Aftermarket Wheels

Wheel machining is nothing new to the aftermarket wheel industry, as wheels have been produced with a machined face or machined lip for the past decade. This machining feature removes a painted section of the wheel to leave a raw metal look that is attractive to many aftermarket wheel buyers.
 

Typically, machined wheels feature a clear coat that's similar to painted wheels to ensure they're protected against the harsh elements -- more specifically from road salt that's found in the northern climates.
 

Recently, KMC, KMC XD Series and Ultra released new designs that have raised the bar on how wheels are produced. The KMC Splinter, KMC XD Series Bomb (pictured) and Ultra Bolt black with milled accent finish feature a milled accent on the lip of the spokes. This new process uses a CNC machine to accurately and carefully remove material which leaves a sharp, bold and machined edge. 
 

The KMC Splinter, XD Series Bomb and Ultra Bolt are available as truck wheels for many popular applications, including the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and Toyota Tundra.
 

Search by vehicle to see which wheel is right for your application.

Are you looking for a wheel to make your modified vehicle stick out from the ho-hum? Check out the Sparco Assetto Gara aftermarket wheels. 

 

The Assetto Gara has an array of different colors, including matte graphite silver, red, green, gold, white, bright silver, orange, bronze, black and blue. 

 

A few years ago Sparco and O.Z. Racing partnered up and collaborated on an exclusive collection of affordable wheels. The collection features both companies' Italian design heritage and motorsports background.

 

Popular fitments include Acura, Chevy, FIAT, Honda, Mazda, MINI, Ford and Subaru. If you're trying to get that look like Ken Block on your new Fiesta or Focus, check out the green painted version of the Assetto Gara from Sparco!

Tire Rack carries a large variety of aftermarket wheels for many vehicles. While some are designed to reuse your current wheel's stock lug nuts or bolts, other options will require something different if the new wheel's lug seat type is different. Also, you'll need new lug nuts or bolts if the hole in the face of the wheel needs tuner style lugs or if the center cap requires a shorter lug.

 

When ordering, if an aftermarket lug is needed, your invoice will indicate the quantity, size, seat design, length and size of wrench needed. In some cases, we'll be able to supply a different socket if your Original Equipment wrench will not work. For more information on using the correct lug nuts with your wheels, read "Proper Lug Nuts or Lug Bolts."

 

Take a look at our Upgrade Garage to see how different wheel styles will look on your vehicle.

While wheel selection is more often than not determined by one's own individual taste, I have always been a fan of simple wheel styles. As such, one wheel that I recommend to customers time and time again is the classic 5-spoke MSW Type 14. Featuring a silver painted finish and thin pronounced spokes, this wheel has an Original Equipment look and is easy to keep clean using simple washing techniques.

The MSW Type 14 is available in sizes ranging between 14" to 18" in a wide variety of widths and bolt patterns. As one of the more cost-effective aftermarket wheels available, these wheels have been a hit with customers looking for a subtle aftermarket fitment.

Moreover, these wheels are also one of the many popular styles included in our 2012 Wheel Clearance Event. 

The late model Ford Mustang is fast becoming an extremely popular vehicle for both customizers and enthusiasts. This is partly due to the volume of aftermarket parts available and the demand from consumers to set their Mustang apart from the crowd and show off their personal style.

In addition to custom paint jobs and aftermarket wheels (rims), many Mustang owners are opting to lower their cars for more aggressive handling and appearance. Due to the flexibility of the late model Mustang chassis, there are several ride height and stiffness options available.

Depending on the version of Mustang, there are several options for lowering from standard non-adjustable springs to fully adjustable coil-over kits. Coil-over kits offer the height and dampening adjustability that is not possible with a spring-only application.
It's important to note that when changing a vehicle's ride height, alignment adjustments will be needed for your vehicle. For lowering, this typically includes reduction in camber to counter the camber increase caused by shorter springs. For the newer Mustang, a set of camber bolts will do the trick for the front and an adjustable panhard bar or trailing arm for the rear.

When you're looking for Mustang shocks, springs, coil-over kits or other suspension parts for your ride, be sure to shop by vehicle to find the parts that are a great fit.

No matter what you drive, Tire Rack has done the homework necessary to ensure a proper fit for your vehicle when it comes to our Tire & Wheel Packages. 

