Pics of new rims, finally on the car!
See below for some pics of the rims.
OEM rims in the wheelwells with the Intrax, F & R:
The inset was a little troubling, but the new rims help out a lot.
New BBS rims wheel stance, F & R:
Finger gap on Tein HighTech (H-Tech) springs and BBS rims, F & R:
Finger gap on Intrax with stock rims, F & R:
Front gap fits 3 fingers, but only at an angle. Rear is a tight fit w/ 2 fingers.
Side view on Tein HighTech (H-Tech) springs and BBS rims, F & R:
Exterior shots of the 1997 i30t as of April 18, 2004:
The rims above were some of the many transfer parts scavenged from my Maxima before I sold it. These dearly departed rims are Mille Miglia MM-11 Plus rims in 16 x 7.5� and the Sumitomo HTR+ tires in 225-50-ZR16. I liked these rims for their clean look, nice weight, and appropriate offset. Unfortunately, the DC roads did NOT like them, as they rode quite rough with my chosen suspension setup. I decided to go lightweight and comfortable and to sacrifice a little handling. I actually cannot decide whether I liked these rims better than my new BBS in terms of looks, but in that choice, I saw no loser.
Initially, these wheels provided the base for a set of Intrax lowering springs. To help smooth out the firmness of the Intrax springs in the rear, I pulled the rear KYB AGX struts in favor of the aforementioned set of Tokico Illuminas from Southwest Autoworks. This really helped to smooth out the ride in the rear, but I wanted something a little bit more commute-friendly for my 300+ miles per week in the DC Metro area. They looked great, but I went with function over form and switched to the Tein springs.
On the Intrax, the ride was a bit firm when compared to that on my Tokico HP struts and H&R springs on the Maxima. On 16� low-profile tires the ride was less than forgiving, but on 15� tires they feel pretty good, planting the car to the road and reducing body roll to almost nothing. It took some time to get used to the ride, but I loved the stance and handling on the Intrax. Actually, the front was very nice, but the rear was a bit harsh. The Illuminas in the rear definitely helped, but it was still not where I wanted for it to be for all of the driving that I do.
The ride on the Tein HighTech (H-Tech) springs was unbelievable. I could not believe how good the car looked (low but not slammed), how well it rode, and how well it handled. These springs were, hands down, the best springs that I had on the I30 or the Maxima. If I was not moving on to another type/brand of vehicle, the Teins would be staying with me. I feel that these springs are the best all-around springs for the A32 Maxima/I30, and I have tried a good number of different setups. I HIGHLY recommend these springs to anyone who is consdering lowering their Maxima or I30.
New pic of partially shaved lettering:
Exterior shots with the OEM BBS rims back on the car while my new rims were on the way:
