Just out of curiosity....has anyone bothered to track down the part number, or rather a set of the Type E Series II wheels for their 8? I remember seeing these before, but have never seen anyone stateside with a set on their car....seems like they'd make for a nice change from the wheels we see all the time, if not a nice set of smaller winter wheels (cheaper tires!).

 

Are these like the Series I 16" wheels in the sense that they only fit on non-sport brake versions?

 

I honestly have no idea with regards to that....maybe someone here has a set, and can inform us? Based on Mazda's "spec deck", both automatic and manual SIIs have the same sized brakes, so I couldn't imagine it'd be an issue of sport brakes vs not here...although the Japanese market vehicles could possibly be different. According to what I've read, these wheels are 17s, and run on 225/50s standard...so I'd assume 17x8, which would only be a diameter decrease, and not width or offset. It's possible that Mazda put a 225/50-17 setup on Type Es since they're an auto, and as such, more of a tourer...but that's purely speculation.

 

id rather light my money on fire than buy those hideous looking wheels. If you want a 17inch, just buy a quality wheel.

 

Different strokes for different folks....I personally think they look like an inverse of the stock 18s we got here, and are more on the plain end than hideous. I'd run them for winter wheels, just as something totally different...but that's just me.