While some vehicles have many aftermarket wheel and tire options, others are a bit more challenging and require the use of specially selected wheels to clear brake calipers, avoid suspension components and offer a factory style stance. One such vehicle that comes to mind is BMW's X5. This vehicle, especially when equipped with the optional 20" sport package, is notoriously difficult to outfit with all-season or dedicated winter / snow tires. 

Although manufacturers are stepping up to the plate and beginning to offer non-summer X5 tires in the 275/40-20 front and massive 315/35-20 rear sizes, the most popular solution for those looking for the best traction in foul weather is a downsized Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package.

A few wheels, such as the Rial Oslo (pictured) offer enough brake clearance in an 18" size to allow for proper fitment. With wheels such as this, we prefer drivers run a 255/55-18 tire on all four corners. This tire size allows for a wide variety of cost-effective options, maintains the factory rolling diameter and has a better cutting effect on ice and in snow compared to the factory staggered setup. Most often, a Tire & Wheel Package for this SUV in the 18" size costs approximately the same or less than the factory sized tires by themselves.

How do we know which wheels will fit your vehicle? We measure your vehicle's critical components with sophisticated electronic tools that allows our engineers to create extremely accurate drawings of each part. For more information, read "How We Know What Fits."

Despite what some automotive experts say, I really like the new Volkswagen Jetta. And, if the original Jetta tires and wheels are not to your liking, some aftermarket car rims and tires could really increase the vehicle's style.

As you try to envision how a given wheel will fit on your car, keep in mind that the offset spec effects the overall look. How would the 17x7.5 5-112 bolt pattern 45mm offset Bright Silver Enkei Tuning Fujin look on the car, even though your Original Equipment wheels are 16" in diameter and 6.5" with a 50mm offset? To help you gain a better picture of how these Enkei rims would sit on your vehicle, look at where your valve stems sit and picture them moving 17mm (roughly 3/4") out towards the fender.

Manufacturers will determine what sizes of wheels they'll make, as not all wheels come in all sizes. However, when you purchase wheels from Tire Rack, you can be assured the wheel you order is a perfect match for your vehicle. To see how we get the proper fitments for each vehicle, read "How We Know What Fits."

Since I am a big fan of the Jetta TDI let's use this application as an example. For 17" wheels you can choose Volkswagen tires in either 225/45-17 or 235/45-17. If I were picking tires to use here in Indiana, I'd get the 225/45-17 Michelin Primacy MXM4 for its combination of great steering response, wet grip and efficiency.

Since the new Jetta uses the indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System with ABS sensors, you don't need to get separate sensors. And when you're looking at our online tire prices for the Michelin Primacy, create a Tire & Wheel Package with the Enkei wheels for $1388* plus shipping.

17x7.5 Bright Silver Enkei Tuning Fujin

225/45-17 Michelin Primacy MXM4

Create the perfect Tire & Wheel Package for your Jetta today!

As the snow starts to fly, there's a mad rush for customers to get winter wheels and tires. However, should you order steel or alloy wheels with your Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package? The decision depends on the vehicle, price, the customer's needs and availability. 

Availability: Certain vehicles can only be installed with alloy wheels, as steel wheels are not designed as aftermarket rims (wheels) for all applications.

Price: Steel wheels are the most affordable option even when you add a set of wheel covers to your purchase. However, the price difference can be minimal at times and many customers choose alloy wheels because they prefer the look and ease of not purchasing wheel covers.

Appearance: Obviously, there are many more styles of alloy wheels available than the simple black steel wheels. For some drivers, this is important. For others, the black steel wheel is perfectly sufficient.

Performance: Alloy wheels offer several performance advantages over steel. Compared to a steel wheel, an alloy wheel is lighter, stronger and will not rust. To gain a better understanding of how to compare alloy to steel wheels, read "Alloy vs. Steel Wheels in Winter Tire & Wheel Packages."

Winter / snow tires offer dramatic improvement in safety and performance in winter conditions including snow, ice and freezing temperatures. This improvement is especially important for vehicles that include Max Performance Summer tires as Original Equipment.
 
The Porsche Panamera and new body style Cayenne commonly come with O.E. Max Performance Summer tires and are dangerous to use in a winter environment. The few all-season Porsche tires available are not well-suited for deep snow and ice.

