Hey all,

I ordered a set of konig feathers through Discount Tire Direct. I was painfully specific about needing 14mm lug holes. I was assured via email that they had both 12mm and 14mm in stock, and to specify with the phone rep what i needed. I did so, and was told I'd be getting what I needed. When they showed up today, they were 12mm. Getting in touch with a different rep, I'm told that they don't exist in 14mm and he's not sure where Email Rep #1 is getting his info.

I'm waiting for these two guys to connect and figure out if these elusive wheels DO exist, and if they do have them. However if not, they will send UPS to my house to pick them up and issue me a full refund if I can't find something else I'd like instead. In all fairness they have been really prompt and helpful trying to fix this for me, but I'm irritated all the same at the hassle.

Could I just have these drilled out? Is there any risk to the structural integrity? Has anyone found these 14mm from Konig?

I'll never stray from TireRack again!

 

Lug conversion? Just don't know where to get them anymore as TSW closed its doors.

 

Thanks, I'll look into that. I'm hoping DscountTire will cover the cost of anything I have to do to make these work.

Anyone else?

 

I am pretty sure that you can get the TSW 14mm to 12mm studs from Way Motor Works.
The cheapest way would be to drill them out to clear a 14mm stud. This is just a clearance hole as the lugs seat on the cone angle. Just measure the diameter of the hole on your existing wheels that accept the 14mm and get the appropriate drill size to drill the wheels out.
Steve

 

thanks guys, way does carry them, and discount tire will cover the cost. will i need a full set of 12mm lugs after, or just the kit and nuts?

 

I thought the R50/R53 generation was a 12mm stud? It went to the 14mm in '07 with the R56. Unless somebody swaped your hubs out with R56 parts the wheels shuld fit, I know mine did.

Call up WAY and get the stud conversion, ditch the factory lug bolts, and be happy. Going to stud's is one of the best things I've done.

Yes you are going to need nuts to go with the studs. I got mine from Drop engeneering, they are a little pricey but no problems.

 

****'s Garage, the change over was in late 06 in preparation for '07. That's why all the wheels that show up in a search for '06 wheels don't actually fit my car, very frustrating!

Now that I can see the kit in pictures I get how it works, that is a great solution. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys! I'm going to drop Way an email. I called today but it went straight to voicemail.

I see that a set of Drop engineering studs is about $100. I'm going to try to get Discount Tire to foot the bill on the nuts as well, it's probably still going to be cheaper for them than paying return shipping on the wheels and refunding my money. It looks like they're for race applications though, is there something a little less expensive but still quality for street application?

 

Hmm... I stand corrected.

Any lugnut with the "TUNER" cone profile will work with the Feathers. There are cheaper options out there but be weary of cheap aluminum, and cast nuts. I know the Drops are aluminum, an I was even a little scared to try them out at first, but I have beaten the car to death (LITTERALLY) with them installed. Not a single issue with any of them, not even a scratch in the anodization, or burr in the threads. I even bought a set for a 5 lug so I would have spares, good to know I still have 4 extras.

On another note, once you go to a stud/nut setup, your OEM lug wrench wont fit. Most of the lugnuts I've seen are 19mm. Its a simple fix though you should already have a 19mm deepwell in your toy box. Oh and when installing the studs, get some extra allen wrenches. I twisted 3 of them into candy canes when I installed mine.

 

Well, I found the Drops at EuroSportDesign for $87, so that's not too bad. Thanks for the recommendation! My local tire/wheel shop will be installing these, as I'm having it done at the same time as my spacers and coilovers, having tires mounted, etc, so they'll have to worry about allen wrenches

Fired off an email to DiscountTire outlining the cost of the stud conversion and the lug nuts, as well as a message to Way to verify that this will get me rolling. Hopefully everything falls into place. If they can't cover the cost to make it right for me I will probably return them and shop around for something that will fit without the conversion, I don't want to be out of pocket any extra over this.

 

this was the case with my R56 and feathers that I got from Alta. I just drilled them out and it was fine. You'd be surprised how easy it went through and how little material was taken off the wheel.

 

I did consider drilling them out, but I figure since I was guaranteed 14mm compatible wheels, I shouldn't have to screw around with DIY drilling, or paying a machine shop to do it for me, etc.

 

Well, spoke with DT again today. Now they will NOT cover a stud conversion kit. They're concerned about liability issues since it's not a manufacturer approved mounting solution, etc. Fair enough. They spoke with Konig and were told that if I return them, Konig is just going to drill them out and sell them, as they have a 14mm model in the pipeline anyway. It was suggested that I just go the drill 'em out route. I'm not really comfortable with that, so I'm shipping them back for a refund.

I think I'll just keep my current wheels and buy a sub/amp instead