The awesome wheels thread

The minilite thread popped up again and made me think we need this again. I know we had one previously but figured we have some time since everything was held over on photobucket

These are one of my favorite styles; Volk GR-C made by Rays. Most of these are from the early 90's but I had a set of 18" from 2001 imported as well. They are sometimes mistaken for CV-Pro but there are some real differences. Available in 14-18" sizes four bolt wheels are ALMOST all 4x100 and five bolt are ALMOST all 5x100 and came with adaptors to fit specific cars. The sticker show final size and bolt pattern WITH the adapter which has caused a lot of consternation with people buying due to those.

My first set came off CL in Detroit from a service member who brought them home from Japan back in 2009 which I ran briefly on my 2.3 16v

Geez, is that the only pic I have?

Yeah, it seems to be. The next set I found was in Dayton and had been brought in on an imported R32 GTR. They were tough but I already knew they looked good so I took a flyer

I refinished these for my Mazda 5, they were so bad on that

And also on my coupe for awhile

Currently have a set in 17x8.5 and 17x9.5 to put on the dakota once it's rolling that are factory "chrome" plastic coat of some sort.

That and a set of 17x8.5 square that DusterBD grabbed for me in NC are the current ones.

The black ones sold with my MZ5 unfortunately and the set from my 190e went to a guy for a late 80's Supra that they looked amazing on.

here is the sticker on the 8.5 square set to show how they are setup. These wheels are actually 5x100 et62(!) since the adaptors are long gone

The adaptors look like this

I got these out of Australia to scavenge the bolts out of because some break or are trash during rebuilds. They were 15x7 and I think I ebayed what was left after I got the center caps and bolts

Edit: these are called Group C because; well they were based on the wheels used on the GR C cars in japan

Most will know who DP are from their work on the body kits from Kremer 935 variants and then later their own crazy kits. They also dabbled on wheels and some other accessories for cars not of the air cooled variety.

This is the only set of these I have EVER seen; you can't keep them all so I no longer own these. They were purchased off this forum from Brad and brought to me from Atlanta by Aussie in their original boxes. I was so excited haha

Holy cow....

One wheel had had a tire test fit but the lug holes had no marks so I think it was probably a display wheel. Two had never been unwrapped. They were a weird spec in 5x114 and 15x6.5"  wide. After a LOT of research I found that they were called DP Pacific but could only find one scanned picture from what looked like an old trade magazine.

That's an old date for NOS tuner wheels

What wheels are your favorites? I'll add more of mine as I get time.

The 16x8 trans am gta wheels are my favorite stock wheel of all time and nothing will ever come along and change that

I autocross a 99 Miata in E Street, which limits me to a six inch wide wheel. 
 

The ultimate wheel is the super rare SSR type C, 7.2 pounds of forged steel. 
I have a set in white, soon to be delivered to the next owner. These were imported from Russia by the previous owner of my Miata. 

The export version looks like this. 
 

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

I autocross a 99 Miata in E Street, which limits me to a six inch wide wheel. 
 

The ultimate wheel is the super rare SSR type C, 7.2 pounds of forged steel. 
I have a set in white, soon to be delivered to the next owner. These were imported from Russia by the previous owner of my Miata. 

The export version looks like this. 
 

 

I had those in 18" on my e46, it's a great wheel. The fact that a one piece wheel came in so many configurations is one of their best features but luckily it's also attractive.

In reply to chandler :

Of course you'd start an "Awesome wheels" thread because you've bought them all and left none for the rest of us.  Just remember that I love you when I can actually afford a set of wheels you rarely put up for sale.

Ronal teddy bears

Mazda koala Wheels 

unknown minilite-esque wheels

Those teddy bears remind me of the Teddy Gram wheel

A modern interpretation...

Here's an odd one; these were made by Crimson and marketed to the safety conscious. I'd seen old advertisements from Europe and a period test done with them mounted to a W126 but never actually seen a set when these showed up on CL in Philly.

What's the big deal?

I couldn't make my schedule work to get them and they disappeared. Hopefully whomever snagged them knows how rare they are.

In reply to chandler :

These are some of my favorites too. I'd love a set of 17s for my Audi eventually 

I loved my Work XSA's I bought for my X-Type. Strong and lightweight. 

17x8.5", ran 245/40's on there. 

I am biased for certain Ronals

And anything with a nice five spoke

The Evo III wheels were sold here on Lancer Ralliarts.  They look good on Volvos and Mazdas too.