Tire Rack offers custom Winter/ Snow Tire & Wheel Packages for these vehicles in 18", 19" and 20" diameters. The packages come completely mounted and balanced and have the option of coming with TPMS sensors and Porsche center caps. 

Winter packages for the Panamera start at around $1,800* for the 18" fitment. This package includes the Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero Serie II tire and Sport Edition Cup 4 alloy wheel. And after you buy Pirelli tires for your Porsche, read "Breaking In New Winter Tires" to better understand how the personality and handling traits of your new tires are different than your Original Equipment.

Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero Serie II

Sport Edition Cup 4

Winter packages for the Cayenne start at around $1,300* for the 18" fitment. This package includes the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 and the Sport Edition TX8 alloy wheel. This combination of Bridgestone SUV tires and aftermarket wheels will make winter driving a breeze compared to any all weather tires you may find.

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1

Sport Edition TX8

Find the right wheels/rims and tires for your vehicle by creating a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package today!

*Prices subject to change

As we look through our comments in the log book, one that stands out is rear wheel spin as we try to accelerate to the next corner. We’ve worked on the KW coil-over suspension to try and increase rear end grip, and even tried different tires, settling on the Hankook Ventus R-S3. And while this has helped, at most event sites we can still slide the rear exiting medium to high speed corners, resulting in sideways motion without forward progress. A look at the data stream from our onboard Race Technology data logger shows the OE Mazda diff still allows some single wheel spin, and we’re getting inside wheelspin and not just sliding both rears.

So we turned to the guys at OS Giken, makers of some tricky driveline parts and the OS Super Lock LSD. This tunable limited slip diff allows the rear end to lock smoothly with power application, and can be tuned to have different lock rates during acceleration and deceleration.

To simplify our installation and allow us the opportunity to try some back to back testing, we sourced a separate diff carrier to install the Giken unit in. This allowed us to simply swap out the pre-loaded diff housing in about 2.5 hours, with the help of a co-worker’s lift. Some things shouldn’t be done on the garage floor.



















After a few break in miles, Project STR driver Chris Harvey joined the fun with the Windy City Miata Club to get an initial read on how the freshly installed OS Giken limited slip differential works. The competitors enjoyed great courses and lots of runs as they battled to reduce time throughout the day. Chris piloted the Project STR MX5 to the quickest time of the day for all Mazda's entered and 2nd overall for the event, just a few tenths behind a well prepped and driven BMW M3 running on ultra-grippy Hoosier autocross tires.

Next up for Project STR will be the SCCA Great Lakes Division Championship event held at Grissom AFB in Peru, IN, August 6th and 7th.  

Here is a common question that many people looking at aftermarket wheels ask: "Why would I want to swap them out, and will it be of any major advantage?"

The initial reason people like to modify the look of their vehicle with wheels usually starts with a desire for greater aesthetics. Original Equipment (O.E.) wheels for many applications can be cookie-cutter, and adding your own individual flair to your ride requires an upgrade. Modifying your car's appearance with a new set of wheels can give your car the desired style you are looking for.  

Adding a personal touch not only increases the look of the vehicle, but can also enhance it as well. Many, but not all, aftermarket wheels have reduced weight vs. their O.E. counterparts. The initial advantage is in unsprung weight variance. Not only can this affect the overall gas mileage of the vehicle, but also allows the vehicle to respond better, especially on imperfect roads. Lighter wheels allow for less vibrations or adverse feel to resonate in the cabin, which in turn makes for an easier and more stable ride for the passenger.

Additionally, increasing the size of the wheel not only gives the vehicle a more aggressive appearance, but can also affect the handling characteristics. In most cases, when choosing a larger wheel size, the tire size will need to be modified in order to accommodate the difference.  

As an example, a 2006 BMW 325i Sedan Base Model comes stock with 205/55R16 tires and 16x6 wheels. If one were to buy a 17" wheel, the initial choice for tire size would shift to 225/45R17. The average size of a 17" wheel for this vehicle would be 17x7.5. While the overall diameter of the tires remains about the same, the 17" size has an advantage in handling due to the tire's larger contact patch. The contact patch (a tire's "footprint") is relative to the width of the tires, and being that the width is 225 vs. 205, you have gained 20 mm in width. This will work very similar on most vehicles. As you increase the wheel size, the width of the wheel also increases. To compensate, the width of the tire increases and the sidewall gets shorter to make up for the extra inch of wheel height. The wider your tires get, the more rubber you have contacting the ground, thus increasing your handling characteristics. 

