aftermarket wheels: like it, love it, or hate them?

custmsprty said:
OEM:


AFTERMARKET, NO COMPARISON:
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Yep, I add that to the list of aftermarket looking better. Though I like how the car looks w/ the stock too, but thats more because the car is a great looking car.

I don't have any cool cars like that yet. Putting those rims on my Camry would be...not fitting IMO.

Thanks for the pics, beautiful car. I have seen it in other posts as well before I became a member last week.
 
trekkeruss said:
I work in the bicycle business and this comes up all the time. People always ask for a rim, but 99% of the time what they really mean is they want a wheel.
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Lol, glad I wasn't the only one! Now I know :props:
 
Not all OEM wheels are attractive. A simple clean style aftermarket wheel changes the look of the car making it even more appealing to the eye. Some personalize their cars to make them more unique so they don't blend into the crowd. There are those of us who don't believe in the aftermarket but there are many that do. I myself don't like the goddy style or over the top. The donk style is ridiculous.
 
Matt-erhorn said:
Lol I knew someone would say something. I'm super super lucky because my dad actually works for Mercedes. Hence the car, but is honestly feel so blessed everyday to think how lucky I am.
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Atleast you admit it :applause:
 
-Way too many after-market wheels only seem to offer:
Form Over Function.

-Way too many after-market wheels are not hub-centric.

Surely I'm not the only one that's seriously apposed to following/being-anywhere-near, any vehicle equipped with after-market wheels, that have been evidently optioned with that ever present wheel-wobble-appointment!

As such:
I feel compelled to ask (if/when a person goes the after-market wheel route):
Are correct-sized centering rings such unheard of items?


Just a thought:
Shouldn't all of the above be considered points accumulating moving violations?

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
-Way too many after-market wheels only seem to offer:
Form Over Function.

-Way too many after-market wheels are not hub-centric:
Surely I'm not the only one that's seriously apposed to following/being-anywhere-near, any vehicle equipped with after-market wheels, that have been evidently optioned with that ever present wheel-wobble-appointment!

As such:
I feel compelled to ask (if/when a person goes the after-market wheel route):
Are correct-sized centering rings such unheard of items?


Just a thought
Shouldn't all of the above be considered points-accumulating moving violations?

Bob
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Mine are and so are my spacers. Hubcentric that is, and torqued correctly too.
 
In the aftermarket world, personally I think HRE and BBS make some of the finest wheels around. Their engineering is top notch (as well as their price tag) and most of the sports cars that have them, claim they can feel a differences even from the highly engineered OEM stock wheels.

Let's put it this way, in racing applications, it's necessary. For cruising around town, my stock wheels are doing just fine. That's not to say I wouldn't slap some custom made HREs on the car if I could! To each his own, and if you've got the money for them, I say why not?
 
Radarryan said:
In the aftermarket world, personally I think HRE and BBS make some of the finest wheels around. Their engineering is top notch (as well as their price tag) and most of the sports cars that have them, claim they can feel a differences even from the highly engineered OEM stock wheels.

Let's put it this way, in racing applications, it's necessary. For cruising around town, my stock wheels are doing just fine. That's not to say I wouldn't slap some custom made HREs on the car if I could! To each his own, and if you've got the money for them, I say why not?
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Unsprung-weight often plays an important role in wheel selection.


Bob
 
Although I have OEM wheels now. I absolutely love how a good set of aftermarket wheels really make a car stand out. However the older, classic stuff, I enjoy seeing the OEM wheels on there. :)
 
I'm probably in the minority, but I've NEVER seen a car wearing aftermarket rims that IMHO were an improvement over the factory wheels.
The only exception being a set of Cragars or ARs on a classic musclecar, and I fervently dislike anything over 15" on such.
But to each his own.
 
FUNX725 said:
Unsprung-weight often plays an important role in wheel selection.


Bob
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That would be my number one reason for getting aftermarket wheels, getting something lighter to reduce unsprung weight.

On a motorcycle there is a huge difference between stock wheels and forged or carbon fiber wheels. Once you ride with lighter wheels it's hard to go back to heavier ones.
 
Wow. Timely thread for my situation. My wheels were trashed when I bought the car a year ago. I've been researching options for awhile. I'm leaning aftermarket for 2 reasons. 1. Cost. OEM for a 2005 Grand Prix GTP are outrageous compared to aftermarket. 2. More importantly, my options for OEM suck! Boring designs and a million on the road. I can get a set of American Racing wheels for $500-$600. Hell if I don't like them I'll sell those and get something else.
 
