bgparsons3

These are the Konigs that Gord bought - and I'm still on the fence about. I'm looking at about $75 per wheel difference to shed the 8 pounds.

Have to say, for winter driving, I'm leaning back to the FRDs. I didn't realise the difference would be so much.

ZoomZoom

I sent an email to John at Talon Tire yesterday but still have not had a response. I asked him when he would be finalizing the group purchase and how many people were on the list.

Does anyone know the answers to these two questions?

Thanks!

Wing

My experience they aren't too fast on the e-mail.

I can call monday and ask about for the group if I get a chance. I have his direct line someplace around here on my desk.... I hope.

ZoomZoom

Thanks Wing!

Gord96BRG

Actually, it's the Graphite version of the Konig Holes that I'm getting, like below. The dark gray centre looks great on the Titanium Gray RX-8! I test-fit a wheel yesterday, and the inside of the rim clears the outer face of the caliper by a whole 3 or 4 mm! (I can't see how a 16" wheel could possibly fit). Anyway, my winter set should now be a done deal - these Konig Holes with the Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17.

I wanted the lighter weight wheels not so much for the handling benefits, but for the better ride and responsiveness. Personally, I think the stock 18" OEM wheels are overkill, and were specified by the Mazda marketing department rather than the engineering department. The weight compromises aren't made up by any performance advantage - there's plenty of 225/50-17 or equivalent sizes in all the performance tires. I think that the lighter 17" wheels will be an improvement, rather than heavier winter wheels that will cause a degradation in ride quality or feel. After all, we have to use the winter wheels for 5 months of the year!

Regards,
Gordon

Doctorr

Wow Gord, those WILL look "bonza" on the Titanium!
(I just picked up that word from a nice 'Ozzy' I just met on the forum, hairdresser I think he said he was...)
I phoned John in 'Q'bec, but he hasn't returned my call. I will probably start looking locally next week......
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.
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doc

How about a new category for your poll?
"Phoned Talon, but was ignored..."

Gord96BRG

Well, I gotta tell ya - TireTrends has been great. They shipped me the wheel without charging for it - trusted me that I'd send it back to them. They always answer the phone, and actively participate in the Tires and Wheels forum (that they sponsor) over at www.canadiandriver.com . TireTrends also sells the FRD wheels, and at my request had taken their own time to take a few wheels over to a local Mazda dealer to test fit them on an RX-8. I can't recommend them highly enough - call and ask for Bob, tell him Gord from Calgary sent you! (Let's talk customer service - I bought a set of Konig wheels and some Falken Azenis tires for my Miata last year from TireTrends. This spring, one of the centre caps fell off somewhere. I phoned TireTrends to order another cap, fully planning to buy one or 4 depending on how they sold them, and instead they insisted on sending me a full replacement set of 4 centre caps at their entire expense - didn't cost me a penny. That's great customer service that is worth my repeat business.)

I did speak with John at Talon 2 weeks ago, and he was going to look up pricing and availability on another wheel for me. He still hasn't called back...

Regards,
Gordon

Wing

I'm going to call John and ask him what's up!

Ron_Jeremy

I just got off the phone with John at Talon -- he's been crazy busy and was testing an RX-8 (Canada's?) when I called. He apologized and said that he'd be calling us in the next 2 days to get our orders finalized -- that's the scoop.

Canada

That's right, we tested 3 types of rims on my RX-8, two were 17x7" and one was 17x8". They all fit fine, and he will post the details here or you can call him.

Wing

Good stuff! I think that is what John was waiting for, he REALLY didn't want to sell everyone those wheels unless he knew for sure they fit.

You'll be getting your wheels SOON I am sure now that he knows they fit!

