New wheels -- brands and where to shop!

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spewking

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Where do you folks recommend I buy wheels? Internet sellers or wheel chain stores are both of interest.

I have a 7 year old infiniti g35 and the finish is gross....lots of dark areas where the paint finish is gone. I want to buy some replacements and need advice about brands you like and favorite places to buy.

Do you recommend I consider having them painted instead? I do not know anything about that.

Thanks, David
 
if you like the wheels, you can keep them and just have them refinished or powder coated a different color.
 
Since you have 5 x 114.3 bolt pattern you will have a zillion choices.
I found this doing a quick search. I would suggest taking your time to find the right wheel, they can make it or break it.
...............................................................................

17" 5 spoke (model??)
Front & Rear: 17"x7" +40mm offset 5x114.3mm (5x4.5in) bolt pattern (aka PCD)

17" 6 spoke (model??)
Front: 17"x7.5" +30mm offset
Rear: 17"x8" +33mm offset

17" 7 spoke (2005+ Sedan std)
Front & Rear: 17"x7" (+45mm)

18" 7 spoke (2003/2004 optional 2005+ Coupe std)
Front & Rear: 18"x8" +30mm offset

18" 5 split spoke (2005+ Sedan optional)
Front & Rear: 18"x7.5" (+45mm)

19" 5 split spoke (2005+ Coupe optional)
Front: 19"x8" +30mm offset
Rear: 19"x8.5" +33mm offset

17" Wheels - double 5 spoke alloys (2007 Sedan)
- Front & Rear - 7.5" x 17" with 45mm offset with 225/55R17, V rated all season tires.

18" Wheels - split 7 spoke alloys (2007 Sedan)
- Front - 7.5" x 18" with 45mm offset with 225/50R18 W rated summer performance tires.
- Rear - 8.5" x 18" with 50mm offset with 245/45R18 W rated summer performance tires.
 
If you like the factory OEM wheels and want them replaced, look to Ebay and U-Pick-It lots. Lots of times you can purchase them in 2 or 4's.

I had one wheel repaired locally and never satisfied with outcome. Now a powdercoating might be an option for your current wheels and allow some custom choices in coloring also. Check locally and ask for pricing upfront.

If you prefer a custom wheel, you should consider the price point. Lots of good wheels are offered and come down to the correct size, bolt pattern, and hub. Most online tire companies now offer many choices and can send them prebalanced and ready to install if you choose tires also. Often times you can save sales tax buying online.

Now a true custom wheel, built exactly to your car will cost you a pretty penny. I have run HRE and Iforged and paid well for their name and exclusive build. You will need to layout sizes, coloring, pattern and leave enough lead time to have them custom built and shipped.
 
Every bigger city should have at least one wheel repair specialist. The worse shape your local roads are, the better chances you'll have a choice of refinishers. I landed a nice set of aftermarket +1 alloys and summer tires for a song last summer ($250 plus my seven year old OE wheels and tires for a set that sells for around $2400 new), and knew that for that price they'd have some rash and curbing. Last week I went to a local wheel refinisher -- turns out they are the best in the region, used by all the high end dealerships -- and was quoted $140 per rim to re/re tires, machine the lips, sandblast and machine the barrels and faces and refinish and clear the rims. Color change (from clear/machined to, let's say, BRABUS silver C17B) would be another $10 per rim.

It'd be tough to find new rims for that price. If you like the stock rims that might be a way to go, or maybe look for some ok NISMO wheels on CL and have them refinished. Beyond that, there are probably hundreds of aftermarket choices available.
 
Thanks guys.

I am not clear on the refinishing process...do they paint and clearcoat? Is that the same as powder coating? Do I want one or the other in repairing my current OEM wheels?

This is what I got...think it got this way following a hand car wash at a retailer
 
Re: wheel painting / repairing

View attachment 32765

Sorry for the multiple posts...first time uploading pics and I couldn't figure out how to attach all 3 in 1 post

As you can see, the wheel paint is gone...down to the bare metal....

I have found a couple of places in the Raleigh, NC area that repair and repaint wheels, so any advice about what to get done to fix this is appreciated!

David
 
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