Aftermarket for me, too. OEM wheels are too outrageously priced for what you get.
Looking to get a set of these TSWs for the Fusion, if Spring ever arrives.
ynu5aze9.jpg


Broadcasting from an undisclosed location.
 
One of my biggest beefs with many stock OEM Wheels over the years, is, you might have a 1/2 way decent looking wheel on board, and what's sitting on its rim, an ugly piece of lead banged onto it. Even if you have them removed pronto, the damage from scratching is usually already done.

I can perhaps understand this 40 years ago, but today there are better ways to balance wheels, and it appears that many vehicle manufacturers still are cutting corners.

This looks like crap even on my Cargo Trailer's Wheels.
 
Most AMW I hate. Rarely do I see a set that doesn't scream "Tuned at Pep Boys" to me. However, there are some I consider "nice" - most of them costing a few thousand a wheel.

These I like (but wouldn't want to clean them), AC Schnitzers:

abedunud.jpg


I guess I like AMW that look like they could be a high grade factory option.
 
Matt-erhorn said:
I personally have some factory accessory wheels on but I do like some aftermarket wheels a lot. But for as many as I think look really good, there seems to be at least 10 that I wouldn't put on.

I'm still in high school so my taste will certainly change overtime. But right now I have a white car with black and silver wheels and really love it. I feel it really ties the car's black and white theme together.

Stock:
View attachment 25416

As it sits now:
View attachment 25415
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I can't say you're the only high school kid that cares. Granted my day was 10 years ago, I drove an 89 Firebird with fading paint, and what not but I still took the time to wash, and wax it. You would be surprised what the Turtle Wax Color Fix wax stuff can improve no matter how temporary.

GreatAvalon said:
Heyyy that makes so much sense. I have never really known rim vs. wheel. I didn't know if "wheel" was the rim/tire combo or what. LOL thats kind of embarrassing considering all the knowledge I like to think I have on cars, but you learn something everyday. Thanks for the clarification :xyxthumbs:
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Please don't think I'm being politically incorrect but I think the whole "rim" term got started with the younger, perhaps more ethnic slang. Again I don't know how to word this any better. Sorry for any offense.

Such as a similar way The Fast and Furious movies taught everyone it is called NOS (brand name) and not nitrous oxide. Some things just stick after they are coined.
 
tommygee said:
Wow. Timely thread for my situation. My wheels were trashed when I bought the car a year ago. I've been researching options for awhile. I'm leaning aftermarket for 2 reasons. 1. Cost. OEM for a 2005 Grand Prix GTP are outrageous compared to aftermarket. 2. More importantly, my options for OEM suck! Boring designs and a million on the road. I can get a set of American Racing wheels for $500-$600. Hell if I don't like them I'll sell those and get something else.
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I agree totally with this statement. It is amazing how much replacement OEM wheels cost. I don't know if they expect people want to buy these as they are the only place that can get them or not. They better open their eyes because aftermarket is here to stay.

Dogfather said:
I'm probably in the minority, but I've NEVER seen a car wearing aftermarket rims that IMHO were an improvement over the factory wheels.
The only exception being a set of Cragars or ARs on a classic musclecar, and I fervently dislike anything over 15" on such.
But to each his own.
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Now I do find it interesting how OEM wheels are getting bigger and bigger. My ol' Chevy worktruck has 16 inch wheels. Stock mind you. 2000 model. We bought a new Dodge Nitro in 07 with stock 17. Full Size Truck = 16 now a mid size SUV has 17. On top of that our new 13 Dart which is a midsize sedan has 17 also but was offered with an 18 option. WOW! I've have been scratching and sniffing around at new trucks and the new Rams I'm interested in have 20s. At what point does the smaller tire (usually costs more than normal tire) start costing more because of repair costs. There are probably some bigger I'm not familiar with.
 
CowboyTruckn said:
Please don't think I'm being politically incorrect but I think the whole "rim" term got started with the younger, perhaps more ethnic slang. Again I don't know how to word this any better. Sorry for any offense.

Such as a similar way The Fast and Furious movies taught everyone it is called NOS (brand name) and not nitrous oxide. Some things just stick after they are coined.
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You may be right! I've been calling them rims since HS since I thought that is what they were called and everyone else called them that (I graduated HS 3 1/2 yrs ago, almost 4 now). Maybe in the car racing video games and/or Fast and Furious series they were called rims so that is what stuck lol.
 
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