So after much looking around for affordable, nice looking rims to replace my stock ones (design of which still confuses me) I finally ran into these:



http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Price



Just wanted to get some opinions here

 

Here is a quick photochop vs stock

 

I can appreciate wanting a simpler 5 spoke design, but I think those look cheap. Really cheap. You've got a rare special edition 8, if you're going to swap wheels at least make it an upgrade, not a downgrade. I say save a little, double your wheel budget and then start looking.

 

I'll take your stock ones though.

 

I'll buy those rims from tire rack for you if you ship me your stock rims.

 

I guess Im third in line for the OEs

 

Really? Well what about them tells you they look cheap? The design of the wheel or the little logo?

 

^Just how the black clashes with the silver, I agree with him about the cheap look. The stock wheels look much better.

 

The picture is good but.... They are not for me when I see the photo chop.

First thin you have to do if you but them is get rid of the center cap.

Advertising there looks cheap.... unless its a name brand and isn't a gaudy center cap.

 

The design of the wheel:

The shape of the individual spokes and the useless black cut-out accents. While form-before-function flashy wheels may bring attention to a Honda or other generic car, I feel our well designed car looks best with functional wheels.

The shape of the face. A lot of cheap wheels will have a convex shaped face just to give a high offset wheel a trendy lip. Concave face wheels look better in my opinion. And if designed right you can get a lip with a concave face (look at the wheel I posted below).

Lastly, the size. The stock wheels look a little narrow and sit too far in to the car. With these wheels you are only pushing that out 5mm (won't even be noticable). Cheap wheels usually max out at 7.5 or 8" wide (built for FWD cars). Going 8.5+ with a lower offset will give the car a better stance.

Maybe I'm overly critical when it comes to design... I'm in the art/design field though, so I guess it serves me well. I'm not just judging these by the brand, there are some cheap wheels that look good. One example that's about the same price:

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand

 

You could pretty much buy 2 sets of those with the money from your OEM wheels lol. That tells you what kind of quality we are talking about here. Oh and you say the design of your stock ones confuse you? They are 5 rotor shapes like on the seat headrest.

 

If you are on a budget then consider getting quality used wheels. FWIW lots of members sell really nice wheels in the RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted section of the board.

 

These were my second favorite out of what tirerack has, I would get them if I had a black car - for my color it will be too dark though.

How about these then?

 

your second rim choise > your first rim choise

 

i second that X100

 

I like that design a lot. They look like Work Emotion CR Cais. Check this thread:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/who-has-work-emotion-cr-cai-165707/
Are they Works or knock offs? Either way, much better choice. I like the finish too.

 

They are Rota Torque

http://www.wheeldude.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=704

Not sure if I should get 18X8.5 or 18X8 ...I can put 225s on 8.5 right?


loving these too...

but evenmore expensive

 

You can fit 225 on 8.5 ok, but it will look a little stretched. I have 245 (.8 inches wider) on a 9.5 (1 inch wider) so you should be fine. If you sold your stock rims, you could easily afford any of your choices so far.

 

The Rota p45r or the grid are nice cheap alternatives.

 

Can't really find them in the right size and color - maybe you know some places that sell em other then subydude?

 

You could have bought a set of SSR for $900 shipped if you checked the for sale section like I suggested

 

^Those are some very nice wheels for $900.

 

^sorry don't like those, too busy looking.

Some more photochoping!

 

Save up and buy some RPF1s. I think that = WIN

 

If you are really set on getting cheap rims, I think the Torques look the best. I'd save up and get some real Work wheels though. XT7s are sexy.