New wheels on my MS3

[-cj-]

Hey gang,

Just picked up some new summer wheels for my metro gray MS3. I loved the look up until I realized there is no center cap on the wheels... I know that's the style they're going after but nobody likes to see a rusty hub.

Anyone have any tips on how to pretty up my center hub?

The wheels are 18x7.5" on Falken 225/40/18 tires, +42 offset.

I really need to lower the car...




http://www.clubnet.org/~clave/rim2.jpg
http://www.clubnet.org/~clave/rim3.jpg
http://www.clubnet.org/~clave/rim4.jpg

[chinsterr]

nice, those wheels look familiar. Are they works?

If so , where did you get them and how much did you pay ?

I added the red stickers to mine , you can see them here http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=408666&postcount=70

[-cj-]

F$%@N iPhone... I actually wasted like 5 minutes typing up a reply only to accidently hit the 'Jump to Forum' button below and blew away my entire post...

Anyways, essentially I said:

Shit, we have the same rims lol. The exposed hub is growing on me...

The installer didn't have the proper valve stem for my wheels. They come with a light blue stem but he is going to throw on a red one to match my lug nuts... Although I'm thinking I will stick with the black stems. I like the look better..

Now I need to decide what color to paint my calipers. I'm thinking black... Red (my previous choice) will make my wheel wells too busy... IMO.

Love the stickers tho... Looks like you spent quite some time on them! Reminds me of these S2000 OZ Racing rims I saw

[froggy]

maybe when you get your calipers painted they can also spray your hub? A nice black to go with the wheels, it might not match exactly but it'd look better than far than the rusty brown

[chinsterr]

The stickers were a "PITA." It took me around 2~3 hrs to prep the wheels and apply them. The stickers are really really thin and and tear very easily if you try rushing it.

I thought the exposed hub would be a problem too , but after rocking these wheels for almost a month the whole thing has grown on me also. I don't know if I can justify spending another $120 just for the center caps .

[-cj-]

What do you mean? I thought these rims didn't have the center caps? IE: I didn't think you could even order them?

froggy: I was thinking that, but not sure what problems I'll run into if I paint my hub bolt... The rears I don't see being a problem, but not sure about the front...

[chinsterr]

They don't come with the wheels, but Work sells "work emotion" center caps. You can purchase them at Tires23 .

Let me know if you decide to do it ... maybe we can get a better deal if we buy 2 sets.

[froggy]

i don't think that It'll be an issue it's not like the paint will be like glue, you'd still be able to take it apart if you need to.

[-cj-]

http://www.rhdjapan.com/jdm-low/Work-Emotion-Center-Caps-XT7-XC8-XD9-50349

Are our rims the 'Work Emotion CR KAI' rims? I don't have the exact model in front of me, it's on the invoice in the car....

froggy: You're probably right... and seeing how hidious the above caps are, I think it's a better solution :)

[chinsterr]

Yes, our rims are the Work Emotion CR KAI's and those are the center caps


edit: BOOOO , I see that they won't fit . Ack, I was always under the impression that they would . Sorry

[-cj-]

meh, the look is growing on me... I am just trying to cover up the rust.

[chinsterr]

I was thinking about painting my hub black , but it will probably go the way of my calipers .... all chipped up and too lazy to repaint hahaha

[Mazda3X2]

I really need to lower the car...

+1 to that.

Since I installed the Eiback Pro-Kit I had gotten used to the look and wondered if the car was really any lower then before. Now that I saw your pics, there is a big difference.

Should be a nice look when you're all done.

[-RJ3-]

Although I'm thinking I will stick with the black stems. I like the look better..

Now I need to decide what color to paint my calipers. I'm thinking black... Red (my previous choice) will make my wheel wells too busy... IMO.



Why dont you do what I am planning to do, when it gets warmer...

my theme is gold caliper, but the brake piece beside it black.

yours should be black caliper and the brake piece beside it red.

ill try and photoshop it later.

[Donutz]

Very nice. For the center, if you don't want center caps have Allen paint them black. Also, I think your calipers would look good painted red (to match your lugs), or black.

[-cj-]

RJ3: You mean the caliper black and the pad red? Not sure, I'm thinking black caliper with red Mazda or Mazdaspeed decal... I originally wanted red, but I think it'll make that whole area too busy.

Jason: Yeah I'm thinking I'm going to ask Allen to paint them black. After having them on for 24 hours I really like the look, but I'd like it more with the rust less obvious.

Mazda3X2: Luckily the car has settled a little since yesterday and it isn't as obvious, at least at the back.... But I need to do something about the gap. My problem is my winter tires have a high sidewall and I'm worried about the clearance in the wheel well. Especially since they fill up the well so well now. With the snow + high sidewall, I'm worried.

I'm thinking about getting Mazdaspeed coilovers or TEIN coilovers like with my last car.. But not sure I want to spend the money this season lol.

[aris]

looks nice

[Hives]

Looks good. What if you remove the wheels and just spray the hubs black? Would that work?

[froggy]

sort of off topic, should i expect some "settling" from my stock shocks? the car has 5000k on it right now

[-cj-]

It should only settle after you remove all load from the shocks... IE: Lift up the car. Afterwards it will take a few hours to a few days for it to settle down to it's original position. Your springs shouldn't settle any lower after that, unless they are worn. IMO...

It looks like my car took 48 hours to settle... I couldn't believe it. I guess it's because the springs are brand new, but the car is sitting much lower now than it was yesterday or the day before. I'll try to take pics later.

[froggy]

that's probably what it is then, I just changed my winters last week and then I had it up on jack stands again this weekend to change my oil, I guess i didn't give them enough time to settle in between lifting sessions for me to notice the difference

[Fobio]

the hub, which is what centre caps will cover can be painted when you do your calipers...the idea of a red hub is interesting.

[Pereira11]

i would get the Work centre caps, you should be able to find replica ones... the actual Work ones would be pretty expensive

[Trinidad]

Rims looks really nice, always wondered what black rims would look like on a metro gray.

[Blue_Jinnee]

they will look perfect on my red mazda 3, nice rims!