys dishing out the big bucks to rock official wheels, but I'm content rockin a clean set or rotas.
nothing particularly wrong with rota wheels themselves other than weight. there are direct copies which kinda bugs me, but I cant afford 3k wheels either. personally i would choose enkei instead. about the same price, super light weight, proven wheels. just my thought
There are slight differences and I personally think the Advans look better. What you are willing to spend is what it comes down to. You could buy the ROTAs, tires and some other mods for the price of the Advans.
Hey, i just got a set of grids as well and working on gettin them to fit right. I rolled the rears flat as well. Now onto the fronts, how and where did you trim and relocate? Do you have any pics by chance? Thanks