This thread is proof that most aftermarket wheels are terrible.  
 

switching out wheels is a quick way to ruin a vehicle unless you shell out cubic dollars.

I avoid used cars with cheap wheels as the owner probably did other questionable stuff to the vehicle...

Astro Supremes.

Radir Tri-Ribs

Halibrands.

Currently fawning over a set of compomotive FH500's for sale.

Love my various craigslist finds, Ronal Turbo's, Panasport C8's, and Oz Ultraleggera 3 piece.  I want ALL the cool wheels!

I love gold mesh wheels. BBS E48, OZ Vega, Epsilon Southern Ways etc. I'm stoked that Jeeps were available with a good looking mesh from factory

I have an old truck so these are the two wheels that I'm into right now

Of course if I had a nice car I'd love to get some super advans

I think the ADVAN RSIII's on my BRZ look pretty good. 18x9.5 ET45. It's a bit ridiculous that the center caps are plastic and $50+ each. 

The Rays/NISMO LM GT2 wheels are some of my favorite 5-spokes ever. 

Whatever Enkeis Ferrari threw on this restored 333SP Chassis No. 6 are beautiful too. 

My preference is these.

Motegi Traklite MR131 in bronze.

#te37allthings

BBS RS.

In the show/hard Parker scene it's the do all beat all wheel. It didn't start that way, it was originally a motor sport inspired wheel for the street. It's probably the most knocked off wheel of all time. Real ones are great wheels, they came in about 550 configurations from 14" to 17" (18-19" Super RS) to fit all sorts of cars

A sampling from Makukha's list (Makukha)

I've had thirty or so sets over the years and when they became popular again in the early 00's I actually paid of all of my and my wife's college debt by flipping them (and other BBS). Wish I had some of those still but can't keep them all.

A fully modular wheel, they can be disassembled and reassembled with readily available parts to mix and match for nearly any car. Entire aftermarket companies have made their name by restoring or supplying parts for them.

One set from a TT Z32 (thanks TB here in the forum for these!)

another high offset set adapted from a Supra to the E36 (sorry no direct shots but just the reflection in the c230)

Very strong, pretty light weight. Some more pics showing the variation

and one of my favorite sets I've seen

The RS wasn't the original wheel that came on the Benny S Panam but it fits it very well.

Knockoffs; everyone and their brothers knocked off the RS in the 80's and 90's, (and currently)prime, progressive, etc.. but beyond the cut rate 1 piece copies were equally quality pieces

OZ called the Vega (actually can match RS rim parts up)

(this is from Young_olds post here on GRM back a few years, I'm not finding either of my sets. Will have to add pics later.)

 ARE with the 398 who is a true 3 piece wheel although the lip and barrel came welded. Made 15-17" in a variety of bolt patterns they are reasonable still

16" in 5x114

freshly Powdercoated centers

And 17" for a C4 corvette

Enkei with the EK96 (silver) EK98 (gold)

found the fourth center cap on a spare wheel in my barn after the pic

Image Wheels DM

Rays Payton Place (pic stolen from web, I've never had a set of these)

etc etc....

Not a particularly good looking wheel, but I picked up a set for my NB Miata from another Miata owner who didn't like them. Paid $80, then I actually picked up the wheels. They were forged Center-Lines, right about 10 lb each in a 15x7. I ended up trading them for a set of Diamond Racing steelies, complete with two street tires and a pair of drag slicks to be used on our Challenge car. They would have been nice on the NB at that weight.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

Not a particularly good looking wheel, but I picked up a set for my NB Miata from another Miata owner who didn't like them. Paid $80, then I actually picked up the wheels. They were forged Center-Lines, right about 10 lb each in a 15x7. I ended up trading them for a set of Diamond Racing steelies, complete with two street tires and a pair of drag slicks to be used on our Challenge car.

Those are cool, I remember them being super light

I love the way these very German wheels look on a Japanese car. Usually, CRX owners go for a fussy Mugen CF-48, but these look so much better.

The Westy runs on Pentas because they have the perfect 80s blockiness for the van. And hey, Pentas.

I liked my BBC RCs on my rare Jazz Blue Golf GL. The wheels are probably worth more than the car is now, I wonder if they're still together.

I ran SSR Competitions on the Targa Miata back in the day. They were cool but not wide enough so they got replaced :) I do still have SSR Integrals on one of my Miatas, though - here's an old shot of it from the late 90s. Reminiscent of the wheels found on Ferraris of the era.