JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

I received my custom powder coated 8.5" Aspecs with new Michelin PS3 245/40/18 tires from a forum member. What has always steered me away from Aspec wheels is I always thought the silver was just too bright, even on the ebony aspecs. I compared these and they are just a tad darker than the OEM Type S wheels which IMO is perfect!
For anyone that cares I weighed the Aspec wheels and my original Type S wheels and they are as follows:
-OEM 08 Type S wheels with original Michelin tires and TPMS = 45.8lbs
-18x8.5" Aspec wheels with Michelin PS3 tires and TPMS = 51.2lbs

Overall pretty close in weight. TPMS sensors learned on their own the first drive, and the wheels feel great. I think the wheels look good, im not blown away, but maybe they will grow on me a bit more. Since owning the Type S I have always been curious how the aspecs would look, and I definately like them, but im not sure im blown away by them. Thats probably because I like the Type S waffle wheels as I feel they just flow so good with the car. So I may decide to keep them, or I may decide to sell them so keep an eye out ;-)

Sorry for the gloomy pictures. Suspension is H&R Sports with stock shocks. Wheels shown with OEM Type S center caps as I thought that would look a bit better than the aspec caps with chrome logo.

James

Echoe53

I think they came out looking great

NBP-UA6

iTrader: (1)

Still beating myself up for letting a set of A-specs slip outta my hand. They look really good with the CBP!

Rickyp39

Those thangs look clean ! I like the way it looks man. I'd keep em

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Looks great with A-Spec rims!

Next up are window visors and a roof spoiler, right?
I always remember how much you love those from reading your posts

NerdO_TL

iTrader: (1)

It looks good!, but I would take Type S wheels over Apsecs anyday.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

maybe take a photo further back.


after reading, I realized that the waffle wheels do flow pretty well with the car.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Haha yeah im the one that always tries to talk people out of getting those things ;-) Roof spoiler can sometimes look ok, but for some reason I just cant stand window gaurds. I think they only take away from the clean looks, and as far as I know they are only designed for people that smoked and want to leave windows cracked lol.

Thanks. Yeah I dont know, I will be keeping my original waffles that way I can swap as I please. Besides, these Aspecs have high performance Michelin PS3's installed, so for times we get snow here around Chicago im sure they would be pretty much useless. The original Michelin MXM4's work great in the snow in my experiences.

Yeah I have always liked the waffles and I agree something about them just works with the Type S. But like I said my original wheels arent going anywhere so they can be put right back on. I am working on buying a new DSLR camera as I sold my canon a while back and kind of miss it. You know if I get another I will be talking lots of awesome pics.

vp55

iTrader: (6)

Damn the darker Aspecs look great and match the CBP perfectly!

Btw, how is the ride with the h&r sports? I was thinking of getting them with brand new oem type-s shocks or possibly koni yellows as I don't plan on adjusting the ride height and don't want a stiff ride, just less body roll.

Legitka9

iTrader: (1)

They look great!

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

At first it felt almost 100% stock, but now that they have been installed and I'm more used to them I do notice some differences. During normal cruising and relatively smooth roads they feel absolutely stock. On large bumps they do seem to jolt you more than OEM though so I try to pay more attention if I'm coming up to any large bumps. The car seems to handle MUCH better in turns. I was very surprised to see how flat and planted the car feels. Overall I'm pretty happy, if I had to pick one thing I do wish they were more comfortable on big bumps. I'm not sure if that's something aftermarket shocks would fix or not.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Buddy, you and I both have an eye for keeping things looking like it should have came from the factory

rossv1

Those look great.

Slpr04UA6

^x2

ACCURATEin

Looks good.

I'm sure you use your headlights all the time because the color of your car matches the color of the road.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Lol I went and looked at my pics again and that's funny because your right. My TL actually is pavement colored haha.

M.I.N.O.

iTrader: (1)

The A-specs look great! They match the car perfectly!

Andy Tsang

Hey James if you ever sell the wheels you have a buyer here. Hope I have dibs since I know you know the car it's going on.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

James, they almost look like they were perfectly color keyed for your color Type S.

