Aside from the tire fit providing no rim protection, were there any OTHER issues with these wheels that caused Acura to change them? I just want to do my full research before possibly getting a set....

P.S. It's kinda strange that the wheel sticks out so much because most tire manufacturers say that the recommended wheel width for a 235/40/18 is 8.5"!

Thanks.

 

No issues here -- I think they look perfect on my Anthracite.

I just purchased a set and installed 245/40R18 Falken ST115's which while not great protection is no worse than what I had before on the stock 17s.

 

I ran three sets of Falkens on my Civic hatchback some years back. They would be a blast to drive for the first three months and then they would just turn to crap. I then put on Dunlop SP5000's and I've never looked back. If you ask me Falken tires just suck bootypie and I hope that you fare out better than me!!

 

 

SSH I sure do envy you!! I purchased an 04 A-Spec 6MT with those exact same wheels. I loved them. I think the anthracite/gun metal look really looked sweet on my NBP car. Then tragedy struck (a.k.a Acura service). In an effort to correct an ongoing alignment/vibration issue Acura agreed to replace my tires. During the replacement they etched all 4 of my beautiful wheels. They of course denied it, but later upon confrontation agreed they did in fact cause this.

Now the problem. I have been waiting an eternity for the replacement wheels. I took the car in for service, and got a call back that the wheels were in and that they were going to go ahead and replace them for me. I was really pumped to FINALLY have this issue behind me.

I go to pick up the car to find GASP the HIDEOUS 05 fake chrome A-Spec wheels.

I was like these are NOT the wheels I bought with the car (had they been the wheels I would NOT have purchased the A-Spec package). "These are the 05's they are newer. Don't they look great"

Moral of the story, never buy another Acura, and hold on to those wheels, they are no longer in production!!

 

ARe the new A-spec wheels not 8.5" .. have the fixed the fact that they are too wide and that the rim isn't protected?

 

Peter, The 05 wheels are 8".

 

Are they really??? So is the rim protected by the tire now?

 

I assume that's why they made them 8"....so they could use the same tires and provide some protection.

Suprised you didn't know this...

 

INteresting .. i was just under the impression that they discontinued the gunmetal color to introduce the three new colors... I sorta like the fact that I have 8.5" rims b/c in the future I plan on going w/ 245's or 255's...

 

Yeah...Kinda the same reason I'd like to try anf locate a set...because they're wider! Although, I'll probably stick with the stock tire size.

That's why I'ma asking if there were any other issues with the wheel....

 

The speculation when they switched to an 8" width was that it was to afford more rim protection. In the '04 model year there were a lot of complaints (putting it nicely) about scratched up 18" rims. I can't think of any other issues that would have prompted the change. Of course, the change makes '04 wheel availability a problem now and in the future if a replacement is ever needed.

 

This is very true, even when ACURA damages the wheels! I thought there was a law that stated auto mfg's needed to have parts availability for a specified length of time after a cars release. Does that not apply here?

Aegir, I used the pics of your car to convince the wife on the A-Spec package! Now that I cannot get replacement wheels, and since Acura slapped on the dinky 05 fake chrome wheels, she thinks the car looks ghey (as do I)!

 

Honda still has the 04 A spec wheels in inventory. I believe they have less than 200 wheels left, so they guard them as if they were gold and only allow the wheel to be purchased for only specific reasons that the dealer must beg for, as I'm sure they don't want to pay Enkei to do another production of discontinued wheels. I was able to pick up a spare 04 wheel for $325 and consider myself very lucky.

 

I just recently ordered some of the new 18x8" wheels and plan to acquire Bridgestone S-03s. I've had very good luck with them on the wife's S2000. Their recommendation for a 245/40-18 is a 8" - 9.5" rim.

rw

 

FWIW - I just got my car a week ago and tried to get the Gunmetal wheels for my car. My dealer's parts manager called 20+ dealers (including Vegas, Escondido, and Curry Acura) AND her regional parts rep and could only get a hold of 2 wheels (plus an unconfirmed 3rd). I'm also guessing that Honda is holding back on selling the remaining wheels for replacement purposes.

So I went with the 18" Sparkle Silver instead of the darker, shiny-er 18" "Platinum/Black" wheel. Good choice I think as I don't like the bling of the Platinum/Black wheels.

If anyone is interested the 2 18" Gunmetal wheels she found, I think she found them at Sunnyvale Acura here in California. Not sure if they still have them though - good hunting! And let us know if you do indeed get the wheels from Sunnyvale Acura so people will stop calling them.

 

Hondafans, do you have any documented proof of this as I am having a hell of a time with my dealership (who are the ones who caused the damage that forced the replacement). I would love to be able to push this point with them, and make my case!!

Anything you can offer is GREATLY appreciated!!

 

Let me pose another question around having these wheels in stock. I purchased the wheel insurance that covers these wheels for 5 years. What would happen if i were to damage these rims (which i've now have curbed all of them) the insurance would have to replace them with the originals, right? So wouldn't they need to have replacements available for people who took out insurance?

BTW: I hit a small curb yesterday avoiding a dirt truck throwing rocks and scratched my rims pretty good in the process. You think I can get the insurance to cover repairing or replacing them?

 

I don't know what sort of coverage your wheel insurance includes, but wheels are fairly easy to repair if it's just cosmetic scratching caused from curb rash. If it's bent out of shape or cracked, then you might need to buy an entirely new wheel.

This is an interesting situation that we're in with Acura because if these potholes continue to damage our rims beyond conventional repair, their existing inventory will be depleted soon and those of us that need them in the future will only be able to buy the 2005 models.

 

I have called a few dealerships in Socal and they all answered the same. Acura does have a number of wheels in inventory for warranty and replacement purposes. All the dealer has to do is collect your VIN # or verify that you do have the 8.5" wheels that need to be replaced, place an order, and the wheels will be delivered in 1-2 business days.

 

I hate to hear that they swapped them like that on you - that royally sucks!

 

Call Scott at Falconi's. He still might have one in stock.

 

Falconi didn't when my dealer called and asked...but they may not have wanted to sell them to another dealer.

That said, I just got got my car delivered here to me at work and about 30 mins ago and the 18" Sparkle Silver look REALLY good on my SSM TL - I'm actually glad I got these over the Gunmetal in retrospect. Don't know how they'd look with a darker color though....

 

I agree. Too much Bling...

 

Agreed... the chrome-like and black chrome rims are too much bling for a pretty cool looking car (the TL).

 

Ok, is it me or do the 18x8s look as if theres no real rim protection either??

See pics here...

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...1&page=3&pp=25

 

My new 245/40/18s (Pirelli PZero Neros) seem to have plenty of protection - you could always go 255, and be totally fine.

 

Yes, but I'm referring to the protection given by the stock 235/40/18 tires...

 

I agree - I would not feel safe with 235s on the wheels...

 

So then the question becomes.....Why make the wheel narrower if it's still exposed??

Can anyone with the 18X8" chime in on how their stock tires (235s) fit and whether they feel their wheels are protected?

 

Update on my post prior...

I just got called by the dealership and they worked with the warranty company and I will be getting my rims replaced AND the tires too!!!

I made sure to ask that the replacements will be the original 8.5" gunmetal rims and was told yes, they will match the originals.

So...let's see how long this takes. Sounded like it was just a matter of days and getting the replacement Falken ST115s ordered and in.

WOW!!!! I will appreciate how lucky I am if all goes well.