Rota Formel v BBS STI head-to-head

[DLC]

I took some pictures of these wheels a few weeks ago and I thought I'd show what I found.

First is one Royal Steel Grey Rota Formel, 17x7.5", that I bent a few years ago, just enough that it can't be balanced.

Second is a familiar wheel: the silver BBS wheel that came on the USDM Impreza WRX STi in 2004.

Both wheels are 5x100, 17x7.5". ET is at least +48 for both.

First off is weight:

BBS (click for larger image):


Formel (click for larger image:


That's a few pounds difference between them...almost 144lbs by SCC's calculations (6lbs x 6lb wheel penalty per lbs x 4 wheels). No wonder the car feels quicker with my winter SDRs (17x7.5" +53 and ~16.5lbs).

The next difference that was evident was the shape of the wheels:



It looks like the Formel could facilitate larger diameter rotors and taller calipers. I don't know if it's wide enough to accept even the STI Brembos, but there's plenty of room for even larger discs.

The BBS, by contrast, are much smaller in diameter. The main reason for this could be that putting weight closer to the center of the wheel further reduces the torque needed to turn it. The wheel centers are large enough for the brakes, so why make them larger.

The paint is also much, much different between the two. When I got the BBS wheels, they were clean on the outside, but there was a lot of leftover tire residue on the onside lip of the wheels. Some soap, water and a scuff pad got them almost entirely clean. The pain never flinched, and it was much easier to remove the rubber than I thought it would be. The paint is still smooth and "soft" to the touch, even with many scuffs and dings.

The Formels, on the other hand, have a rough paint feel. The same rubber deposits were very, very stubborn and I threw in the towel, so to speak, after spending ten minutes getting little of it off. The inside lip also seems to have a line of paint on its way to wearing off:



I think the Formels are the heaviest wheel Rota made in a 17" diameter and a 5x100 pattern. They look really good, but there's simply no way the compare favorably to the BBS in any way save for price.

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[squashman]

Nice review, but I don't think there's anything new there.

Forged, one piece OEM BBS wheels are going to be stronger and lighter than gravity cast, one piece Rota wheels.

The strength and weight advantage of the BBS can't even be compared to the Rota, but obviously it's the large discrepancy in price that encourages people to buy Rota's.

[freshADR]

You can never beat the quality of OEM BBS other than the very expensive aftermarket wheels. Those wheels are meant to perform and yet are the most affordable wheels.

[bdi]

Man I wish the 05+ STi BBS wheels weighed 15.8lbs!

[chimchimm5]

Originally Posted by DLC

USDM Impreza WRX STi in 2004.

Both wheels are 5x100, 17x7.5". ET is at least +48 for both.

First off is weight:

BBS (click for larger image):

Woohoo!! For some reason I had always thought that the 04 sti bbs's were 17-18lbs.

15.8 lbs: less than 1lb heavier than the enkei RPF1's in the same size (which someone had suggested I ditch my BBS's for the RPF1's)

[bluescoobywagon]

I think the Formels are the heaviest wheel Rota made in a 17" diameter and a 5x100 pattern. They look really good, but there's simply no way the compare favorably to the BBS in any way save for price.

My 17x8.5" Slipstreams are 21 lbs.

[nhat]

Originally Posted by chimchimm5

Woohoo!! For some reason I had always thought that the 04 sti bbs's were 17-18lbs.

15.8 lbs: less than 1lb heavier than the enkei RPF1's in the same size (which someone had suggested I ditch my BBS's for the RPF1's)

you also have to factor in the fact that 04 sti bbs wheels are only 17x7.5 which is more than wide enough for most people. only reason i would ditch my set for a set of rpf1's is to go wider to a 8" or 8.5" and still have a light wheel.

[ripvw]

Originally Posted by DLC

That's a few pounds difference between them...almost 144lbs by SCC's calculations (6lbs x 6lb wheel penalty per lbs x 4 wheels). No wonder the car feels quicker with my winter SDRs (17x7.5" +53 and ~16.5lbs)

If by SCC you mean Sport Compact Car magazine, then their "calculations" have no basis in actual physics.

For a dose of reality, read the following thread:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...ighlight=wheel

and/or use the wheel/tire mass spreadsheet found on this webpage:

http://se30.dyndns.org:8080/SVX/rot_inertia.html

[Chino Bling]

looks like i need to get rid of my formels...

[Polaren]

Originally Posted by chimchimm5

Woohoo!! For some reason I had always thought that the 04 sti bbs's were 17-18lbs.

15.8 lbs: less than 1lb heavier than the enkei RPF1's in the same size (which someone had suggested I ditch my BBS's for the RPF1's)

Aren't the RPF1's 15.6lbs?