i need help

[cyberraz]

i need some extreme help with choosing some rims. i've looked all over the place and i just don't know. what i'm looking for is something really clean preferrably a 5 or 6 spoke with a silver finish and for the size...17's. i've looked at alot of 17's and i'm just not sure what i can get that is going to make the car look good. i guess what i'm trying to say is i want a 17 inch rim that is going to look bigger than 17 if that makes sense. anyone who has a picture or two of their protege with 17's on it please post. thanks and i apologize if this post is kinda beating a dead horse or whatever.oh and should proabably mention my price range of no more than $140 per wheel.

 

[cyberraz]

i guess it was a premature post a little bit...but i was looking around and saw these. they are exels...anyone had any experience with them.

 

[JoshP5]

Kansei runs them. Apparently they're Advan knock-offs and are very lightweight (<15lbs) and durable. If I had a do over, I'd get the 10-spoke equivalent.

Your car will look great with 17s. 18s are just too much for the tiny Protege--all you'd see is wheel! =P

 

[Sveivo]

I know a local member who has them as well. They look really good in person. 17" looks plenty big in person. 18" is overkill, IMO.

BTW, Exels have some nice offsets for our cars.

 

[cyberraz]

ok..thank you for your input. durablitity is defnitly an issue for me. the wheel is going to have to be fairly durable because i live in NY and the roads aren't exactly silk even though these wheels would only be my summer set. i believe the offset for those wheels is 42...i think that they will fit. can anyone led me to some pictures of these wheels on a protege. thank you..oh and i have also read some comments that the protege will look a little stupid with any size wheel if not lowered....now this isn't true is it?

 

[Sveivo]

ok..thank you for your input. durablitity is defnitly an issue for me. the wheel is going to have to be fairly durable because i live in NY and the roads aren't exactly silk even though these wheels would only be my summer set. i believe the offset for those wheels is 42...i think that they will fit. can anyone led me to some pictures of these wheels on a protege. thank you..oh and i have also read some comments that the protege will look a little stupid with any size wheel if not lowered....now this isn't true is it?

Not lowered will look stupid, yes.

Search: BKJT05 and Kansei both have these wheels.

 

[cyberraz]

yeah i wish i could lower the car...but for now i still have to drive it in the winter. i was thinking of switching the springs back and forth for each season. whatever i deicide i don't have the funds to lower now. i looked at the member list and Kansei is not listed. i also searched but to filter through every result seems like it would be quite a task.

 

[Sveivo]

You don't need to lower a lot. Just a little will make it look right.

My thoughts are this. You are getting the wheels for looks, right? Then be ready go do it right and lower. Otherwise you will get what you paid for.

Pics:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123676382&highlight=high+res+pics

 

[JoshP5]

Kansei's ride:

You may want to consider a minor drop using Tein H-Tech or Racing Beat springs. If you have rear disk brakes, you could probably get away with using the stock struts with these, although Tokico HPs would be preferred.

And I'd go with 205/45s with those rims given your crappy NY roads.

 

[cyberraz]

has anyone had any experience with wheelmax. i know someone who ordered from them and he said he ordered his wheels and it took them a month to get him his ordered but not before they lost the rims and then credited his account for those rims then he had to change the style of the rims because they were now sold out of the ones he wanted. he also said that he would call them and they would never get back to him. crappy customer service? i know with every company you are going to hear a bad experience or two. anyone have any input for me?

 

[JoshP5]

Dude, take your time and write clearly. It facilitates the reading process.

Yeah, lots of people have had problems with Wheelmax. Of all the providers, they probably have the worst customer service. If you decide to go with them anyway, use your credit card for the purchase. Then if Wheelmax doesn't deliver, you can deal with your credit card company and contest the charges.

People complaining about Wheelmax

 

[Sveivo]

Dude, take your time and write clearly. It facilitates the reading process.

Yeah, lots of people have had problems with Wheelmax. Of all the providers, they probably have the worst customer service. If you decide to go with them anyway, use your credit card for the purchase. Then if Wheelmax doesn't deliver, you can deal with your credit card company and contest the charges.

People complaining about Wheelmax

Can you recommend some good sites?

 

[red95_240sx]

I like these:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/17-N...160145466595QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVWQQtcZphoto

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...STRK:MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=150140931359&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...TRK:MEWA:PIC&viewitem=&item=250141338871&rd=1

Ebay sellers with decent feedback can be good.

 

[JoshP5]

Can you recommend some good sites?

Yep: www.tirerack.com, www.edgeracing.com, www.performanceplustire.com, www.autornd.com

 

[cyberraz]

how about sport max wheels...the 786 at edgeracing.com

 

[JoshP5]

I have Sportmax rims No complaints whatsoever.

 

[cyberraz]

p5 are you running 17s? you don't have any durability issues as far as bending? no finish problems? remember i'm going to be running on NY roads. i now am leaning toward the sportmax 925s in silver, let me know what you think. ok and one more question...experience with edgeracing.com?

 

[JoshP5]

I run 16x7+40. No durability or finish problems, but with the low offset and my Falken tires I had to roll my rear fenders to avoid rubbing.

I bought my tires from edgeracing--great customer service and rapid delivery.

 

[cyberraz]

yeah the sportmax 925s have an offset of 42, which i believe will fit the sedan protege...can anybody confirm that? and p5 what did you mean by "rolling the fenders"?