Grant! Kosei K1's discontinued?!

[Machine]

I called you guys up and the man on the phone told me that kosei k1's were discontinued in 16 inch...is this 100% true?

If so, that sucks, i finally found a wheel i liked, lol.

[Grant@tirerack]

Which make, model, and year car were you shopping for? Which size? If you call me direct ext# 313 I can check to see what we have/don't have in stock.

[Dori Dori]

I called you guys up and the man on the phone told me that kosei k1's were discontinued in 16 inch...is this 100% true?

If so, that sucks, i finally found a wheel i liked, lol.

Sorry but most of the people at tirerack are idiots. They'll tell you a wheel is discontinued if they don't think it'll work on your car just to shut you up. I was told on three different occasions over the past year that the K1 in 16x7.5" and 16x8.5" were discontinued. I thought this was strange b/c I kept seeing (and hearing) about other people buying them. I got frusterated and contacted Luke directly and got the answer I was looking for...they can get them. That's the one thing I can't stand about tire rack...the whole big brother aspect. If you're gonna run a business like that, at least make sure the sales guys (and girls) know their arse from a hole in the wall. Anyway, If you want good service from tirerack, contact one of the forum guys like Grant or Luke.

Here's the list that Luke gave me (not that long ago) of avail 16" Kosei's:

Quote »Here are your choices in the K1 Racing form Kosei16X7.5 BLANK ET12 16X7.5 BLANK ET22 16X7.5 BLANK ET32 16X7.5 BLANK ET43 16X8.5 BLANK ET17 16X8.5 BLANK ET27 16X8.5 BLANK ET37

You'll notice these are blanks and would have to be machined to the properbolt pattern and center bore[/quote]Anyway, I doubt much has changed in the past few weeks, but I don't work there so I don't really know. It's too bad we don't get the new K1's.

New K1's...

[Grant@tirerack]

Wow, what can I say Dori? For someone who does not work here or even know me you seem to have a very strong opinion of most of the people working here. I'm just wondering what I did to get slammed with that type of post? All I asked for was the MMY (read the sticky) and for him to contact me directly so I could help him out. For the record, we already touched base directly and went over the other offset options and he was unable to make it the 2-3 weeks it would take to machine the 22mm offset wheels. I have no idea who he talked to the first time but it was not me. We do have a few wheels we can machine for track applications. We do that all the time but if someone calls in cold asking for the stock setup, yep, the 17X7.5 45mm and 35mm offsets are long gone. As I explained the only one we have in stock would be the 22mm but those have to be sent out for machine work which takes about 2-3 weeks. As I have said many times over the last couple of weeks, call me direct and I'll work with you:help . As long as it's safe and you know what you want we can hook you up. If it's something we have not test fit I can't guarantee it's going to work. All I ask is that you know ahead of time what size, offset you are looking for and make darn sure the fitment will work because these custom machined wheels are not returnable due to offset etc.... We don't have access to the car so the test fitment is up to you on cases like this.

[Luke@tirerack]

Lighten up Grant ..... he wasn't slamming you ..... he actually showed you and me some respect because he realized that we have and do take the time to work out the unique applications and technical difficulties ..... he atleast realizes that we are here and willing to help

all props to Dori

and I don't drive my mothers car

[Dori Dori]

Anyway, If you want good service from tirerack, contact one of the forum guys like Grant or Luke.

:bonghit;)

[Luke@tirerack]

Dori we are getting what you called th e"new K1's" there are about 7 or 8 of them within 10 feet of my desk right now

[Grant@tirerack]

We are working out the details of what sizes and offsets will be available. I'll post some news once we get more details and some firm numbers. From what I have seen, nothing in a 16 or 17 any wider than 7" in a 5-114 or 4-114

[Repo Man]

and I don't drive my mothers car

You do until you get like five posts, tire boy! Welcome to NICO Luke.

Maybe those new K1's will sway me from the Centerline Impulse wheel that I've scoped out. Keep us posted on those fellas.

Andy

[Dori Dori]

We are working out the details of what sizes and offsets will be available. I'll post some news once we get more details and some firm numbers. From what I have seen, nothing in a 16 or 17 any wider than 7" in a 5-114 or 4-114

Darn! I was afraid of that.

