2007 Wheel Buyers Guide - Aftermarket Wheels - European Car Magazine

Women have shoes and handbags, men have watches and wheels. Every year, we are astonished by the selection of wheels presented at SEMA. New designs, new styles and even completely new companies emerge from the crush. We wanted to provide a baseline of the wheel industry's current state. This is by no means a comprehensive guide. Instead, we've cherry-picked several examples representing current trends.

So many choicesStyle is usually the first consideration when selecting aftermarket wheels, because most wheels are purchased for their different-than-factory looks, helping to personalize the vehicle according to its owner's tastes. After that come the functional requirements of selecting the diameter, width and offset that are right for the vehicle and appropriate for the desired tire size

While all wheel styles evolve, there are some almost timeless classics, including some of the basic five-spoke, six-spoke and cross-spoke designs. And since the look of many classic designs have evolved from racing, their form follows function. This means their basic design helps an engineer to balance style, strength and weight.

On the other hand, there are also fashion wheels, which, like clothing, tend to change with the seasons. This means their designer (not engineer) has placed the emphasis on aesthetics over weight. And because most fashion wheels are expected to have relatively short lives, the ability to produce them economically, in small volumes, becomes an important factor. Unfortunately, this normally precludes using the most current high-tech manufacturing methods.

However, not so obvious is the role wheel weight plays in determining a vehicle's overall ride, performance and feel. This is why so many new vehicles have replaced the less expensive rolled, stamped and welded steel wheels with cast aluminum alloy wheels.

Ever since the development of the original mag wheels, which actually used a magnesium alloy to reduce wheel weight on the racecars of the 1950s, lightweight wheels, where permitted, have been used to enhance performance in almost all forms of racing. And while the generic mag name is still used today, most magnesium alloy wheels are too fragile for daily street use and are limited in their finish options, allowing only for painting or polishing. These days, the most common uses for magnesium wheels are on Champ Cars, Indy, Formula One and GT cars, where the teams' continuous monitoring and testing can confirm their strength and durability between events. Mag wheels used on modern racecars are often forged or use some other high-tech manufacturing process and special magnesium alloys to reduce weight, while retaining the ability to take high loads. Fortunately for the rest of us, manufacturers have also developed lightweight aluminum alloy wheels that provide appropriate street durability and numerous finish options while reducing weight.

A vehicle's total weight affects its ability to accelerate, brake and corner. Reducing total weight will enhance performance because less weight needs to be controlled and therefore less energy is required. Unsprung weight is the weight under the springs which moves up and down as the vehicle rides over uneven roads and leans in corners. Reducing unsprung weight allows springs and shock absorbers to be more effective in controlling the suspension's movement. Additionally, a vehicle's rotational weight includes all parts that spin, including everything in the driveline from the crankshaft to wheels and tires. Reducing the weight of any of these rotating components will enhance performance, because less energy will be required to increase or decrease speed.

TSW
Croft

Material & construction: 1-piece cast aluminum
Finish: Smooth mirror-cut face w/Hyper Black, Brilliant Chrome
Diameter: 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 inches
Width: 8 to 10.5 inches
Application: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz
$200 to $500
www.tsw.com
800.479.9723

MiRO Wheels.
Type 368

Material & construction: N/A
Finish: Gold, Hyper Silver,
Black w/polished lip
Diametes: 19 inches
Widths: 8.5, 10 inches
Applications: BMW E46 M3,
E 90,E91, E92, E93 (including M3), all 5, 6, 7 Series (including M)
$435 to $680
www.mirowheels.com
866.525.6622

Sevas Forged
R5

Material & construction: 6061 3-piece forged aluminum
Finish: Diamond brushed
Diameters: 18 to 24 inches
Widths: 7.5 to 12.5 inches
Applications: Custom
$950 to $1,700
www.sevasforged.com

Motegi Racing
Traklite 1.0

Material & construction:
Super-light forged aluminum
Finish: Flat Black painted
Diameters: 15, 16, 17 inches
Widths: 6.5, 7, 8 inches
Applications: Audi, BMW,
Mini, Saab, Volvo, VW
$280 to $360
www.motegiracing.com

SSR
Type F

Material & construction: 2-piece semi-solid forged aluminum
Finish: Flat Black
Diameters: 17, 18, 19 inches
Widths: 7.5 to 9.5 inches
Applications:Audi, VW
$393 to $519
www.tirerack.com

HRE Performance Wheels
Forged Monoblok Series M40

Material & construction: Forged 6061-T6 1-piece aluminum
Finish: Brushed/clear, chrome, powder-coat
Diameters: 19 to 22inches
Widths: 8.5 to 12 inches
Applications: Mercedes-Benz
S-Class, CL-Class, CLS, SL-Class,E-Class, C-Class, Porsche 911 Turbo, Porsche Carrera 4S
$1,295 to $1,700
www.hrewheels.com
760.598.1960

