A Proven Combo: Kosei K1 Racing Wheels and Falken Azenis Tires | Garage Rescue Miata

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

If I remember come spring time, I'll post a photo of my white K1s on my son's blood orange Fiat 500. I expect it will look pretty good.

You have a pretty good shot of them on your GTI as well.

The K1 just looks so good on so many cars. Just wish they made them for the E46 M3....

Look what we have here.

I'm really happy I'm not entering this years challenge as only 3 of 4 arrived.  I'm sure UPS will find the other one or Tire Rack will make it right.  

Partial to the K1s as well... really like their functional look and fairly light weight for their size... ran them on my Tacoma, mainly with the Hankook RS2/RS3s, but also tried a set of Azenis RT-215 as well... silver K1s went well with it:

If I kept the MR2, I was planning to put black K1s on it... AnthonyGS has same idea as well and looking forward to seeing how it looks on it.

White K1s on my son's Fiat. He commutes 110 miles daily and keeps them clean with minimal effort. The product he uses is pictured.

The same wheels on the GTI I used to have

Hey, they look good on Miatas, too, in case no one noticed...

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

Nice and congrats. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Thanks the 4th one says out for delivery now.  My son is excited to get them on Mister Two.  With any luck you can see them at the 2022 challenge.

update:  4th wheel and tire arrived one long weekend after the first three.  Shipping is really weird right now.

They also look good on Escort station wagons, in case anyone was wondering :)

In reply to therieldeal :

They do look good--same with all of the photos above. 

car39 said:

YES!  My first Miata was a 92 with a hardtop and I put white K1s on it.  

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

You know, not sure I have seen K1s on a Fiat 500. Looks good. 

So, a K1 story that I recently remembered. 

Several years ago--like 15 or so--I noticed a car parked one street over wearing K1s. Mental note taken. 

Soon after I'd learn that the parents of someone who autocrossed at the national level lived there. 

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

You know, not sure I have seen K1s on a Fiat 500. Looks good. 

It won't be very common as they're not available in a 4x98 pattern. He's using wobble bolts, which many people are uncomfortable with. The contrast between the white and the blood orange is striking. Ralph Gilles has talked to him more than once about the interior and exterior colour combination of the car.

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

So, have you run them yet?

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

So, have you run them yet?

Not yet.  I have been futzing with the Camaro and have a rallyX in the Subaru on the 3rd and 30th.  I will post photos as soon as I get this installed and driving.  If all goes according to plan, you can run them at the 2022 challenge.  I share cheap cars.  

Had K1 on my 93 MR2, gunmetal

I'd LOVE another set, but so hard to find in 17" 5x114

So this evening I took the Miata to an Orlando Roadsters meet. Dozens of cars and let's just say that I'm usually not one of the younger guys there.

As soon as I get out of the car, a dude says, "Nice wheels!"

And then he adds, "sir."

Small update: Just came across the invoice for those first Kosei K1 wheels. It's dated April 6, 1999.

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to ProDarwin :

I'll pass along that request.  

Just curious if you received any feedback on getting the K1 in wider sizes?  I would absolutely sell my BNIB 6UL's and buy a(nother) set of K1's if they offered a 15x9.

On a related note, I managed to inquire directly with someone at Kosei a couple years ago, in hopes of getting them to make a batch of 17's with 5x114.3 lug pattern (currently, all that's available is 5x120).  They told me that the K1 style is an exclusive for Tire Rack at this point, so I would have to convince them.  I... did not have any luck with Tire Rack.  Since then I managed to get my hands on an old set of 17x7.5 5x114.3 wheels, but I feel like others would buy them too...

No.  No, no, no, no, no.  That project wasn't 20 years ago, stop lying.  It was like five years ago max?  Right?

I loved this car, I haven't read the links yet, but was this the one where you built the cool cylinder head for it wasn't it?

In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :

Here are two photos of the Miata--scanned prints, in fact, as we had not yet gone digital: as purchased in 1998 and then wearing the Kosei K1 wheels in 1999. And, yes, it had headwork. Still runs like a champ. 

David S. Wallens said:

Small update: Just came across the invoice for those first Kosei K1 wheels. It's dated April 6, 1999.

Editorial Director, Grassroots Motorsports & Classic Motorsports

The MR2 is wearing them now :)

In reply to therieldeal :

Tire Rack has received my lobbying for more K1 sizes before. Personally, I'd love a set for the E46 M3--17s would be totally fine there. The K1 is available for the regular E46 but not the M3. It's a timeless classic and even though it's "just" a cast wheel, it's still pretty light by today's standards.

When they launch the Wheel Hall of Fame, the K1 needs to be in the first class.