I just posted in the "Newbie" section and wanted to share my rim experiment with you guys to get your input.

My current set-up:
ZINIK SABINI (Z9) 18” x 7.5” + 42MM OFFSET / 114.3 x 5 PCD (27LBS EA) **no rubbing**
FALKEN ZIEX ZE 512 225 / 40ZR 18 92W M+S
Dropped on 2" Eibach Springs
I came up on these wheels for dirt cheap and couldn't resist the deal. I was never a huge fan of the black/chrome lip look but at the time could not find any all black rims that I liked. I love blacked out cars.

I saw a guy on here go all black on a set of OEM RX8 rims and I really liked the outcome. Trying to keep things simple and cheap I decided to do the same on my stock 06 grand touring 18's.
Based off of input I gathered, here are the specs for the OEM Y Spoke 18's:
MAZDA 6S OEM Y-SPOKE 18” x 7 +55MM OFFSET / 114.3 x 5 PCD (27LBS EA)
CENTER BORE 67.1MM

I paid $306 to have all 4 stockers powdercoated black at Electro Tech Powdercoating in San Marcos CA.
I bought some 15mm spacers to kick them out to +44mm (incorporating going from 7.5" to 7" in wheel width).
The spacers are hub centric with their own studs (not the disc type spacers). I've been running the same style spacers on my 440HP FD for the past 5 years w/ no problems.

I want to run the 225/40 tires on the black stockers but am not sure how they will fit. Most fitment charts I see say that 215/45 is max for a 7" rim. I know that the 225/40's will fit but I was wandering if anyone else was running the same or a similar set-up on a 7" wheel?

Last thing is lug nuts. I don't want to use the stock chrome lug nuts and I have been looking for black ones. Most sets that I see say they will not work with OEM rims because they are tapered. Does anyone know where I can come up on some black close ended lugs that will work with my OEM rims?

As soon as I figure out the tire and lug nut situation these are going on the car and I will put some pics up.

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that powder coating job looks awesome. I'd like to do that with my fd wheels as well, not black, but a dark grayish color, but i dunno.

holy shizzle those are heavy.
good lookin though

Hit up Adam at ElectroTech Powdercoating in San Marcos (Off the 78 semi close to the 15). He's good people and has a large selection of colors. They have many shades of gray / gunmetal, it's almost too dificult to make up your mind once you see all of the colors. Those FD stockers would look good in gray/gunmetal.

Electrotech

The stock GT rims are not 27lbs., they're more like 21 or 22lbs.

You can use 225/45/18 on those rims.

Sweet, I didn't think that I was going to get any input on this. I pulled the "27lbs" off a website that sells OEM wheels. I do know that the current Zinik rims are 27lbs, 21 or 22 is way better than 27. I'll throw them on a scale to get the exact weight.

I'm gonna get the 225/40's, now all I need is some black lugs. Thanks for the confirmation.

I checked out your car domain page. I like your blacked out set-up. What did you use to black out your tail lights? I've seen cars with that done but have never talked to anyone about it.

Thats not tint...those are Car-led/Justins6s/Potentialmotorsports, LED tails with dark bezels that have a slight tint to them.

But if you just want to darken your own tails, most use niteshade. Its a spray on tint. There is a sticky somewhere on this...too tired to search its late heh...

Yeah I just did some digging on them. They look sweet. I'll check into the nightshade stuff. Many Thanks!

Thanks, yeah, as kpjimmy said they're the CAR-LED tails off the GB.

I've weighed the stock rims and I'm pretty sure they're close to 21 or 22 lbs.

225/40s aren't a safe size for a 7" wide rim though, but 225/45s are.

That powdercoating job looks clean, be sure to post up pics when you've got them installed

cool, thanks for the link. I checked out the site and they also do the hi temp ceramic coating. That's the closest place i know of that does that. I'm definitely gonna do that if i ever get some headers.

Was that price quoted for cleaning the rims before powdercoating?? Or did you do that yourself...i have read other places that they need to be cleaned good for the powdercoat to adhere properly...i think its a lot spendier up here in minnesota...i think it would look sweet with blacked out rims and tinted windows on a whitewater pearl speed!

White cars always look clean lowered w/ blacked out rims. There are a few 6's on here running that set up and they all look dope. As far as I know most powdercoating shops do the cleaning and prepping as part of the process, this will ensure a clean finished product. Prices vary depending on where you go and where you are at. I only can speak for SOCAL and going rate for one wheel is between $75 and $100. All prep and cleaning is included in the price.

I ended up remounting my Pirelli P Zero's (215/45/18's) on the rims to get them on the car. New tires were not in the budget as of yet, in addition the Pirelli's had less than 10K on them so I figured I'd be better off using them instead of trying to sell them. Once these are ready for replacement I will go to a 225/45/18. With the 15mm spacers and taller tire I am rubbing in the back on hard corners and when there is weight in the back of the car. I'm gonna shave the rear fenders this weekend to solve the rubbing issue.

Anyone looking into spacers, do not get the ichiba spacers. I was not really impressed with the quality. Do not get me wrong, they will work but the Project Kic's spacers are of a much better quality. I was trying to save a couple of bucks and ended up getting what I paid for.

I think the new blacked out rims make the car look ten times more aggressive. Maybe not a good thing because since Saturday I've had (1) M3, (2) WRX's, (1) Evo and a Porche try to race me on the freeway . I'm thinking that they think the car is a MS6. Times like these when I wish I had a MS6.

I will try to get pictures up tomorrow.

I love the stock Pirellis. I thought they were so good that I got P-Zero Nero summers (235/40ZR18) for my new set of rims, damn those are sticky.

I have Eibach Pro Spacers. I've never had them on the car yet, but they look to be of good quality.

I got some pics tonight.

Like I said before, I ended up remounting my Pirelli P Zero's (215/45/18's) on the rims to get them on the car. With the 15mm spacers and taller tire I am rubbing in the back on hard corners and when there is weight in the back of the car. I still need to shave the rear fenders.

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I'm still getting used to this set-up. I think it will get better once I got to the 225/45's. As of right now I'm missing the 225's but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Still need to paint the mazda eblems for the centercaps before I put them on, also need to order some black lug nuts.

Let me know what you think.

They look good, but I'm not really a fan of glossy black. I think matte black would have looked better.

damn was about to do this before i bougth aftermarket. i think they look great but somewhat agree with awong

Damn, I actually dig this on the car much more than the PC Speed6 rims.