as far as name and model, it really doesnt matter. The only size requirements are a 17 X 7 bolt pattern of 114.3 X 5 will fit fine. Stock offset is 50mm, so anywhere around there will clear the brakes no problem. Lots of rims fit this car, so finding a wheel is just a matter of talking with a local tire/wheel supplier. I believe Shamblerock was saying missisauga tire was great, and his rims are the FTX 60's?? or something like that.

 

I think 3 have so far been named, but I have seen nothing about comparison:

FRD 6 (in connection with the Talon Tire deal)
RTX F120 (both Shamblerock and I have them fitted - his price at Mississauga Tire Centre is way the best - and there are photos of this on the Winetr Tires and Rims = Toronto thread)
RTX F211 (same thread, post by RotorWheee)

There have also been some posts about steel rims which my Mazda dealer said are available but the opinion on the forum is that they are somewhat ugly.

My rationale for the rim was - similar to the OEM in both finish and design and as few crevices in the design as possible so it's easy to keep reasonably clean in winter. The RTX F120 definitely does this. You can see a pictures of the FRD 6 on the web, but I haven't been able to find anything on the RTXs other than our pics here. I think they're something like an in-house brand for Robert Thibert which I believe is a major rim distributor.

Sorry Mic - Shamblerock and I are using 225/50R17 on the RTX F120 if that helps with your comparison.

 

Does anybody know the weight of the various FRD wheels? I've been looking around but haven't found specs with weight for these wheels.

 

I think that there was a thread in the Wheels section on "showing off winter rims". Again, what the other fellows said ... as long as they fit the specs, there should be no problems.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=winter+rims

 

Sorry Mic really not a clue as to why 225 versus 215. That was the sizing recommended to me. Since I'm not about to take it racing or to the edge of it's performance envelope, the rim weight wasn't a factor. I just love the car!

 

Mic,
Winter wheel choices have been extensively discussed, and there are quite a few threads in the Tires and Wheels forum section from the past 16 months - a search on "winter wheels" will turn up quite a few threads with wheel models, prices, weights, etc. Also in this Canada section, that same search will turn up several threads from last fall, where many of us posted our winter wheels pics and prices (search on "winter wheels" with my forum handle to narrow it down if you like). There's far more choices than just three.

Unsprung weight should always be an issue! IMHO, the OEM 18" wheels are waaay too heavy (~22 lbs each). My winter wheels with tires are 6 pounds lighter each than the OEM wheel/tire! They make a very noticeable difference in the ride quality, responsiveness, and feel of the car. If I could justify the cost, I'd definitely buy lighter 18" wheels, or even better, switch over to light 17" wheels with appropriately sized 17" tires for summer use.

For what it's worth, I bought my winter wheels and tires from www.tiretrends.com . I hate to say it again, but my selection was extensively detailed last fall. I got the Konig Holes Graphite, 17", with the Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17. I selected the Konigs for their light weight, appearance, and Konig's reputation for quality. Here's a couple of pics (posted in quite a few different threads last fall and this spring/summer ):

 

My Parts Mgr.is pushing BSA 264's. I checked out tiretrends and they're not listed, Gord, nor can I find much by Googling BSA [except some great old Beezers !] Do you have any opinion or know of an informative site?
P.S. I have scanned the archived threads..Thanks.

 

BSA's are a common "tuner" wheel brand. If anyone has ever been to Wheels direct, theyre are hundreds of different styles of BSA wheels, so im sure you can take your pic at the style you like. I myself am going to be using a Katana T5 17 X 7 from my celica that i traded in, i just need to find tires for a good price. Gord- how much did you get the konigs for?? Also, the most important thing when choosing a rim, is too like the wheel when you purchase it. I have found it very hard in the past to sell off a set of wheels that i purchased in the past, so make a good choice and look around

 

Thanks for that helpful info, Kart Racer. I paid zero attention when I bought the Blizzaks and rims for the Miata, as I had been doing donuts on the 401 at Meadowvale the night before and it was panic city to get to work in the morning 40 k away. But now with the 8, there seem to be so many factors, [e.g.-never knew about the TPS 'notches' until today] and I'm trying not to be a royal pain by doing some 'lookups' before asking. Thank you everyone for being patient with an old guy.

 

Hey, that's part of my job here! I gotta do a bit of that to wear the Moderator handle...

So YOU don't have enough free time to do a search or two and some reading, therefore you expect US (the forum old-timers) to have enough free time to write the answers over and over, every time a newbie shows up with a common question who is too busy to search? Hmmm, that doesn't sound much like working together.

I agree though about the need to be working together here - part of that hand holding is explaining how this site is expected to work. From the FAQ (available via button at top right of screen, if you haven't read it yet, you really should), here's User Conduct Rule #15: In other words, new members have an obligation to do a bit of research here, and can not just expect regulars to answer the same old questions over and over and over. If you don't have enough time to do that - then neither do we!

Regards,
Gordon

 

There is no "best wheel". Your biggest issue may be clearance for the discs, go with a reputable dealer that is willing to guarantee a fit. I am using ADR GT Sports w/215/55/17 Toyo Garit. It is taller and narrower than a 225/50/17. The latter may look slightly better, and handle better in the dry. The 215 may be better in the messy stuff. The tire size Gord, I and others are using will show lower mileage than what the car has actually been driven, whereas the 225 will do the opposite. Find a good wheel calculator and you can work out the difference.

Really though, do a search and you will find all of this info and much more.

Cheers.

 

Being a newbie on this site my word probably doesn't mean much, however, this whole "Please do a search" subject has been quite upsetting across all the forums that I've been on.

here's my thought.

(1) If someone care enough to reply "please do a search", please be nice enough to include at least 1 or 2 useful links threads, the reason being after sometime, when a newbie search for a a subject, all he gets would be 1000 threads of "Please do a search, it's been covered 10000 times". Now, I userstand the frustration of having to repeat what you say over and over again, however, it's also frustrating for someone to open one thread after another and all they see is a reply of "please do a search", you could spent hours opening those threads and not finding anything you needed. Having a link in there when you reply would help people who searches big time.

(2) If that same topic has been asked this many times, it really SHOULD be a sticky. Now if someone else asked about what's in the sticky he deserved to be bashed, flamed, whatever. :D

Just my thoughts, I know it wouldn't change but I have to get it out of my system. :D

-Ced