Lightweight Wheels - Would You Buy a Set?

[WhiteT5]

I realize that there is a tire/wheel discussion forum, but I get the sense that it is not viewed by 3rd Gen owners nearly as much as this forum, so if it's okay with the admins, I'd really prefer to keep this thread here since it is specific to 3rd Gen owners.

All that said, I work for Enkei Wheels and have been contemplating the idea of having lightweight racing wheels built for the MK3 Focus community, especially with the Focus ST hitting the market pretty soon.

The most likely candidates would be the PF01 or the RPF1 in 18x8 +45 5x108. Both are spun forged racing wheels built in Japan and weigh in at around 18 lbs each. MSRP is $340 on the PF01 and $325 on the RPF1. I have to order a minimum quantity of 40 of each configuration to be able to bring these in, so I am starting by gauging interest here. So what say you Focus Fanatics? Would you buy a set if they were made available to you? Please be honest keeping the price in mind, so that we can determine if there is actually enough demand to produce these.

http://www.enkei.com/rpf1.html

http://www.enkei.com/pf01.shtml

[Sponsor]

[darkangelism]

Can you do the RPF1 in 19"

[WhiteT5]

Originally Posted by darkangelism

Can you do the RPF1 in 19"

We can, but the price goes up a good bit when you jump to a 19x8. The MSRP is $480. This combined with the fact that 19" tires are expensive, they will increase ride harshness more than 18", and that no Focus comes standard with 19" wheels leads me to offer the 18" instead.

[Elizabeth]

The black painted 17"s i have are decent wheels.
The biggest point for keeping them is they are strong.
Lightweight wheels are either cheap and would bend way too easy. Or really expensive to be light and strong. (and then with 35 series or less tires bent or broken rims is STILL an issue.)

Then the theft problem. Great wheels are a total theft magnet. Raising the likelyhood of the car being stolen.
I personally know a guy who was carjacked FOR THE WHEELS.
Facing down a gun because some nut has the hots for your aftermarket wheels sucks.

[NickCornell]

Rpf1s are my favorite

[darkangelism]

Originally Posted by WhiteT5

We can, but the price goes up a good bit when you jump to a 19x8. The MSRP is $480. This combined with the fact that 19" tires are expensive, they will increase ride harshness more than 18", and that no Focus comes standard with 19" wheels leads me to offer the 18" instead.

Yeah that is a big jump, and there might not be 40 people willing to pay that. But $480 is a lot cheaper than the $900+ that other companies are charging currently.

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

Then the theft problem. Great wheels are a total theft magnet. Raising the likelyhood of the car being stolen.
I personally know a guy who was carjacked FOR THE WHEELS.
Facing down a gun because some nut has the hots for your aftermarket wheels sucks.

Yeah wheels are a big theft target, just get aero wheel covers and put them on when you are going places out of the ordinary.

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

I personally know a guy who was carjacked FOR THE WHEELS.

Crappy. My roommate's Acura Integra was stolen (shocking, I know) and when he found it they had stolen the battery, spare tire, all of his tools in the trunk, his radio, and his headrests.

Yes, you heard that correctly - his headrests. I didn't even know there was a market for those.

Edit: Wasn't held up at gunpoint, though.

[RedComet]

An Integra, stolen?

That never happens.

[Nickgt40]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

I personally know a guy who was carjacked FOR THE WHEELS.
Facing down a gun because some nut has the hots for your aftermarket wheels sucks.

That sucks, but its also the exact reason to get a concealed weapons permit. If someone put a gun to my face and wanted my keys they sure as heck wouldn't make it to the next block.

Originally Posted by darkangelism

Yeah that is a big jump, and there might not be 40 people willing to pay that.

4 wheels per car, 40 wheels, well you do the math








WhiteT5, Since you work for Enkei, can you find out if they will sell wheels that aren't pre-drilled for a bolt pattern? (5x108 won't do me any good since I drive a Mk1).

I'd be fairly interested in a few different styles if I could just buy blanks.

[WhiteT5]

Originally Posted by Nickgt40

WhiteT5, Since you work for Enkei, can you find out if they will sell wheels that aren't pre-drilled for a bolt pattern? (5x108 won't do me any good since I drive a Mk1).

I'd be fairly interested in a few different styles if I could just buy blanks.

Sorry, but we don't sell blanks. We have a few 4x108 options as well, just not in the racing series.