Canada

Following are my photos and specs of the magnesium alloy wheels that Talon physically confirmed to fit on both front and back of my RX-8 In addition to the FRD 30, that Wing also posted at the beginning of the thread, we also confirmed the FRD 6 that weighs the same (19lbs) but has a different look. John doesn't yet have a quote for the FRD 6 (which uses metal centering ring) but it will cost slightly more than the FRD 30 (uses heavy-duty plastic centering ring). I also attach a shot of the Toyo Garit HT tread, which I will use on Montreal winters, and the last photo is of my RX-8 posing like a ham in front of Talon.

In case you missed it somehow, contact John at:
Talon Tire
2607 Diab
St-Laurent, Quebec
H4S 1E7
Canada
514-337-0833
www.talontire.com

I will go with their recommendation of 215/55R17 Toyo Garit HT mounted on FRD 30, purely on personal taste. It was a pleasure working with Talon.

Canada

Canada

FRD 6

Canada

Toyo Garit HT: close-up of the tread surface

Canada

The guinea pig...

Wing

Great pics!

So has anyone ordered yet?

ZoomZoom

I spoke to John last Friday and I ordered my snow tires and wheels. It looks like Bulldog and I are getting the same setup which are the 215/55/17 Pirelli 210 Snowsport tires mounted on the 17"x7" FRD 06 alloy wheels.

John expects that my tires will arrive on October 22nd, not too soon as far as I am concerned.

Taffy

Zoom Zoom

What was the total price for that package? I have been looking around the GTA and want to compare.

PS. Saw you at top end of 427 going south last week I think. Looking good !!!!

Bulldog6670

Talked with John this afternoon and confirmed my pakage is on the way which is the same package ZoomZoom purchased. Should be here mid next week.

Hats off to John and Talon Tire. When I first spojke with John, I talked him down on his price to match a competitor. He did lower his price, and said the price may come down mor4e based on how many members joined the group buy. He surprised me again when he lowered the price another $30.

Thanks again to Wing for starting all of this and to hanf on through to the end. Like ZoomZoom said, the sooner the tires are in my garage, the happier I will be.

Taffy, give John a call and get in on this now while you have the group buying power.

Len

I guess that's why I couldn't get hold of him today, he was talking to you. I'll have to call early tomorrow.

Ron_Jeremy

i spoke to john yesterday and confirmed my order -- i'm going with the same package as bulldog and zoomzoom... and i agree, the sooner the tires arrive, the better!

Len

I placed my order today with Talon Tire. I'm going with the FRD 6 wheels and Toyo Garit tires.

THANK YOU Wing and Canada! You've done us a big favour. (My usual thanks for a favour is to offer someone a ride in my cool new car, but I guess that won't work for you.)

Callsignjo

Not to sound like a broken record but...I placed my order today with Talon Tire. I'm also going with the FRD 6 wheels and Toyo Garit tires.

They said I was #12...not a bad group buy I'd say.

Thanks as well to Wing and Canada for the legwork.

PS. You may be interested in knowing that in my local search I had a tire dealer ask me who made the RX-8 and if it was a truck!!! I came close to looking around and asking him if I was in a tire shop.:D

Wing

I gave up after 2 shops in Ottawa and called Talon because of this "attitude" in Ottawa.

Ok fine they don't know about the car, but ALL of them simply open up a book and say "not in my book sorry"

Then I told them, well here's the offset and the tire size etc. They both said "not in my book, can't help you"

So I said SCREW IT, called Talon and sure enough John was willing to find us something that would work.

When's my kickback cheque coming in the mail?

Taffy

Spoke to John late yesterday and he said that he could not get the Pirelli 210. He was going to call you guys on Monday.

I was wondering about the differences between the Pirelli's and the Toyo's. I was planning on the Pirelli's until I spoke to John and I don't know much about the Toyo's.

What are the main differences?

Has anyone found the Pirelli's elsewhere?

John's prices are great and I'm still very much thinking about ordering the FRD 6 and Toyo's from him. For the price difference, the FRD 6's seem to be a no brainer unless it is a personal taste thing.

What do you guys think?

Cheers

Taffy