I have a set of Kazera's for my snow tires (the KZ-R's) and they seemed to be of good quality and decently light weight. I was happy with them.

 

I just put on a staggered set of KZ-A's that I got from the tirerack. I will have pics soon.

Quick background:

I got the 18"X8.5" in the front and the 18"X9.5" in the back with 245/40-18 and 275/35-18 Yokohama db2 tires respectively.

Very few problems up to this point. Give me a little time and I will have pictures for you and a complete write-up.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

Ok Times up.

 

Okay,

Lets start with a few pictures:

First the picture from Tire Rack:



And now some of my car:

 

That's rain water under my car...

Close-up:

 

From the rear:

 

Let me first go through the pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Fairly lightweight. The 8.5" is about 22 lbs and the 9.5" is about 23. Not bad for a 18" wheel

2. Offsets are perfect (too perfect see below). The wheels come right out to fenders - not a mm less not a mm more. (the offsets are 45mm for each wheel).

3. The AVS db2 tires are much quieter than stock.

4. The car grips a little bit better than stock, maybe even better when I get a chance to put it through its motions.

5. The wheels appear to be made by ASA who makes wheels for BBS' value line. The construction appears first rate.

6. Tirerack service.

7. Work with the TPMS

Cons:

1. The wheels are obviously a derivative of the AXIS hiros. I would have gone with Hiros but they only come in 18"X8" and I didn't want the 19" versions for ride reasons.

2. The finish is not quite as nice as the Tireracks pictures or my pictures would indicate. The finish is much duller than chrome even for the machined lip which I was hoping to be a little shinier.

3. I actually like the dual bolt pattern shown in the Tirerack picture. The wheel I got is made solely for one bolt pattern.

4. With the 275 on the rear there is some rubbing. With 180 pounds in my back seat and a full tank of gas I did get some rubbing over large bumps. I don't get any rubbing over normal bumps with just me in the car.

5. Tirerack sent the wrong lug nuts. They are investigating the problem and should have a solution tomorrow.

6. I thought the lip would be a little bigger for the 9.5" rear wheels especially. The wheel itself has enough clearance for MASSIVE disc brakes if you wanted to put them on. They could have easilly made the lip bigger and reduced the clearance by an inch or more and still had plenty of room.

7. The letters on the wheel are definitely dark blue not black. Keep that in mind when you are thinking about how they would look on your car. I think they go well with the yellow.

I like the combo. I came very close to getting the SSR comps. These wheels are a better value but the 9.5" SSR comp comes with a 50mm offset and it probably wouldn't rub.

The wheels with these GOOD tires for a total of $1540 for and I am quite happy.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

Man,

Ref. Pic #1, You gotta fix that oil leak soon. LOL.

Car looks great

RX8Power

 

Tirerack determined what the problem was with the lug nuts they sent me. The drawing for the wheel was wrong and the Kazeras don't require a shank on the lug nuts.

Tire rack is sending me the new lug nuts which look pretty good.

Now that that issue is solved I see the Kazera's as being a very good option.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

Thats great Wiggles, I am just about to drop $800 on the same rims. What did you think of the Chrome style?

 

Irish,

I think the chrome looks fine but bare in mind that the chrome wheels weight about 2 lbs more each due to the chrome. Yes, that is a lot of chrome. That still makes them lighter than my chrome Enkei Aegis wheels which were exact same size (and the center piece is forged on the Aegis), but the weight and the extra money make them less of an option. I am planning to chrome, powder coat or anodize my center cap, so I will get a little bling in the wheel.

I think you also asked me about brake dust. I've had the wheels a week now and I have to say there is signicantly less brake dust and the wheels are easier to clean as well.

If you do go with them, make sure you talk with Wes x643 at the tirerack. He is very famillar with the RX-8 and these wheels now.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

I think those rims look great!

I need a set of track wheels and am looking to save as much weight as possible while getting the sidewalls as well supported as possible (going as wide as I can easily fit). I am therefore interested in your SSR comment and particularly if 18x9.5s with a 50mm offset would fit up front. Before somebody says "not a chance" a search recalls Mazdatrix tried 18x10s and that they fit and they were 50mm offset. But, while those 18x10s were mounted with wide 285/30s, that is a tire that is shorter than the 275/35s you have on your 9.5s. Any chance you tried your 9.5s up front just to see how close that size is to fitting with the 275/30s despite the 45mm offset?

 

Brian,

A 275 9.5" at 50mm would stick out about 10mm further than my current tires do which are 245 8.5" st 45mm.

It would be a tight fit but I think it would work. Sorry that I don't have the time to try it for you. One thing is for shore the tire will be extending a little past the wheel well so it will look a little goofy.

If they are going to be race wheels, then I would just do a 265/30 - 18 and that should work without any incident. Your speedometer is going to read a little off, but in the process you will be using a lighter tire, put the car lower to the ground, and increased your effective gear ratio.

-Mr. Wigggles