Konig and Rota
 

Are Konig and Rota one-and-the-same company? I was on the Konig site and saw that they have a wheel called the subzero (Rishies answer to a inexpensive, lightweight wheel; which I may get if there is a good 18" offset). It looks exactly like the wheel Rishie promotes. here is a link: http://www.konigwheels.com/catalog_p...ryName=SubZero I want them in gold/bronze though. Rishie, what is the width of the 18" you sell if you do? What offset, and tire size for 18" for my Protege5?

They are the same. The width is 7.5 and the ofset is +48. you need to use a 215/35/18 tire. I was ready to pay rishie last week but when he test fitted the 18 inch wheel there was a problem with the wheel not fitting right on the mazda hub as per rishie. rota is supposed to be getting in contact with him about the situation. As i am still waiting to hear back from rishie.

That sucks that it didn't fit. I wonder if they made the wrong bolt pattern. I was unaware that they were the same company. I hope everything works out with the wheels. When you get 'em post some pics or Rishie can you post some pics???

The bolt pattern and offset is perfect its just that the mazda hub is too big or long or something to that effect. I'll let you you if I find out first.

here is a pic of the wheel alone in bronze and gunmetal.
http://images.fotki.com/photos/3/349...jpg?1010035289

The bronze looks nice. What color did you order? I really like the bronze wheel. Is there a center cap available? I have never taken the wheels off my protege5 so I don't know what it will look like through the opening in the center of the subzero.

I plan(ned) on getting the gunmetal ones. just always like gunmetal but the bronze is growing on me. As far as the center goes, I'm not sure if theres a center cap or not. I guess I'll have to inquire about that.

Yup, just like many companies. its easier that way

They do have a center cap...it is small and has a carbon fiber top that says ROTA on it...very nice looking on the wheel. YES Rishie is working on the special fittment SUBZEROs....the problem is going to be fixed and Im sure hell be filling you all in soon next week. With the high offsett the center needs to be machined another 3mm or so for it to fit in the rear only...apparently the front is fine...but to be able to rotate you would want all four to be fittable to the rear. Ill post pics when The wheels are on my car next week so you all can drewl!!:evilgrin: :stickpoke

The problem was so minor that I wasn't really worried except that I wanted the distributor/manufacturer to pay for the minor machining.

This has nothing to do with the boltpattern, that and the offset are greeeaaaaaaaaattttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!

What happened is that our rear hub is quite deep, it sticks out say 8mm and we only had 5mm of depth machined into the wheel's centerhole. This is not the diameter of the centerbore, but rather the depth of it. Think of it in 3 dimensions.

Anyways, I got it taken care of today and we're good to go after I do the final test fit on Monday. We'll do one wheel and if all goes well, we'll do the remaining 59 that I frkin' bought this way. Yeah, that's a lot of money so I was a little frustrated to say the least. Especially for being such an odd thing. It happened cause of the high offset of the wheel, and they failed to create a new mold for the center part. Well this is being corrected all across the board.

I must say that Cosmic Marketting, the US distributor for Rota is a great darn company. The heads of the company came down as a group with the engineer and spent a week taking care of this problem, relaying e-mails back and forth to the Phillipines. I was very impressed and am glad to carry their great looking "knockoffs". They are amongst the elite, taking style, weight, budget, and functionality all into play.

Thankfully, Rishie

Redwagon, here's your e-mail I said I'd do. I'm lazy now and it's friday so I'll have to say good nite and I'll talk to you tuesday after the fitting.

I have had so many guys stop by the shop and look at these since I have every color and they were trippin' out on all of them. The Gunmetal was loved by many as was the Bronze.

18's are really the way to go if you can afford the tires. The rims are so cheap that if you damage one it's not a big deal. Why I love them so much.

16" - 14.5 lbs.
17" - 16.5 lbs.
18" - 18.5lbs.

You get the picture, turns out theirs a two pound difference in every increment.

This is only on the 5 lug x 4.5" bolt pattern right? I don't remember that on my 4 lug hubs.