How long do you guys guesstimate until you'll know? I just want to know if we're talking weeks/months/years, that's all.

[Grant@tirerack]

As of right now Kosei is not planning anything wider than a 7" at least for this season. That is why I have not posted anything on these wheels. One thing to keep in mind with these Kosei wheels is that they are designed for guys and gals running in stock class. Most of the groups restrict you to no more than 1/2" wider than the stock rim or it bumps you up in class. That's why they are looking at 7" right now at least for the beginning of the run.

[Doogz]

I talked to Roger at the tirerack not too long ago and not only did i get some rims/tires but i found out his grandma lives 15 mins away from me!!! The only problem i have is that i've gotta wait soo long for my K1's. Originally i was told around 2 weeks but then he called back after 2 weeks were up and said it'd be another 3 weeks

[Grant@tirerack]

The actual turn around time can vary depending on a lot of factors. If the blanks are in stock it usually takes about 3 weeks. If the shop is backed up it can take longer.

P.S. Roger? Roger? I'm crushed! I'm sure that was before I was around right?

[GatorS14]

hhmmm ... are you guys talking about the k1's that look like the buddy club's? I was told a year ago the black ones(graphite something)were discontinued.but they told me they had white and silver i think.But I heard k1's are not light weight or incredibly strong.

[Grant@tirerack]

The 16X7.5" in question has an ET 32, weighs 15.00 lbs, has a 4-114 bolt pattern, and runs $149.00 including machine work. It has a fixed 66mm center bore (no center ring required). This is a special order item you would need to contact me directly for (allow at least 3 weeks for machine work and delivery). We have sold hundreds of sets of these for track and autocross use over the years and they are one of the best known competition type wheels out there. The silver is the only finish available for the custom machined wheels.

[dr!ft]

"The silver is the only finish available for the custom machined wheels."

Damn, so no anthracite? Or dark grey, or whatever...

[cosmo]

so you can still get 16x7.5?

[Grant@tirerack]

Yes, in the silver only as stated above. The anthracite finish is no longer made.

[Doogz]

The actual turn around time can vary depending on a lot of factors. If the blanks are in stock it usually takes about 3 weeks. If the shop is backed up it can take longer.

P.S. Roger? Roger? I'm crushed! I'm sure that was before I was around right?

Yea, this was a week or so before they rearranged the forums and you came on the scene. But from what i hear, Roger says he could sell more rims/tires in a day than you could sell in an entire month

[Grant@tirerack]

That is great! I'll have to have a talk with good ole Roger...:slap

[Machine]

i talked to some guy at tire rack...they said they had NO 16 inch K1's in stock right now, is this true or false? i want K1's, offset is irrelevant as long as its below 40

[Grant@tirerack]

See above post ^ for details. Please keep in mind, if you want tires with these, figure out which size and model you are going to want before ordering. It gets to be a real mess from a paperwork standpoint if you call in later to add the tires to the order. These are not handled through the normal inventory system since they are custom machined wheels. Figure out what you want before you call to order. I'm not going to bore you with the details here. It just makes for a mess on this end. Thank you for your support!

[aleph1]

Why is it that only the good/cool/non ricey wheels are always the hardest to find and aquire? Not to mention gunmetal wheels, which most people usually want, but are the also the hardest to get and the first to go the way of the dinosaurs...stupid companies. DROP WHITE! WHITE SUCKS! BRING BACK GUNMETAL!

[Doogz]

Personally, i don't think that Kosei K1's are cool at all. I think they are ugly and i'd much rather have a rim with a 5 spoke design but they are light and cheap and come in a variety of sizes so im getting them.

[StanBo]

Whatever happened with the newer designed K1s? I am looking for a pair or wheels for my car after I do the z32 and 5 lug swap.

[Grant@tirerack]

Kosei has a few new styles available now but they are not a direct replacement for the K1. They are called the Kosei Racer and the Kosei Double Racer. Sizes are 16x7 ET48, 17x7 ET48, and 18x7.5 ET47 only. They are not going to do any other wider fitments or offsets for at least this first season. You can see them online now at:http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?...x.jsp