I noticed that the US models are available in a 16" wheel size, while all Canadian models come with 18 " wheels.
Does this mean I can fit a 16" on my 8?
A local tire dealer says the smallest I can go is a 17" to clear the brake.
Steel wheels are much cheaper than alloy so I wonder if the dealer is telling me a half truth to sell the pricier rims.
I just need a cheapo rim for some winter tires.
I figured if the US models can take a 16" why can't mine?

The 16 inch wheels come on the A/T with smaller breaks. So, if you have the bigger breaks, they won't fit.

Mine is an automatic, but it came with 18" wheels

And I am from the US, which was the market being discussed. 18 inch wheels are an option on US A/T '8s as a package (performance, I think). Not sure what the rest of the world does, but that is what the US does. If Canada has different options, you should check their website to verify.

In the US, the AT comes standard with 16" wheels. The Sport/Touring/GT AT packages include 18" wheels.

All MT come with the 18" wheels.

so in other words a 16" wheel should fit mine?
My local tire dealer says a 17" is the smallest I can go to clear the brake.
I can only get steel wheels as big as 16" I am told, thus I have to go with an alloy wheel for my winter tires.
I think this is a lie so that he can sell me the more expensive alloys.
It should be the same car even though mine is a Canadian model.
All our 8's also come standard with the Bose sound system.

Originally posted by bean438
so in other words a 16" wheel should fit mine?
My local tire dealer says a 17" is the smallest I can go to clear the brake.
I can only get steel wheels as big as 16" I am told, thus I have to go with an alloy wheel for my winter tires.
I think this is a lie so that he can sell me the more expensive alloys.

NO, the cars with the sports suspension and the 18" wheels have larger brakes as well. ALL Canadian cars have the 18" wheels, sports suspension, and larger brakes. 16" wheels will NOT fit on a Canadian RX-8. Do NOT assume that the specs and options of the US RX-8 are the same as the Canadian RX-8 - they're not. Your dealer is telling the truth - but don't buy winter wheels/tires from him.

Please do a search in the Tires and Wheels section and in the Canada section for the search term 'winter wheels'. You will find dozens of threads, with pictures, of appropriate tires and wheels for winter use in Canada. The Canada thread also has prices and preferred online vendors (either www.tiretrends.com or www.talontire.com ).

By the way - if you put your location in your user profile or your sig block, we can tell where you're located (see to the left) and the advice you receive will be much more relevant! Thanks.

Regards,
Gordon

It should be the same car even though mine is a Canadian model.


You said yourself:

all Canadian models come with 18 "

As I said, 18 inch wheels have bigger breaks, therefore it won't fit.

Reason it out or research further. You have a great tool (e.g. the Internet) at your fingertips. Take a look around and look at the specs of each trim so we don't have to do the footwork for you. Or move to southern US where you don't have to worry about winter tires.


@ Gordon

By the way - if you put your location in your user profile or your sig block, we can tell where you're located (see to the left) and the advice you receive will be much more relevant! Thanks.


It was mentioned it above in the first post. I think s/he was just set on cheaper wheels and didn't want to hear otherwise, as I thought it was pretty clear. If not, you spelled it out pretty well.

I would love to move to the southern US. Unfortunatly the US has a tight immigration policy, and does not let just about anyone in as Canada does.
I assumed my car had the smaller brakes. Yes it has 18" wheels, but an automatic transmission, so I figured it would have the smaller brakes as well.
All the local tire dealers seem to tell me a different story.
My Mazda dealer knows even less than I do about the 8. Kinda sad that I know more than they do with only a few hours of web research.
They should have paid me the sales commision.
Profile will be updated.
I live in Winnipeg, Canada. We get more snow than most people do, and we don't need the army to help us out either.

Canada is more lax? In the US, it seems like all you have to do it walk in or fly in and take a few tests. But I really have no clue, since I've never had to do it...

However, you do have an all-natural cold air intake system most of the year. That's gotta be nice ;)

Trust me it isnt easy to get to the US. You have to have education ot skills that are in high demand.
As a firefighter, the US will only hire US people to do that job.
They look after their own first, unlike Canada which will give people who weren't even born here a job over someone who is equally skilled. It's called employment equity.
We even have known terrorist cells operating in Canada! Hello? Why are thay still here?
Anyway we are starting to drift off topic.