Our Upgrade Garage provides customers with the ability to view tires and wheels on their vehicle. With the example provided above, customer A would like a lightweight 18" wheel with a sporty euro design. Since the BMW 325i is a graphite color, he would like to give it a blended look. Deciding on the OZ Alleggerita HLT in the Matte Graphite Silver finish was the obvious option, giving him the clean, multi-spoke look, that will not only add aesthetics to the vehicle, but also save weight as well! Being that he wants an all-season tire that is aggressive in the snow, he chooses the Continental ExtremeContact DWS in a 225/40R18. And the customer is able to view his new wheels on his vehicle to ensure it's the look he desires! 

Based in California, Axis and Axis OG offer innovative wheel options for different groups of drivers. Axis wheels started out offering tuner wheels for sport compact cars and continue today by offering a modern aesthetic, while the Axis OG line reflects the popular Japanese designs of the 1980s.

The aftermarket wheels from Axis are offered in four styles ranging between 19"-20" diameters and are a popular choice of Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G35 drivers. While Honda Civic, Acura Integra and BMW 325i owners like the three styles and classic 15" diameter of the Axis OG line.

Axis Angle

Axis Zero

Axis OG Oldskool

Shop by vehicle to find wheels that are a great match for your vehicle.

For the first time in decades, Fiat has launched a hot new hatch for use in the States. The Fiat 500 and its various trim levels have hit select dealerships across the country and are already receiving aftermarket support.

Manufacturers such as BBS, Enkei, and O.Z. are supplying large amounts of aftermarket wheels that Tire Rack offers as guaranteed fitments. There are currently 40 wheel options for the Fiat 500, with many choices for the Lounge, Pop and Sport trims.

BBS CS

Enkei PF01

O.Z. Alleggerita HLT

 
Shop by vehicle to find wheels that are a great match for your vehicle. 

Coming in early August, Tire Rack is excited to add three new models of Axis wheels from their "Original Goods" (OG) line, designed with older VW Golf/Jetta/Scirocco applications in mind. These designs recreate the popular aftermarket wheels from the late 70's and 80's that were used not only on VW vehicles but many Japanese import models like Honda and Mazda.

Axis OG Oldskool

Axis OG Sakura

Axis OG San

The Axis OG Oldskool is machined with black accent and available in 15x8 (ET25) at a cost of $161* per wheel. The Axis OG Sakura is available in 15x8 (ET25) in either a pink or gold finish with machined lip for $194* per wheel.The Axis OG San is available in 15x8 (ET25) in either graphite or gold with a machined lip for $161* per wheel.

Shop by vehicle to see which wheels work best with your vehicle.

*Prices subject to change

Are you in the market for custom wheels? Other than wheel size, style and price, you may want to research how your new wheels are made. Buying new wheels can be a significant investment and you want to be sure to get your money's worth before spending your hard earned cash.

Consider Use: Vehicle demands, road conditions and driving style are all important considerations. If you are driving a sports car such as a Porsche, Corvette or BMW and enjoy track days from time-to-time, you may need a lighter/stronger wheel.

Construction Methods: The reality is that not all aluminum wheels are created equally. Strength and weight of a wheel are partly determined by how a wheel is made, not only the material it is made of. The three primary methods of O.E. and aftermarket wheel construction are gravity cast, pressure cast and forged.

Gravity Cast: Gravity casting is the most common and least expensive wheel manufacturing process. This is the process of pouring molten aluminum into a mold using only gravity to assist. This results in the heaviest and weakest of the manufacturing methods. 

Pressure Cast: Pressure casting is the process of introducing positive pressure to assist in the flow of molten aluminum through the mold. This creates a lighter/stronger product due to higher density than gravity cast at a minimum cost increase.

Forged: Forging is the process of forcing a semi-solid piece of aluminum between the forging dies under extreme pressure. This produces the lightest and strongest product of the three primary methods. Most of the 2- and 3-piece custom wheels and race wheels in the market are forged. The downside is that due to the extensive tooling required to create a finished wheel, forged wheels are considerably more expensive than either pressure or gravity cast. 
 

