seanof30306

Background:

In 2010, Mamba Wheels began making the MR1 wheel (a near-clone of the Moab wheel) in 15 x 8, 16 x 8, and 17 x8. They were also going to make the wheel in an 18" fitment, but to the best of my knowledge, they never produced it.

The 15 x 8, 16 x 8, and 17 x 8 MR1s were all offered in the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern.

In 2012, Mamba Wheels was acquired by (I believe) Konig Wheels. At that time, the wheel was renamed the MR1X, and while the 15 x 8 and the 16 x 8 are still offered in 5 on 4.5, the 17 x 8 is now only available in the 5 on 5 bolt pattern.

Last week, I emailed Mamba Wheels, and left a post on their Facebook page about getting the MR1X produced in 17 x 8; 5 on 4.5. I didn't get an answer for a few days, so I called the company.

The guy I spoke with said they'd dropped the 17 x 8 in 5 on 4.5 because their research had shown there was no market for the wheel; that 5 on 4.5 owners wanted 15" and 16" wheels, not 17".

Later that day, someone from the company responded on their Facebook page saying essentially the same thing.

Thinking about it, it's occurred to me that if enough people let them know they're interested in the 17" MR1X in 5 on 4.5, they might produce that wheel. They have the tooling and molds, it's not like they'd be starting from scratch.

So, if you agree, you can go to my post on their Facebook page and weight in. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/MambaWheels...56800827315085

EDIT: OK, that link doesn't appear to work. Here's their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/MambaWheels/

If you look in "posts to page", you'll find it.

You can also email them off of their webpage: http://mambawheels.com/contact/

If you don't have Facebook, here is the text of my original post on their page:

"Hi,

I have some questions about the AWESOME MR1X.

I have a '96 Jeep Cherokee, and I NEED those wheels. I could have sworn when the wheels first came out as the MR1, the 17 x 8s were available in 5 on 4.5. Now that they're the MR1X, The biggest size I see in 5 on 4.5 is 16 x8. The 17 x 8s are only available in 5 on 5.

1) Were they available in 17 x 8 with the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern?

2) What is the difference between the MR1 and the MR1X?

3) If it was not/is not available in 17 x 8; 5 on 4.5, Can that happen?

OK, here's the big one .....

4) Any chance of making it in 18"; 5 on 4.5?

The Wrangler MOAB wheel the MR1X is inspired by is hugely popular in the Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler community. I think you could move some units in that size/bolt pattern.

Thanks,

Sean"


Here is the text of their reply:

"Hello Sean.

First off, thank you for your kind words. I will answer in the order your questions were answered.

1. YEARs ago the MR1 was offered 17x8 was offered in 5x4.5. In the MR1X We no longer build that in the larger, 17" sizing.

2. The difference is that in 2012 the Mamba brand changed hands a bit and any similar styles that we decided to bring forward were all remade to increase quality even further. The X indicates that this is a improved version of a previous design.

3. As of right now we do not produce one off sets and do not have any intention of producing that wheel in 5x4.5 in 17". However its not impossible, however it was not a incredibly popular fitment, which is why we stopped producing it in that fitment.

4. I would say not. Again the reason we no longer produce the 17x8 in 5x4.5 was due to limited interest. Which made sense to a point. Seems that most of the 5x4.5 guys wanted smaller not larger. That is why we still produce it in 15" and 16".

If you have other thoughts or need to further discuss please message us instead of the page post. We will be happy to have a conversation. All the best and thank you for your support of the Mamba Offroad line!"

Rogue4x4

What's the point of this thread? They don't make it. They won't make it. It isn't economically feasible for them to do so. No demand, hence, no supply.

Get a set of moabs and call it a day.

seanof30306

The point of this thread is the manufacturer said they would consider producing the wheel again if enough interest was shown.

jedijeb

You should include a photo of the wheels for people to evaluate if they want it or not.

seanof30306

Great idea!

Fixed

Turbo X_J

I'm certainly not a marketing analyst but......... maybe........ they ceased production due to limited interest?
In the time it took you to compose this correspondence and bother everyone you could have already ordered the 16X8 wheel. The difference is wow, 2". Just ask any female it's not the size that matters it's how you use it.

seanof30306

How exactly does this post bother you? No one forced you to read it.

One of my other cars is an '89 Firebird. I've been a member of thirdgen.org for over 13 years.

The most popular wheel for those cars is a 16" crosslace wheel that came on GTA Trans Ams.

Since the day I joined that forum. Members have been lamenting that the crosslace wheel wasn't available in 17" and 18" sizes. Hundreds of topics discussing it, urging members to contact wheel manufacturers, etc..

Finally, last year a vendor responded to all of the interest shown and produced the wheel in 17". It's selling well, and he's now preparing to offer it in 18".

My other car is a '78 280Z with an L33. I've been on HybridZ.org since 2009.

The most popular wheel for those cars was a Panasport 16" Minilite clone. Just as on thirdgen.org, topic after topic from members looking for that wheel in 17", and 18". Finally, a vendor produced it, and they're selling well.

The difference between the MR1 and those Firebird and Z-car wheels is, Mamba already has the 17 x 8 molds in 5 on 4 1/2. Most of the expense in bringing a cast aluminum wheel to market lies in designing and making the molds. Without that expense, the profit-point for the Mamba wheel is much lower than on the GTA wheel, or the Minilite clone.

I don't see how gauging interest that can be shown to the vendor is bothersome to anyone. You could have skipped right over this post, or clicked "No" on the poll and moved on.

Rogue4x4

Different vehicle, different situation...

Why would anyone sit around for god knows how long, badgering a company to make a wheel they have no market for, when they can go get a set of Moabs off craigslist, for peanuts, and plenty of them there? It doesn't make sense.

seanof30306

It doesn't make sense TO YOU. Why don't you let other people decide whether it makes sense to them, or not.

Rogue4x4

I am. So far only one yes, LMAO


BTW, not only does it not make sense TO ME, it didn't make sense TO THEM. Case closed.

Mr. Pink

the jeep crowd(XJ's and the likes) have always been more of a Function>forum crowd. The only reason for most of us to step from a 15 to a 17" wheel is axle and tire size. and even then its more beadlocks that are the choice above 16" wheels. The need isnt there for a 17x8 or 9 in this style of wheel since it's not everyones cup of tea. personally i will always run a 15" wheel due to my tire choice and axles.

Turbo X_J

Past posts indicate the OP already has ( a long time ago).
Stick a fork in this thread...

Rogue4x4

I'll give it a chance...so far the public has spoken. One yes, 2 no, 3 WTF is it, and 7 close the thread. By my count, that's 12 against, and 1 for. Guess who voted yes? LMAO!!!

I will close the thread soon, unless we see some miracle of thousands of CF users voting yes...because that's what it would take to get the company to reverse their decision...

seanof30306

Actually, you've got 1 for, 2 against, and 8 trolls.

I'm curious as to what kind of forum makes trolls mods and let's them screw around with peoples' content.

wizardpc

Say goodnight gracie