the Mazda!

Two of the four are on for the test fit! I haven't decided if they're going to stay on or not as we've still got a fair amount of snow and likely still some more coming before it melts! The Nittos were on backorder so I ended up getting General Exclaim UHPs in 225/40ZR18... mounted on 18x8" Mazda RX8 wheels powdercoated iron glimmer grey. If you look closely you'll see the back one has black lugs and the front has chrome. I bought a set of black spline drive nuts but they don't seem to torque properly so I'll look for a better quality set. For now the chrome ones will have to do! Here's a few quick comparison shots. The Rally Armor mud flaps will come off when the snow is all gone!

















And one very happy car!

 

I'd love to lower it... even with some Mazdaspeed3 springs but being a year round DD I don't think it'd work well in the winter.

 

Awesome! Looks badass Adam!

 

Thanks! Should look even better once she's all cleaned up and I get a good coat of NXT wax on 'er! Tint is next!

 

I like it better with the black lugs. Looks great both ways though!

 

Nice wheels, how does it do in the snow. Sure ya'll get plenty up that way..

 

I agree. I only switched to the stock chrome ones because I'm not comfortable with the black ones I have now... they just won't torque properly. They're fine up to 80 ft/lbs but any more than that they just won't tighten up and click. The chrome ones are fine.

I think I'll go with a good set of black McGard splinedrive lugs. Not cheap, but wheel nuts are kind of important!

 

The car is awesome in the snow with the winter tires on it... these tires probably not so much! lol I haven't tried them out in the snow and I don't really plan on it!

 

that looks damn good. after tint and mudflap delete that car will be *****in

 

The GE UHP's are the best budget performance tires out in my mind. I had a set on my Lexus and got about 40,000 miles out of them, which I thought was pretty good for a UHP tire. I also like the BFG KDW-2's, I went through 2 sets on my Gen 1. MS3. Nice wheels, they look really good on that car.

 

those wheels look awesome on there

 

General Alimax artics are sweet tires, had them on my subaru for the winter. also RALLY ARMOUR FTW. are they the UR or basic? i think you should keep the flaps on year round they look great and keep it clean

 

never really looked at mazdas but as of lately the gas andd ailing truck...may start to change my mind. Any modifications to her? kinda looks mean in a way i like it

 

looks mean ?!?!?! the thing has a HUGE smile on the front of it

 

That's the plan! lol I'm still trying to talk the wife into some lowering springs... even just an inch would make a noticeable difference!

 

I've heard nothing but good things about them, and the KDW-2s were my second choice, just too much money!

 

Thanks!


The Altimax tires work great, another great tire for the price. The flaps are the urethane UR series... that's the only style they make for the new 3's last time I checked. They're pricey but they work great!

 

car looks nice man!!
this may be something you already know, but i know a lot of guys on the toyota forums struggle with getting the right lugs for different car oem wheels. you can't use the normal tuner style lugs, you have to use the oem seating style. otherwise they won't seat properly.

i would bet the rx8 wheels are similar to other oem wheels and use the typical oem nut, rather than tuner styles.

 

They're nothing amazing on fuel, but by no means horrible either. To me it's the perfect combo of economy/performance/handling and it looks good too. No real mods yet... it hasn't even had the first oil change yet!

Here's the short list, starting with the obvious!

18x8" powdercoated OEM RX8 wheels w/General Exclaim 225/40ZR18 (summer)
17x7" stock wheels w/ General Altimax Arctic 205/50R17 (winter)
Carbon fiber rear emblem insert
Weathertech mats
Mazda trunk liner & rear bumper cover pad
3M hood/fender/bumper film

Tint is coming for sure and I'm thinking of doing something with the exhaust...

 

Thanks! I know the Toyota's use a weird style nut on a lot of them, but the Mazdas just use a normal 60* cone seat. The tuner ones I have are the same seat, just thinner on top so I don't damage the finish. I'm going to have another look a little later as I still can't figure out why they won't work!

 

ahh...ok...good to know then...happy modding!

 

I got the lugs figured out! They fit properly all along.... I tried one on the OEM wheels that hadn't been powdercoated and they torqued up fine. Then I removed the front powdercoated wheel that had the original lug nuts on it and replaced them with the black ones and they torqued fine. After comparing it with a wheel that hadn't been mounted I noticed that it's the powdercoating that was preventing the nut from setting correctly in. After the OEM nut scraped away/compressed the powdercoating the black nuts work fine. Hope that makes sense.... lol