Pimp my Ride, GRM. 2011 Kia Forte 5 SX edition.

Rustoleum Appliance White rattle can paint might be nice if you want to go lighter with the wheels.  I think I'd rather do a medium glossy gray instead, so not black, but not silver like stock.

Ditch the rack.

If it needs shocks & struts, maybe cut a coil from the stock springs for a mild lowering on the cheap? 

Fix that front plate!

In reply to Sidewayze :

I saw then in tirerack and they are stuck in my head now.

In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :

I like the light/ medium grey look idea. 

Here's the Sparco Terras version. 

Terras light grey

I realized I don't have the key to the rack, need to ask the previous owner. 

The plates are probably going to be replaced by new ones when I register it.  Will then fold up an inch of the bottom so that it doesn't catch on parking curbs etc. 

Ya, Terra's haunt me in my sleep....

NoBrakesRacing said:

In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :

I like the light/ medium grey look idea. 

Here's the Sparco Terras version. 

Terras light grey

I realized I don't have the key to the rack, need to ask the previous owner. 

The plates are probably going to be replaced by new ones when I register it.  Will then fold up an inch of the bottom so that it doesn't catch on parking curbs etc. 

My buddy has Terras on his car, and they look really nice in person.

I would go charcoal matte gray on the wheels.  Then possibly a wee splash with some short rally decals on the flank?

In reply to bobzilla :

I had the SX with premium wheels, It was fully loaded. Really nice driving car. I only had it for 1 to 2 years, as I needed to get a truck.

Those Terra's are hideous

Lot's of ideas here

Yeah I'm not feeling the Terra's either.  Would just paint the factory wheels and save the money for other things.

pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

Ditch the rack.

I got rid of my roof rack with my last car ~ 2 years ago.  My next car will have one (a good one).  I cannot imagine ever ditching a roof rack on a vehicle that has one.  Utility factor is huge.

Honestly, if you want wheels on a budget, go to car-part.com and search for sportier Kia/Hyundai platforms.  Veloster is 18x7.5, N is 19x8.

I actually think the OE wheels on my R-spec are pretty decent.  They look like this:

RX8 are 18x8 and have a 3mm lower offset than OE.  

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Charcoal grey is interesting. Found a plastidip video of it. 

Plastidip charcoal grey

May add a bit of color to the flanks but not too obvious stickers. Red line. Maybe also a white line, my hometown soccer team wears red and white... Well, the flag of where I'm from (Basque Country) is red, white and green. Probably too many colors. Trying to stay interesting but subdued. 

Did just order some rally ready mud flaps in black with red lettering, so may add a couple other touches of red. It is getting a GRM sticker and a couple others that also have red. 

In reply to Peabody :

Some big wheels in there. 

I may be liking the dark grey or charcoal.

In reply to ProDarwin :

I agree on the usefulness of the cross bars although I have two jeeps with them already. 

The roof of the forte5 has a bit of a curve to it and in not sure if the bars make it more bulbous looking or less. 

Since it is a wide bar it does give a bit of shade when I open the moon roof shade. 

In reply to ProDarwin :

Yes, that's a good way of doing it, cross shop for better looking wheels from OEM.

I'm in no hurry. 

I considered RX8 rims for mine. I like the look and the sizing is perfect 

I forgot to mention this the other day. The #1 issue I had with my SeX was the amount of road noise through the doors especially in rain. I think they made this kit standard on -12 and -13's. But it might be an easy investment and the panels come off easily. 
https://sharkracing.com/2010-2013-forte-koup-diy-soundproofing-kit/

NoBrakesRacing said:

In reply to ProDarwin :

Yes, that's a good way of doing it, cross shop for better looking wheels from OEM.

I'm in no hurry. 

Optima Turbo 2011-2016(?) are also 18x7.5

the biggest (that I know of) are 18x8's from the first gen Genesis (I think sedan) but they're et35mm

In reply to bobzilla :

I noticed that it is quite loud at highway speeds. Was getting wind noise from a lot of areas. The roof bars probably don't help, they whistle if I open the sunroof. 

My thought was to just live with it, but maybe there are options, like what you sent. 

Thank you

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

Will need to research 18" wheels on it, there's not much sidewall with 215/45r17 on it now.

yeah, maybe not

unfortunately, most of the 17's are 6.5 wide.

 I'll have to do some digging again, I think there are some 17x7's from the 'XM' Sorento... 2009-2014.

I don't think I've found anything that was 17x7.5 or 17x8, in-house so far

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

Just should our 2011 sorento base and I'm sure it had 17x7.

Does a car as light as this need much more tread width than 215?  I doubt it needs more tire from a power standpoint.

sleepyhead the buffalo said:

the biggest (that I know of) are 18x8's from the first gen Genesis (I think sedan) but they're et35mm

I believe they're staggered 7.5/8.5 or 8/8.5 +35. Would probably work OK on that gen Forte based on some of the pics in the link I posted

In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :

It probably doesn't if it has good quality tires.

I can't wait to drive it somewhere I can make it dance and see how it behaves.