Selecting wheels for a vehicle is subjective based upon one's taste and ultimately up to each individual customer. Here at Tire Rack, we offer many different brands to suit the various tastes of our customers.
While I'm frequently asked, "What wheel would look best on my car?", I must admit it's a very difficult question to answer. Even though I've been customizing cars for years and certainly have my thoughts as to how things should be done, my feelings don't always match that of the consumer.
When I do weigh in, I try to recommend wheels that aren't overstated, of good quality and are as purposeful as possible. For customers looking for a wheel that is durable, good looking and extremely lightweight, one of my favorite choices is Enkei's PF01.
Part of the Enkei Racing Series family, this product weighs as little as 10 lbs. in certain sizes and maintains a much lower price point than other high-end wheel manufacturers. The broad range of bolt patterns and sizing of this wheel allows it to be used on a wide variety of vehicles.
The 4x100 bolt pattern is a popular choice for Honda and Mazda Miata owners, while the 5x114 option has proven to be very popular on countless other makes and models. Besides the physical allure of this wheel, it's proven quite handy when trying to clear Big Brake Kits due to its large amount of spoke clearance.
When considering aftermarket wheels or aftermarket rims as they are commonly called, take a look at many of the various wheels from Enkei. With many wheels to chose from, your tastes doesn't have to exactly mirror my own.
For many enthusiasts, their car is not only a means of transportation but also a source of recreation, too. With vehicles that see double duty as a daily driver and track car, many find that a separate set of track-only wheels and tires are a great luxury to have. Sticky track tires can greatly improve handling, however they can wear quickly to the point they aren't an option for daily use. This causes many drivers to have a second set they can install separately for each dedicated use. For best results, a track wheel needs to be lightweight and strong. And if you're looking to combine these characteristics at a great price, consider the line of wheels from TRMotorsports.
Ranging from vehicles such as older BMWs to the Mazda Miata, TRMotorsports wheels reflect form and function by using race-inspired styles with a focus on maintaining minimum mass to obtain the required strength. Many of their wheels are vehicle specific.
The C1M is a 4x100 bolt pattern wheel intended for the Mazda Miata and features a lower offset than a factory wheel to allow for larger brake calipers. More importantly, this allows for the wheel and tire to be moved out to the very edge of the body for better handling. This lower offset does require that the fenders be modified to avoid rubbing, so they aren't considered to be very street car friendly.
MT1 wheels are primarily offered in a 4x120 bolt pattern aimed at BMW E46 (3 Series) applications. They run much wider than factory wheels to allow for a wider tire option. The ultra wide tire on the vehicle's front can affect directional stability, therefore they are also not considered to be appropriate for street car use.
TRMotorSports' F1 is a Lotus Elise and Exige specific wheel that mirrors the 16" diameter front and 17" diameter rear wheel sizes used as Original Equipment with similar offsets. F1 wheels are also unique because they accept the O.E. Lotus center cap to give that factory look.
TRMotorsports wheels are also available for many Subaru, Audi and Mitsubishi applications, so be sure to shop by vehicle to see which option is a match for your car.
1996 Mazda Miata
