Reply to "JTs GT5's New Wheels"

Here are a few details as requested.

They are a three piece wheel attached via bolts through the rear. The machining through the center section eliminates the need for nuts and their added respective weight.

The rear wheels are 13" wide and 19" diameter. Rear tires are 345/30/19 The fronts are 11" wide and 18" diameter. Front tire is 285/30/18.

The rims and centers of the wheels are anodized. I have the same anodized finish on another set on my L model and after 10 years they still look like new. One gives up the chrome shine; however, they are remarkably easy to keep clean. Fiske calls it their Race Anodized finish.

The centers are radial forged. As you can see from the pic of the wheel's backside, it has a lot of depth or dimension to it. While this contributes to the rim's appearance, it also allows the center section to mount closer to the center of the wheel's width allowing the inner and outer wheel halves to be more equal in width. Pretty remarkable when considering the frontspacing on a GT5 wheel. This also contributes to the wheels strength. Obviously machining these center sections require a significantly thicker block of forged aluminum to start from and that impacts their cost. The wheels are also hub centric. They are said the be the lightest/strongest wheels at a given size.

Fikse went bankrupt in 2008 and were purchased by Darryl at Kodiak Wheels. Pantera owners in Houston have purchased three sets from Fikse over the course of the past year. Delivery times have been longer than expected as Fiske has rebuilt inventory snd ramped up production. They were able to retain key shop employees. Fotunately, based on the wheels recieved by the three of us, they have not cut corners.

They will continue to keep the brands (Fikse / Kodiak)and manufacturing processes distinct. Although, Darryl was in awe as to how Fikse made their rim halves and had plans to migrate that technology to the Kodiak wheel. Otherwise the diamond cutters and other manufacturing and handling techniques used in the Fikse wheel is to cost prohibitive to offer in the Kodiak line at the prices at which he sell those wheels so he will keep the brands distinct.