Trying to find a certain style of 2.2" rim...you guys got any suggestions?

[nowinaminute 3320]

It's a simple problem in concept, but in reality, a bit of a treasure hunt/wild goose chase/can of worms, so prepare for one of my customary ridiculously long  and obsessive posts!

Basically, I've gotten to the point with my current Nikko project where I needed to switch to aftermarket wheels and tyres.

There are two reasons for this. The first one is that by the time this was made, Nikko had abandoned the standard size stub axles/outer drive cups things, so unless you have access to a lathe, you have to stick with the stock plastic bushings. I don't need to explain why this is an issue.

I have 4 of these stub axles a friend machined for me, but their services are no longer available, and I have 6 other vehicles that use these axles, so there just aren't enough to go round!

Secondly, out of all my Nikko projects, this is the most powerful and the stock tyres aren't going to last very long!

The stock wheels look awesome in that cheesy late 90s / early 2000s way, but they are a non standard beadlock design and the tyres have a slightly smaller inner diameter on the street side vs the vehicle side. Basically, there's no replacement tyres available that will fit. 

So my only real solution is to try and find aftermarket wheels and tyres that look the same or at least compliment the looks of the vehicle.

So I need a 2.2" wheel with plenty of negative offset and wide enough for fairly chunky tyres in the region of 55mm

This is the stock look:



I got a set of these for cheap on Aliexpress. The tyres are just the perfect diameter, and I liked the wheels, too, but the offset is no good. The wheels are too close to the chassis and the tyres contact the front motor when steering.





I could try using hex wideners, but I always see those as a last resort. On the plus side, they would at least not have to be very wide.

The wheels for the Cen ME16/Mini Madness trucks fits and the offset is a bit better. They are discontinued though, so getting scarce. I have found some nice chrome ones, though. 



Ironically, though, the look of them better matches the looks of my cars sister car, the Super Dictator:



The best wheels I have in my possession in terms of offset are the Tamiya Willd Dagger/Twin Detonator etc style, but I just don't think they look quite right.

They don't look BAD in isolation. Some chrome of black ones, especially would look decent:

But every time I look at them and think they look quite decent:



I go back to a photo of the stock wheels and it just doesn't seem quite right!



The best wheels I have on hand in terms of compromise between offset and matching the original looks are these ones, but they are almost TOO 90s/00s chavtastic! I think I have to concede they are the closest thing I have on hand at the moment, though. These rims just happened to come with a set of those nice large Austar Chevron tyres monster truck tyres you get on aliexpress etc.





With all this in mind, I've been searching for the ideal rims.

Almost as soon as I started googling, I found the HPI Super Star MT which looks really similar to the stock ones, and come in Chrome and Black. Absolutely perfect!

 

Only problem is, they take the term "discontinued" to dizzying new heights! I literally can't find them anywhere apart from one US ebay seller who wants stupid money. I can't put into words how frustrating it is, because those are literally THE ONES!!

Then I found these, that come along with a set of 4 Austar MT tyres. They look quite similar to the HPI wheels. I'm pretty sure the offset isn't as extreme as the HPI ones, but if they are the same as the chavtastic rims that also came with a set of Austar MT tyres, they could be a pretty great solution. 



I'm sure some guys on here have had those rims... @wolfdogstinkus ?? @Prescient ? Anyone else?? Has anyone still got some of these rims on hand and could measure the offset?

I also found these newer cen wheels which almost look right, but I feel like the way the spokes don't start till you go really deep into the wheel doesn't look enough like the originals:

Also, the chrome version just looks a bit too fussy and not clean and sleek like the originals:


So that brings us about up to date.

So basically, the wheels that are about as perfect as it could get are rarer than rocking horse poo. I'm bascially looking for late 90s/early 00s wheels when most people are glad they have been consigned to history 

My second favourite ones (the black ones that came with the tyres) are the wrong offset. The third best candidate is an unknown on the offset.

Does anyone know any other 2.2" spokey wheels that have a suitable offset and are wide enough for monster ish tyres!?

[wolfdogstinkus 1963]

Yeah, I've got maybe 3 of those wheels I think?, I don't know how you knew but can you tell me where I've put my other charger?, not seen it for ages. 😁😀

I'll have a look in the shed for those wheels. 

[Mad Ax 10034]

Literally the second I started reading this I thought "HPI Super Stars" - but a quick Google returns nothing.  However, I have 4 rear and 4 fronts "in stock" right now - they are used but in working condition, and you can have the lot for a nominal fee.  Drop me a PM with a silly low-ball offer to include postage and I'll box them up.

However, I am going on my hols later this week and still have a metric smegton of stuff to get done, so they might not get posted out until 1st full week in August.

FYI - the hex hole is 4mm deep and the flat face to the edge of the rim is 12mm, if you want to check the fitment.

[nowinaminute 3320]

23 minutes ago, Mad Ax said:

Literally the second I started reading this I thought "HPI Super Stars" - but a quick Google returns nothing.  However, I have 4 rear and 4 fronts "in stock" right now - they are used but in working condition, and you can have the lot for a nominal fee.  Drop me a PM with a silly low-ball offer to include postage and I'll box them up.

However, I am going on my hols later this week and still have a metric smegton of stuff to get done, so they might not get posted out until 1st full week in August.

FYI - the hex hole is 4mm deep and the flat face to the edge of the rim is 12mm, if you want to check the fitment.

