New after-market GTS wheels

[Felonious Crud]

Morning all.

I'm pondering a small refresh of GTS and want to know what are the collective views of the best Maserati forum in the world. Courtesy of some quickPowerPoint tomfoolery by my eldest lad here is a potential before and after. The wheels are 21" so would help fill the gap in the rear arch a little without having to lower the car. The brakes in the "after" shot are just an artefact of stealing the wheels from a photo of an SLS.

I'm a bit concerned that the 21" rims might make the discs look tiny. Also a bit unsure about the impact on ride, performance etc etc of the slightly larger wheels.

Thoughts?

 

[Emtee]

They have a look of the Stradale wheel about them, which is no bad thing. They do sit nicely, though I think I'd be adding spacers as well to fill out the arches.

 

[stewarttownsend]

Im not sure.. the top car is exactly mine.

The bottom one... Im in two minds, as I do love the original wheels already, but looking at it side on it does look the rear has a large gap and the 21 would fill that up and make it look more aggressive.

 

[Felonious Crud]

The Stradale wheels are pretty nice and that's the kind of thing I'm after. The originals more so than the newer ones. Agreed re spacers - the car generally has a bit too much fresh air around the wheels, especially at the rear.

 

[dickygrace]

For the minor improvements in stance, I'd have thought the deterioration in ride may not be worth it. They'd be riding on 20mm of rubber wouldn't they??

 

[Felonious Crud]

Good point Dicky. I haven't got the tyre profiles yet but 20mm would be nasty. Those wheels just happen to be available but only in 21s. Ideally I'd stick with 20" and lower the ride height a touch.

 

[mcs]

Keep it original - I love the Tridents - how about a colour change on the wheels and some spacers - would achieve what you require? I've had a few after market wheels on my BMWs and they always ended up cracking - this could be due to the run flats though....

 

[bigbob]

Horrific.

 

[Chrisbassett]

Going all hotwheels on us there, Adam!

 

[Felonious Crud]

Horrific.

That's what I can't work out - bloody awful or quite good. Starting to wonder if the former might be correct. Hmm....

Going all hotwheels on us there, Adam!

You're nudging me more towards BB's conclusion, Chris.

Maybe a re-furb, a small height drop (a la Strad) and subtle spacers would be a better approach.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[bigbob]

I think that the FD website offers a load of interesting upgrades re lowering springs, spacers, brakes etc without needing to increase wheel diameter. Personally I like my car as it is and would prefer to spend the £2-4k on a holiday or my next two services but if it stops you selling the car then buy a few trinkets.

 

[MAF260]

I like the wheels in your second pic, Adam. I think they suit the car well. Although I love the Neptunes, they are starting to look a little dated to me. I really like the original Stradale wheels, way more than the new ones (they look like something from Halfords to me!).

I also really like these in a bright silver finish (possibly the same wheels?):

 

[StuartW]

Original for me personally

 

[bigbob]

Original for me personally

Indeed! I see after market wheels like I see tints, wraps etc - brilliant ways to put the next owner off your car.

 

[Felonious Crud]

MAF - if those wheels aren't the same they certainly look it. They look better in the lighter colour and against black. I had a chat with Noor (it's him that has them for sale) and we concluded that the 21" would be too much, both from a ride quality perspective but also given the quite subtle colour of the car. I wouldn't be averse to swapping the Neptunes for something, but it would need to be something subtle enough that the car doesn't look like a refugee from Hot Wheels (thanks, Chris).

The short term plan will most likely involve a 1.5cm drop at the rear and 1cm at the front, same as the Strad, plus some spacers.

FD springs aren't cheap but at least FD know the cars well and can lower it a little without turning every pothole into a spine-jarring, filling-shaking terror. Thoughts from you all? I'll be in Vegas in January and was pondering ordering the springs to collect while I'm there, but something tells me that could just end up as an import nightmare.

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

I'd stick with the originals

 

[Andyk]

Morning all.

I'm pondering a small refresh of GTS and want to know what are the collective views of the best Maserati forum in the world. Courtesy of some quickPowerPoint tomfoolery by my eldest lad here is a potential before and after. The wheels are 21" so would help fill the gap in the rear arch a little without having to lower the car. The brakes in the "after" shot are just an artefact of stealing the wheels from a photo of an SLS.

I'm a bit concerned that the 21" rims might make the discs look tiny. Also a bit unsure about the impact on ride, performance etc etc of the slightly larger wheels.

Thoughts?

View attachment 25160

View attachment 25161

They look great Adam.......Very Stradale and like the FD wheels which are also lovely...

 

[hodroyd]

Adam, Can't you lower the car without getting new springs..?? I would not go larger wheels personally, I can see you not liking the ride quality..!!

 

[Felonious Crud]

I'm decide on sticking with 20" wheels, whether new or original.

As for lowering, not sure how you can do that without new springs, but that's more to do with my mechanical ineptitude than with any genuine barriers to lowering. I could cut the current springs down but not sure what that would do to the ride. Bollox it, probably. The advantage with FD springs is that they maintain ride quality and play nicely with Skyhook. Quite a lot of £££, though.

 

[GeoffCapes]

As much as I like the larger alloys. I'm inclined to go with the age old adage.
Don't fix what ain't broken.