Bargain rim recommendations

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

I received plenty of good replies from my inquiry about the best bargain in a good replacement tire, thank you very much. Now I need to know what wheel brands are the best combination of price and quality. I know nothing about wheel manufacturers. In my day you bought Cragars for the street. Period.
Okay, the lunatics had Centerline racing rims with beadlocks.
Point is that I have no idea which of the affordable brands are worth buying. These cars are capable of some amazing high end speed. I don't want my life riding on some POS rim. A few points to try to keep in mind.
1) Don't bring style into it, all I care about is value (I'll sort through the suggestions for one I like the looks of).
2) Please don't flame any suggestions for being knockoffs of somebody else's original design. I don't care.
3) I'm only going to do this if I can save some weight at the same time (this shouldn't be too hard given the rather portly 24 pounders we get stock).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pondo]

If you want absolutly the best looking rims, go ZINIK, if you want cheap ass rims, try your local junkyard. Everything else in between, ebay etc.

 

[aaronc7]

how about the RX8 wheels? Not sure if they are that much lighter but they are 1" wider

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

how about the RX8 wheels? Not sure if they are that much lighter but they are 1" wider

A used set of RX8s is a definite possibility, and I think I saw somewhere that they are 21 pounds, so they would save a little unsprung weight.

 

[dparm1984]

Rotas are pretty cheap but still hold up well. They have a zillion styles, colors, and sizes.

 

[jodacoto]

tenzo = good looks, great price.

 

[BlackCherry06]

I came very close to pulling the trigger on one of these before I stumbled across some RX-8 wheels:

http://www.wheelmax.com/product.asp?ProdId=15177

http://www.wheelmax.com/product.asp?ProdId=15305

 

[dmention7]

Rotas are pretty cheap but still hold up well. They have a zillion styles, colors, and sizes.

+1, but a lot of their wheels aren't available in 18" sizes unfortunately.

 

[Ghetto Mods]

I'm currently looking into a set of 17" enkei RP-F1s. Weight is 15.6 lb each, cost is $230 or so. Shopping price now.

In the 18" size, I'm liking the Rota P1 a lot (19 lbs) and <$200 each

Failing that, the Kosei K1 TS at 16.8 lb looks pretty smooth at a cost of ~$240 each.

I'm still personally debating 17" vs 18". If I go 18" I can buy now, but if I go 17" I'm gonna have to weight until my tires wear out.

PS to the guys replying, read the original post - MLC is looking to shave some unsprung weight - key to improved handling, accel, braking, etc... so don't be blindly recommending stuff without mentioning weight as well.

 

[Craighjr]

Rota's are the best bang for the buck. The quality is pretty darn good and they have many styles and fitments. I also like the Tenzo's but I know nothing of their quality.

 

[bacarl]

This was my old turbo'd Focus after a little run in with a concrete highway median at around 60-70mph. Had 17" Rotas on it, all of which survived the crash very well. Three had scuffs/gouges taken out of the rims, and one had a half-inch hairline fracture. I actually sold them to another Focus owner; he took them to an alloy wheel repair shop, had them welded and patched up, and they're good as new to this day

I've already ordered new Rotas for my MS3, 18x8 P1's. Cost $750 shipped from subydude. I also added splined lugs and machined hubs for perfect Mazda fitment (56.1mm). Total came to $880.

 

[fourthmeal]

snip

 

[Falconx84]

I've been ridiculously happy with rotas in the past.... lightweight, strong, good buy for your dollar

just be cautious that your "bargain rim" doesn't turn out to be bargain quality. If you end up having to replace them because they bend, you may as well have spent more $$ in the first place for something quality.

With that said, I've always bought rims from other people via forums or craigs list or just word of mouth ("hey did you guys hear that John Smith is selling his 17s??")

 

[dkswim]

sub

 

[mountjonas]

rota.

 

[RXMmazdaspeed]

If you want absolutly the best looking rims, go ZINIK, if you want cheap ass rims, try your local junkyard. Everything else in between, ebay etc.

Zinik is more for luxury cars/SUV's, which I don't think is the type of rim he is looking for.

Rotas are pretty cheap but still hold up well. They have a zillion styles, colors, and sizes.

Rota's are awesome. I myself am looking into getting the Battle, D2, or Torque wheels from them.

I came very close to pulling the trigger on one of these before I stumbled across some RX-8 wheels:

http://www.wheelmax.com/product.asp?ProdId=15177

http://www.wheelmax.com/product.asp?ProdId=15305

I was also looking at those Exel's (second link). I just know nothing about them and therefore makes me second guess them.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

So who has personal experience with Exel wheels? Anybody in the industry with any feedback?
Fourthmeal, are your ears burning?

 

[jbiird317]

exel wheels are available for sale at pep boys, that to me says STAY AWAY

I would go with Rota's if I was looking for something cheap, durable, and stylish.

 

[Sierra117]

You can get Enkei for great prices if you look around a bit, and they make wheels for F1 teams (15x10 ftw). Rotas make good wheels as well. I've heard ASAs are good, but never known for myself.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

I think I'd like to go with the Rota for the money based on the feedback, but I am having trouble finding them locally at a place that also carries Falken 615
tires.
Has anyone ever heard of a wheel brand called Liquidmetal? They can be had locally and I saw some that look good, I just don't know what the quality is and I can't find a weight for them on the web.
I had someone try to tell me that a set of 8.5x18 with a 35 offset might fit with 235/40/18 tires. The brand is drifz and they are all aluminum, so they should be pretty light. I just don't believe they could fit.