AcuraCake

iTrader: (3)

You can buy them, they are on craigslist already haha.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

lol, well I put them up right away, but I usually always do that on more expensive items I buy and typically only for a price that would really persuad me to sell them. However, the longer they stay on the car the more they will probably grown on me
So even though they are listed for sale locally, that doesnt necessarily mean I will let them go im just testing the waters. This purchase was more or less to just get the thought of Aspec wheels off my mind. Before I bought them I would constantly be searching craigslist and the forums for sets for sale, but never could find the right ones. They are usually all curb rashed up, or have some cheapo no name tires, or no tpms, etc etc. Then I found this set that had everything I wanted, but for some reason after installing them, they just didnt do it for me like I thought they would.

Andy, if the time comes that I am 100% set on selling them you will absolutely have dibs on the wheels. Plus it would be nice to meet up and maybe see the KBP S!!

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Gunmetal A-Specs ftw! I wouldn't sell them but that's just my

Rickyp39

^i agree. They really look good man but to each their own hopefully I get a chance to see your car in person before they go.

dontTL'em'nothing

iTrader: (3)

those look great

zachlone

I would love to have these rims in gloss black for my car!

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

No one ruins 18x8.5" A-Specs by making them black.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Well these wheels have only been on for 24 hours and they are already really growing on me. So chances are pretty good I may just end up keeping these things we will see. Since I like to keep everything that came original on the car I will be keeping my original Type S wheels and Michelin tires so to cover some of the cost of these aspec wheels I have decided I will probably sell my new RV6 V3 Jpipe. I bought that thing as an impulse anyway and I pretty much drive my car like an old man 98% of the time so it is doing me no benefit being there. Not only that but I swear after installing it my car actually lost low end power. It may be all in my mind, but regardless its just not something I need especially when im putting $3,500 a month into my house trying to pay it off quickly. When I take it off the car I will make a for sale add, but I just wanted to put that out there especially for the local guys. Jpipe is a month old if that and still looks shiny new under the car.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you swap jpipes like you swap cars....lol

EarlThePearl

iTrader: (4)

I personally like the look of the A-spec's, but you should have left the original center caps that come on the wheels. The caps that you have on there look like a down grade to me. Just my

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

I think they look great on your car James! I think something like wheels always take getting used to, with any wheels. Same thing when I got them, I felt like I lost the one thing that separates me from base TLs(the waffle wheels) but give it couple more days you will see that they look GREAT on your car, I miss those wheels already!
But dang, you really lose low end torque with the rv6 jpipe?

anthracitecl

iTrader: (7)

Love A-spec!!! Looks great!!

zachlone

I would! its not ruining them if done right aka Plasti dip

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Its funny because im at work for the evening and when I get off position I go outside and walk by my car and your not kidding. Everytime I go out there I like the wheels more and more lol. I think your right though a big change like that takes some getting used to.
As for the Jpipe I dont know for sure about lower end power, but something has been going on lately with my car where it seems like it has lost power down low. It started on the first 80+ degree day we have had and I thought to myself oh great I got one of the high termperature problem TLs. However, today its only like 51 degrees out and sometimes it feels sluggish and sometimes it doesnt. I know this is a common complaint of the TL so my issue likely has nothing to do with the jpipe, but I do remember some threads where people discussed that Jpipes might actually lose a little power down low. Dont quote me on that though.

truonghthe

love the A-spec but if you do decide to sell the waffle let me know :P

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Well I am in love with the wheels! So as of this time selling them is not in the books. I cleaned the car up again this morning, and even though its not sunny yet this car pictures decent in cloudy conditions. I still have not got my hands on a DSLR camera yet, but my point and shoot does ok I guess.
Here are a few more pictures I took.

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Car is looking good James. I would add the 15 and 20mm spacers, they really make the OEM wheels look better.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the compliment! Yeah for whatever reason ive never been a fan of spacers. To me something just doesnt look right on the TL with wheels sitting that flush with the fenders. Not that it looks bad by any means for the guys that have spacers, but its just a personal preference. Anything more would just look goofy I would think considering that the fronts especially are almost flush as is. I did notice though that these 8.5" aspecs do sit slightly more flush to the fenders than my stock Type S wheels do and im pretty happy with the look as is.


Snapped another shot since the sun is finally starting to come out.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

Damn that looks good!

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

sexy sexy

MAS

iTrader: (3)

Lookin good! Goota love some minty 8.5 Aspecs.