Since their inception into the market, the 2011 Mustang GT and the 5th Generation 2010+ Camaro have attracted much attention, and I must note I too fell prey to their new designs.

In February, I took ownership of a 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 6-speed. The only options on my car were the Brembo performance brake and wheel package and the 3.73 rear gears. I wanted the fastest base Mustang GT I could buy, but yet even that was not without room for improvement.

My first step toward correcting the lackluster steering response and turn-in feel was to replace the spring and strut / shock assemblies. My components of choice were the off-the-shelf 2011 Mustang GT Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set and a set of 2010 Mustang GT model Bilstein struts and shocks. Although Bilstein does not yet have a 2011 Mustang GT specific fitment at this time, the use of 2005-2010 Ford Racing strut mounts and the 2010 model Bilstein struts allowed me to successfully use the components. For a more plug and play application and a user friendly guaranteed fitment, consumers can purchase the matching Eibach Pro-Damper Kit which is specifically tuned for Eibach springs on the 2011 models and bolts up without any modification to the strut mount units.

Although the Eibach springs are not the stiffest available, their progressive rate is far beyond the factory rate of 150lbs/in. For that reason, it is important to increase the compression and rebound rates of the shock assemblies, not only to increase the life of the shock, but also to increase performance while cornering, and reduce unfavorable motion on transitions and rough surfaces.

At left is a picture of the factory 2011 Mustang GT front strut and its Bilstein rival. The differences in shaft size should be obvious. Upon installing this aftermarket suspension package, my 2011 GT feels like an entirely new car. It doesn't exhibit the floating feeling associated with the stock pieces, and generally feels firmer and more responsive. The steering inputs are met with crisp turn-in and the car behaves very neutral at the limit, which left me quite surprised.

For questions on suspension and more, contact one of our sales specialists.

Brembo Big Brake Kits upgrade the look and performance of your vehicle's braking system. The brake systems combine fixed 4-piston aluminum calipers and high performance brake pads, with 1- and 2- piece vented discs and Goodridge® steel braided brake lines. These race inspired Brembo Big Brake kits are designed to offer superior stopping power for drivers that are serious about getting their sports cars, sedans, sporty coupes, light trucks and SUVs to slow down in a hurry.

In most cases,the Brembo Big Brake Kit's massive aluminum calipers and large diameter brake discs require an aftermarket wheel with the necessary brake clearance. Take a look at the chart below to see the full line of Brembo Grand Turismo Big Brake kits.

Contact one of our sales specialists to ensure product compatibility as they have developed a list of appropriate wheel options per vehicle based on exact brake kit options.

Brembo Gran Turismo Brake Systems
Caliper Styles	Style 1	Style 2	Style 3	Style 4
	4-Piston Black	4-Piston Black	4-Piston Red	4-Piston Red
Rotor Styles	Style A	Style B	Style C	Style D
	1-Piece Drilled Vented	2-Piece Drilled Vented	2-Piece Drilled Vented	2-Piece Slotted Vented

Style 1A	Style 2B	Style 3C	Style 4D

Shop by vehicle to see which braking options work best for your vehicle.

Additional Information:

• Producing Brembo Brake Components and Systems
• Brembo Product Description

Whether you are getting your vehicle out of storage for the warm driving months or giving your year-round car a spring cleaning, Griot's Garage offers options for your wheel cleaning needs. 

Griot's Garage Painted Wheel Care Kit: The brake pads of many performance cars like BMW, Audi and Porsche stop quickly but produce a lot of brake dust. Griot's wheel cleaner takes care of brake dust, tar and road oils but is safe and gentle on your wheels clear coat. Simply spray, wipe, and rinse with no hard scrubbing required.

Griot's Garage Total Wheel and Tire Care Kit: It's everything you need to properly clean and protect your factory alloy or aftermarket alloy wheels in one, low-priced package. Included is a wash bucket, wheel cleaner, tire dressing, paint sealant, detail mitts, wash sponge and cloths. 

Have chrome wheels? There is a Total Chrome Wheel and Tire Care Kit available as well. 

See our complete list of Griot's Garage products here.