Advanti Racing Jazz

From: Chris Allen (craesq@erols.com)

Size:     16x7 40mm offset
Weight:   18.5 lbs
Cost:     $140
Problems: Clearcoat peeling
Tires:    Nitto NT505 Exit GS 205/45-16

I have a 1992 Integra GS. It had the stock 14" wheels with 195-60-14s on them - the tires were Pirelli HPs (I bought the car used). I liked the wheels, but the tires were pretty loud at high speeds. I also wanted bigger rims (doesn't everyone?) I just recently got a set of Advanti Racing Jazz wheels - they are a tuner-style wheel with 7-spokes (kind of like Racing Senekas or Enkei RS Evolutions). I got them through a distributor named Golden Apple. First off, I would say watch out for these guys - my wheels came on time, but there was a lug missing, no hubcentric rings, and no tool to remove the special lugs. I discovered each of these omissions separately! (Although they did FedEx the parts to me, to their credit). Anyway, the wheels are 16X7 and weigh 18.5 lbs. They have silver spokes, but a polished lip and center. Looks-wise, they are awesome. They have a 40 mm offset which is perfect - no rubbing at all, while still looking like the tires are fat! I did notice that initial acceleration was a little more sluggish than before because of the added weight and rotational inertia, but I have since gotten use to it and do not even notice it anymore. Anyway, I wish I could say the quality of the rims matches their looks, but I can't - the clear coat is peeling already, after only 3 months and 1000 miles! The shop I purchased the wheels from said that he is going to request that Golden Apple replace them (I hope they do - it would be the professional thing to do). It is too bad, because the looks and the price (about $140 per wheel) was great! Anyway, I got the rims with Nitto 505 Exit GS tires - they are 205-45-16 and also fit and look great. They also stick like glue! I tried several times to get them to squeal (on exit ramps, etc.) and my guts gave in before the tires did! Overall, they are a huge improvement over stock tires. The grip is amazing. They are cheap too - at $109 apiece. I can feel the road a little bit more and the compound of the tire seems a bit hard, but they are smooth and quiet enough for me. I do worry about their tread-life, which is only 180 and seems to be wearing down pretty fast. It does not help that they make you want to take corners fast! In the wet rain, the tires do hydroplane much easier than stock tires and I do not think they grip very well at all - although I try not to test this! They are not an "All Season" tire, so I did not expect great wet traction. Overall, I am very happy with the tires and would recommend them to others.

Update : 4/4/98

Well, as it turns out, only two of the wheels were peeling and Golden Apple DID agree to replace the two at no charge (of course, I had to pay mounting and balancing charges). I got the wheels within a week and they are on my car as we speak. So, although I still cannot vouch for the overall quality of the rim, I wanted to let you know that Golden Apple seems to stand by their product a bit more than I thought in my first article.

Advanti Racing Power

From : B Dumont
After removing the Intermilano Sport Wheels from my 95 GSR, I purchased a set of Avanti Racing "Power" wheels. They look identical to a Racing Seneka (7 spoke tuner wheel). I bought them from Discount Tire Direct for about $200 a piece. My Yokohamas were just about shot, so I mounted an extra set of BF Euro T/A's (215/40/16) that I had sitting around. The wheels were 16x7 with a 40mm offset. My car is lowered 4 inches and they did not rub at all. The BF's were not quite the tire that my Yokohama AVS's were, but they got the job done. The 215/40's seemed to actually ride better than my 205/45 AVS's did. As anyone who has ever had Euro T/A's knows, they suck in the rain and snow, these Euro's were no different. Well, I bought the wheels in August 97 and ran them until April 98. I even drove them in the snow (again, Cleveland winters usually suck). I had no problems at all, other than snow traction. The wheels looked as good after months of salt baths, snow, ice, and potholes, as they did the day I bought them. The only major problem I experienced was the "open spoke" design. As many people might already have experienced, Heavy snow+drilled rotors+open spoke wheel=absolutely, 110%, totally worthless in the snow. After driving more than 1/2 mile in the snow, the brakes would be totally frozen, iced over, or whatever. The ABS wouldn't even work. But, that is what I get for keeping my car looking "cool" in a foot of snow. I just put the cruise on 20 and repeat over and over again..."this is the downside of high performance"...

Advanti Racing Spider

From : Jason Lee

Type (cast, billet, 2-piece, etc.): one piece with polished outer lip.
Wheel Dimensions (i.e. 15x7): 17*7, with 40 mm off set
Cost (date purchased) - purchased late 1997, cost about $350 per wheel
(Australian dollars)
Any problems: I'm currently using 215/40/17 Falken GRB tyres and the car is
lowered about 1 inch using stock shocks. I sometimes get scuffing on the rear
wheel arches, when I go around hard fast corners. The rubbing does not cause any
damage to the tyres so I haven't bothered to roll the guards in.
Wheel weight: I have no idea.