Kyowa Racing
Evolve

Material & construction: Cast aluminum
Finish: Hyper Silver, Black, Flat Black w/red racing stripe
Diameters: 17, 18, 19 inches
Widths: 7 to 9 inches
Applications: 5X112, 5X120, 5114.3, 5X100
$240 to $280
www.kyowadesigns.com
626.839.8913

TRMotorsports
F2

Material & construction: 1-piece forged aluminum
Finish: Polished with clear coat
Diameter: 18 inches
Widths: 8 to 12 inches
Application: Porsche
$559 to $589
www.tirerack.com

Brabus
Monoblock VI

Material & construction:
Forged 3-piece aluminum w/forged centers
Finish: Silver, titanium/chrome
Diameter: 21 inches
Widths: 9, 10.5 inches
Applications: Mercedes-Benz
S-Class, CL-Class
$2,285 to $2,795
www.brabus-usa.com
949.797.0177

BBS
LM-R

Material & construction: 2-piece die-forged aluminum w/titanium fasteners
Finish: Diamond Silver painted center, diamond-cut rim, clear protective top coat.
Diameters: 19, 20 inches
Widths: 8.5 to 11 inches
Applications: BMW, Porsche, Lexus LS460
$1,380 to $1,680
www.bbs-usa.com
800.422.7972

MST Motorsport
Design 1.1

Material & construction: 1-piece cast aluminum
Finish: Silver, black, chrome
Diameter: 22 inches
Widths: 9.5, 10.5 inches
Applications: BMW
$3,500 per set of 4
www.wheelpower.com
714.375.9666

Antera
Type 381

Material & construction:
Cast aluminum w/replaceable stainless steel lip
Finish: Black/anthracite
Diameters: 20, 22 inches
Widths: 9 to 10 inches
Applications: Select vehicles and SUVs
$989 to $1,249
www.cecwheels.com
800.766.0064

AC Schnitzer
Type V

Material & construction: Forged aluminum
Finish: Silver, chrome
Diametes: 20 inches
Widths: 9, 10 inches
Applications: New BMW 5 and 6 Series
$1,749 to $2,049
www.cecwheels.com
800.766.0064

Marion
MR-3

Material & construction: 3-piece forged aluminum
Finish: Chrome, powder-coat, brushed, custom colors
Diameters: 19, 20, 22 inches
Widths: Custom
Applications: all Porsches
$1,100 to $1,700
www.modularsociety.com
760.727.4111

Oettinger
Type RXX

Material & construction: Cast aluminum
Finish: Silver, Silver Diamond Cut, Charcoal Diamond Cut
Diameter: 20 inches
Width: 8.5 inches
Applications: Audi, VW
$799 to $899
www.cecwheels.com800.766.0064

Voxx
Monza

Material & construction: 1-piece aluminum
Finish: Gloss black w/machined lip
Diameters: 15, 16, 17, 18 inches
Widths: 7, 7.5 inches
Applications: Most front-wheel-drive vehicles
$100 to $155
www.discounttiredirect.com
800.483.7555

Radenergie
R5 LeMans Edition

Material & construction: 3-piece forged 6061 T6 heat-treated aluminum
Finish: Diamond cut, black, chrome
Diameter: 20, 21 inches
Widths: 8.5 to 11 inches
Applications: BMW, Mercedes-Benz
$1,585
www.wheelpower.com
714.375.9666

Neuspeed
RS10 Limited Edition

Material & construction: Forged aluminum alloy
Finish: Teflon Black
Diameters: 18, 19 inches
Widths: 8, 8.5 inches
Applications: Most 5-lug VW and Audi
$TBA
www.neuspeed.com
800.423.3623

Giovanna Forged F8

Material & construction: 2-piece forged aluminum
Finish: Chrome, Matt Black
Diameters: 20, 22 inches
Widths: 8.5 to 11 inches
Applications: BMW, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz
$1,295 to $1,795
www.wtwcorp.com
800.307.8708

Gianelle
Tropez-10

Material & construction: 1-piece cast aluminum
Finish: Chrome, Machined/Silver, Machined/Black
Diameter: 22 inches
Widths: 9, 10.5 inches
Applications: BMW 6 and 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and CL-Class$995
www.wtwcorp.com
800.307.8708

GFG
Falluja

Material & construction 3-piece aluminum, forged centers w/spun rim halves
Finish: Chrome, Matt Black, Machined
Diameters: 19, 20, 22, 24 inches
Widths: 8 to 13.5 inches
Applications: BMW,Mercedes-Benz,Porsche and custom
$1,995 to $2,795
www.wtwcorp.com
800.307.8708