I got a bent rim on my Mazda Protégé 03. Mazda service people tell me the price for a new steel rim is around $190 + $15 for labor, meanwhile another garage agrees to do the same job at around $72 by using regular aftermarket steel rim. I don’t mind paying a little more for a rim from Mazda, but the price difference is just too big. Can using a regular rim affect the drivability (I guess the weight of the regular rim is probably different from that of the original one)?

 

I would just go aftermarket with the rim myself. It would be just as safe and I would not see much difference in weight. As far as daily driving it will not make any difference. If this is a race vehicle, possibly a very slight difference. Since both rims have to made to certain specs and are of the same size and made of the same material, don't worry. Besides, Mazda does not make the rims anyway. They purchase them from a supplier and stamp the brand on them. Another choice is go to a local salvage yard.

 

Thanks a lot,