Holy xwefawe!!

 

[nowinaminute 3320]

28 minutes ago, wolfdogstinkus said:

Yeah, I've got maybe 3 of those wheels I think?, I don't know how you knew but can you tell me where I've put my other charger?, not seen it for ages. 😁😀

I'll have a look in the shed for those wheels. 

I think it was from a crazy 6WD contraption, if I remember rightly?

If you could measure the offset on one of them for me, that would be great!

[wolfdogstinkus 1963]

Just now, nowinaminute said:

I think it was from a crazy 6WD contraption, if I remember rightly?

If you could measure the offset on one of them for me, that would be great!

Ah, yes the original 6x6 long before the konghead was thought about, I joined together 3x wild dagger gearboxes to make an unstoppable zombie apocalypse survival vehicle. Not sure why I've got left over wheels but I'll have a look.

[Prescient 673]

@nowinaminute

Loads on eBay, these were my favorites 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133820856850?itmmeta=01J3BF5FJR6FBZCZ5ZB3SX9C39&hash=item1f28583a12:g:f8EAAOSw5thj9tID&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0BxD0foOwIUFKD4QI%2B3L2C6Sy1I88PSeoUgNw9sNG7YVG741rFUc0BouAzrHBUX%2Bjvj%2F1ZdTGSpHI74MrvEXOI7CFtqsOa5MCB4lvAnFrj2bL%2F8MUAtDyzjUMxy8Q%2BtRYcwyvEKXFd2hkbwrRW%2F0PyvEs1g%2FrhDNLS84AesiIxN3WpcyGlnTkKWlKwNfmzQJwxUX5ku3WT5oz%2BiC0SUQh0PX0FIdWehtZ9yePudkJntQvkp952dbEshyuSJfnSKqx1ru7vgikWOoN76C%2FaDhMp0%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR8D5le-aZA

 

[dk4543 0]

You could try these from JC Racing, very similar to the HPI ones. No chrome though, just white yellow or pink!

https://www.jcracingproducts.co.uk/wheels-st/5-spoke-wheel
 

 

[Aerobert 2323]

On 7/21/2024 at 5:16 PM, nowinaminute said:

I'm sure some guys on here have had those rims... @wolfdogstinkus ?? @Prescient ? Anyone else?? Has anyone still got some of these rims on hand and could measure the offset?

Good Morning!

I have a set of those wheels and make some measurements this morning. From the centre of the wheel (width) to the surface which is clamped against the hex the offset is 7 mm to the inside of the wheel. Hope this makes sense, don't know how to explain it better. Please ask if you don't understand my explanation. 

I have a set of four which I don't need anymore. If you would like to have them I would send them to you. But as I am im Germany postage would be €16. 

Edited July 23 by Aerobert
Add picture.

[Frog Jumper 3801]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/355155211030?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=jhiq0hnqq4g&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=-IHU6wS3Qt-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
 

HPI super star chrome

[nowinaminute 3320]

3 minutes ago, Frog Jumper said:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/355155211030?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=jhiq0hnqq4g&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=-IHU6wS3Qt-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
 

HPI super star chrome

Thanks for that!

I came across that listing, but unfortunately they are OOS of the rear type which I need.

 

[nowinaminute 3320]

On 7/21/2024 at 11:30 PM, dk4543 said:

You could try these from JC Racing, very similar to the HPI ones. No chrome though, just white yellow or pink!

https://www.jcracingproducts.co.uk/wheels-st/5-spoke-wheel
 

 

Hi, thanks for the suggestion! 

I really wanted chrome or black, though.

But thank you, I really appreciate everyone's help!

[nowinaminute 3320]

2 hours ago, Aerobert said:

Good Morning!

I have a set of those wheels and make some measurements this morning. From the centre of the wheel (width) to the surface which is clamped against the hex the offset is 7 mm to the inside of the wheel. Hope this makes sense, don't know how to explain it better. Please ask if you don't understand my explanation. 

I have a set of four which I don't need anymore. If you would like to have them I would send them to you. But as I am im Germany postage would be €16. 

Hi there, Thanks for helping!

Could you tell me the approximate measurement between the hex and the outer edge of the rim (car side)

A bit like this photo of a full size car wheel:

[Aerobert 2323]

1 hour ago, nowinaminute said:

Could you tell me the approximate measurement between the hex and the outer edge of the rim (car side)

From the outer edge of the rim to the surface which is clamped against the hex it is 19 mm.

[nowinaminute 3320]

2 hours ago, Aerobert said:

From the outer edge of the rim to the surface which is clamped against the hex it is 19 mm.

That's great, thanks! I can compare the offset to the wheels I have that also came with those chevron tyres. If the offset is the same, they could be a good option!

[nowinaminute 3320]

Thanks everyone so far for your help and input, I really appreciate it!

[ad456 457]

@nowinaminute I’m sure I have at least two of the stock tyres for this that I got years ago in a job lot of wheels. If they are of any use to you I’d happily part with them for postage?

[wolfdogstinkus 1963]

[wolfdogstinkus 1963]

I don't have Vernier gauges so can't give you accurate figures but inside measurement to hub are roughly 20mm and outside to hub is 30ish..

[wolfdogstinkus 1963]

Best my simple head could manage just now was to draw a line on a stick, poke it through to centre and mark each end of the wheel to show the offset.