Doc1647545523 Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 I'm picky about wheels, but don't know much of the technical end of wheels & tires. It's especially hard for me to picture what wheel designs would look good and what wheel/tire combinations will provide best performance for the task at hand, while not interfering with brakes and body panels. I took the Figaro to the Wheel Medic crew and turned them loose on it: (BEFORE PICTURE) http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Big%20Sky%20Rally/IMG_1913_zpspbnax97j.jpg Figgy had the stock 12" diameter 5" wide "pizza cutter" wheels, which were, well, distinctive but really not meaty enough to drive 3600 miles in an upcoming rally. The bolt pattern was 4x100. Upgrading to a large wheel and tire would pose clearance problems on the left rear wheel because of the fuel filler neck. Bryce took one look at the car and sent an employee to a specific location on their tire rack to bring out an old, scratchy, nasty looking wheel and told me this would be perfect on my car. I thought he was joking. It was an old "Le Castellet" 14"x 6" wheel that VW put on late '80's and early '90's Golfs, Jettas, and Rabbit Convertibles. It looked ridiculous. He explained that they would treat it, fill-in where the wheel was stamped "Volkswagen," paint it blizzard white, install center caps, and it would look great. I was skeptical, but I've learned to trust the Wheel Medic crew. They did the work at no risk to me, and they delivered on their promise. The new wheels look great on the car: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Big%20Sky%20Rally/frontqtr_zpseob0n2ow.jpg They were direct fit, no spacers. They did have to use conical to ball seat lug adapters, as 12 x 1.25 ball seat lugs do not appear to exist in this universe. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Big%20Sky%20Rally/wheelsoncar.jpg_zps7rq0xkzq.jpg Tires are Yoko 185/55/14, and made a huge improvement in performance and handling. http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Big%20Sky%20Rally/full%20wheel.jpg_zpsrnqzbqcv.jpg And, as a bonus, Hanna designed the center caps to have the Figaro logo with DOX FIG (the license plate) written across them: http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/trentrbrts/Big%20Sky%20Rally/enlarge.jpg_zpsmpqitnrq.jpg Four wheels and four new tires were installed at a rock-bottom price, about what the cost of just one wheel from a high-line manufacturer would be. If it gets better than this, I don't know how. Many thanks, Hanna, Bryce, and the whole Wheel Medic shop! These custom wheels get compliments wherever I go. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRTurbo04 Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Wow thats cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstmg8 Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Nice Doc! Nothing like making an already unique ride even more so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPL_Josh Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Is this the same model car that was on mighty car mods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Yep, and it lost out to the Blue Turd on the track. Cruising video: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharris89 Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Very cool. Those look great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Huge improvement, very nice. Verts rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Looks good! And a little familiar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Love it. Very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 I also first saw the Figaro through Mighty Car Mods, then saw a couple for sale through Japanese Classics right around the time you showed off your Fig, Doc. Looks great! I remember seeing a similar "Le Castellet" wheel on Wolfsburg-edition VW Cabriolets when I was growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Couple pics from a few weeks back. Very neat little car. http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah133/PDQS4/Cars%20and%20Coffee%205-28/P1020188%20working%20web_zpsbdb3e9zk.jpg http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah133/PDQS4/Cars%20and%20Coffee%205-28/P1020190%20working%20web_zpsp7ojaduu.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted June 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Thanks for the compliments, everyone. But as you read, the credit goes to our CR sponsor, not to me. Tim, thanks for the photos. You have better pics of my cars than I have. Wheel Medic has done wheel work on nearly every car and bike I have. In the case of the Fig, the Viewt, the Bentley, and the FRS, it was Wheel Medic design from the start and all the way through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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