Wheels for Mid or Lazer

[XLR8]

Will these wheels fit a Mid or an early Lazer? They are 12mm hex drive and back spacing is 27mm (1-1/16" as measured from base of hex socket to rim of wheel) and total width is 38.2mm (~1.5"). I think I received these by mistake; they arrived a big box of stuff that I ordered from someone a while back. Anyone know the hex size and back spacing of the stock Kyosho wheels? Thanks!

[Coelacanth]

The problem with modern wheels is they're all "high positive offset" backspacing. There's no depth to the wheels, all the wheel width goes inwards. The wheels will possibly be obstructed by the shocks or body, at least with an Optima Mid. The only way to tell is to mount one. The wheels back in the day had a more neutral offset, with equal width on either side of the wheel centers.

[Welshy40]

Annsman Mad Rat wheels are an exact match in diametre, just look really nice as well when fitted and tough too

[XLR8]

The problem with modern wheels is they're all "high positive offset" backspacing. There's no depth to the wheels, all the wheel width goes inwards. The wheels will possibly be obstructed by the shocks or body, at least with an Optima Mid. The only way to tell is to mount one. The wheels back in the day had a more neutral offset, with equal width on either side of the wheel centers.

Thanks Coelacanth, I was afraid that might be the case. I've held one of these cars in my hands but that was decades ago and I don't recall how much the wheels are offset and it's difficult to see this in photos. Anyway, I'm shopping for a Mid or Lazer to make a runner so I'll want a wheel that will hold a modern 2.0 or 2.2 tire. Of course, if it were a shelfer, I would have a set of these; I think they are awesome wheels. I believe they are 1.9's. Thanks again for your very helpful post.

[XLR8]

Annsman Mad Rat wheels are an exact match in diametre, just look really nice as well when fitted and tough too

Thanks Welshy. Are these the wheels you've referenced? If not, do you know anything about these?

[Coelacanth]

Vintage HPI 5-Star wheels would work, I have a set of those that fit a regular Optima.

Pro-Line Desperado 2.2" wheels for the Traxxas 1/16 E-Revo also work, and look quite nice, IMO.

https://www.prolineracing.com/wheels/desperado-2.2-black-chrome-wheels/

I've seen these installed on an Optima someone was selling on eBay a while ago; they have a positive offset, but they looked to fit. They come in various colors and tread designs and have similar specs to the staggered Optima Mid wheels (narrow 4WD wheels in front, wider 4WD wheels in back) and since they come complete with tires & foams, you're not worrying about tire fitment. They're cheap enough that you probably wouldn't mind running them, either.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/271406750789

[XLR8]

Wow, thanks Coelacanth. I guess there are still a lot of wheel options out there for these old cars. Also, if it's true that wheels from a popular modern RC like the 1/16 E-Revo will fit a Mid/Lazer, then that should open an even wider range of alternative wheels for the old Kyosho cars. How about a Mid-based Monster truck or Stadium truck? Nah, I reckon I'll just stick to buggies. haha.. Thanks again.

[Welshy40]

No, the ones on this website, front and rear wheels are hexed so a direct fit and look stunning.

http://www.rcxmodels.com/Ansmann%20Racing%20Mad%20Rat

Or page 273 of the Lazer ZX thread on Oople where they are attached to my car.

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26223&page=273

Still hpi are good as well but star wheels arent my favourite but measure up correctly.

[Coelacanth]

No, the ones on this website, front and rear wheels are hexed so a direct fit and look stunning.

http://www.rcxmodels.com/Ansmann%20Racing%20Mad%20Rat

Plain smooth white dish wheels, stunning? Diff'rent strokes, I guess.

[Welshy40]

I wasnt keen on the original kit wheels and the are a bit nicer to the eye, the hpi black star wheels did look good though but i found they did flex more than the kit wheels so opted to stay with a dish design. The way 3d technology is advancing see no reason why you cant just design a wheel that suits your style, in fact i may do just that as well, as i did for my RC10 B2.

[Mr. ED]

... The way 3d technology is advancing see no reason why you cant just design a wheel that suits your style, in fact i may do just that as well, as i did for my RC10 B2.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=41535&start=15#p470846
I just did them as a design exercise, but I could easily make fronts too and get them printed.

[XLR8]

Annsman Mad Rat wheels are an exact match in diametre, just look really nice as well when fitted and tough too

Thanks Welshy. Are these the wheels you've referenced? If not, do you know anything about these?

fwiw...
Trish at TBG has confirmed today that the wheels on the TOMS in the photo from this post are "hpi super rs4 superstar wheels". That's a lota "super".