Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: RS Watanabe R-Type Offsets

  1. #1
    Senior Member Stain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Derek
    State
    QLD
    Location
    Far North
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    645

    Default

    If you're like me, when you see a sexy dished Watanabe rim the first thing you scream is "OFFSET?!!" and much to our disappointment most of the time the seller has no clue...
    But fear not! As there is a simple way of working it out.

    First of all lets just look at the different types of classic Watanabe 8-spoke rims so we know which one we're interested in. The current line up of consists of 5 main types;


    F8 Type. Available in 14" ~ 16" x 6J ~ 9J


    F8F Type. Available in 12" ~ 16" x 4.5J ~ 8.5J


    CV Type. Available in 13" x 5J ~ 6J


    A/B Type. Available in 10" ~ 14" x 5J ~ 7.5J


    So all of those are for FWD or modern cars, and don't really excite us... But then we come to the next type...
    The R Type!

    This sucker goes from 13" all the way up to 16", with widths from 8J to 12J and offsets, wait for it, from -0 to -57!

    Now here is lies the problem... how the hell do you know what is what when it comes to these deep dished Watanabes? As unlike SSR, Watanabe thought it smart not to label the offset on their wheels, sure you can get a ruler out and try the hard way... but what if you don't have the rims handy to do that? What if you're buying them online and knowing the offset is crucial to laying down the cash, or walking away?
    Well! I have the answer for you!

    As it happens R Type Watanabes are 1 piece forged rims, and have pre-defined offsets according to their width, no multiple offsets for the same width, and no custom jobbies.
    So just get to the juicy numbers! I hear you scream? Sure, why not.

    13" & 14"

    8J -6
    8.5J -13
    9J -19
    9.5J -25
    10J -32
    10.5J -38
    11J -44
    11.5J -51
    12J -57

    15"

    8J -0
    8.5J -6
    9J -13
    9.5J -19
    10J -25
    10.5J -32
    11J -38
    11.5J -44
    12J -51

    16"

    8J -0
    8.5J -6
    9J -13
    9.5J -19

    All R Types by default come in 4x114.3, but there are a few other PCDs available so be careful.
    This however is marked on the back of the rim, so shouldn't be hard to find out.

    Now finally here's for you to work out how far these suckers will stick out compared to your current rims, or to assist you in choosing a full set that will sit outside your guards at equal lengths.
    I hope this helps out a little, as I was pulling my hair out trying to work this stuff out before I stumbled on this easy fix!

  2. #2
    Julz01
    Guest

    Default

    nice find the r type look sweet, i bet the cost a mint though

  3. #3
    Senior Member Stain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Derek
    State
    QLD
    Location
    Far North
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    645

    Default

    If its a R-Type, yes.
    Of course it could be a 14" and they measured with a ruler and you can forgive em for being 4mm out

    On another note, when measuring rims with rulers/tape measures etc, the width is taken from inner lip to inner lip (where the tyre sits) NOT from the outter edge, as you'll find a 8" rim apears to be a 9" when measuring from the outside edges.

  4. #4
    Veteran slydar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Name
    Dimitri
    State
    QLD
    Location
    Brisbane
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    3,096

    Default

    the problem is earlier rims i am pretty sure were available in different offsets, which confuses the issue.

    what i mean to say is, say 5, or 10 years ago, you could get a 15x9 in a 0, where as now it is only available in -13.
    78's

  5. #5
    Bad Email Address
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    6

    Default

    will +22 offset wantanabe's fit straight onto an 86 without any spacers??

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Name
    Kane
    State
    VIC
    Location
    Coburg
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    785

    Default

    yes, but it will look very ghey

  7. #7
    haado gei
    Guest

    Default

    it is best to use some spacers

  8. #8
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Name
    Keffen
    State
    VIC
    Location
    Boxhill
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    9

    Default

    i got some rs watanabes, the biggest ones. a full foot wide. 14x12s -57

Similar Threads

  1. 14 by 9's rs watanabe's PAIR
    By dehney in forum Car Parts For Sale - Wheels
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 4th October 2012, 10:59 PM
  2. watanabe rs-8 15x7 +27 pair
    By ae8620v in forum Car Parts For Sale
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 4th April 2011, 09:54 AM
  3. RS watanabe 14x6.5 melb
    By sprinter666 in forum Car Parts For Sale
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 13th July 2009, 08:51 PM
  4. watanabe RS-8
    By 86dude in forum Car Parts For Sale
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 31st July 2008, 08:27 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •