OZ Wheels

After what seems to be decades of waiting, the first Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are beginning to arrive.

 

Initial vehicle availability will be tight. Here at Tire Rack, we're still waiting to get them in our studio to be photographed. Thanks to the help from our suppliers, we've been able to post a preliminary list of compatible wheels for the FR-S and BRZ (fitment is obviously the same for both). The Original Equipment wheel is 17x7, 5-100 48mm offset. Many drivers will prefer a wider, lightweight wheel with the same offset.

If you prefer a wheel that weighs less than 18 lbs., the list is narrowed down to: the 17x8 45ET Enkei Racing Series RPF1 in black or bright silver, 17x8 48ET O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT available in matte graphite silver, white, black, orange, blue, gold and red, the Enkei RP03 in bright silver (the black painted version is estimated to arrive in June) and the Ultraleggera HLT in black, bright silver, matte graphite silver and gold.

 

Bright Silver Enkei Racing Series RPF1

Anthracite Painted O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT

Bright Silver Painted Enkei Racing Series RP03

Matte Graphite Silver O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera HLT

As for tires, I'd go with 225/45-17 sizing to complement the wider wheels. Personally, I prefer the 25" overall diameter better than the slightly larger 25.3" 235/45-17 tires. When making your tire choice, consider the best value Extreme Performance Summer tires discussed in a previous blog post, as well as the Toyo Proxes R1R and Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08.

Recently, I had a customer who ordered a set of O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera HLT wheels in the white finish and they really enjoy the look on their car. The white is generally available by special order only. A stark white paint job on the clean, purposeful lines of the Ultraleggera really makes this wheel stand out. These wheels are made to order in Italy, and can be sent over by air freight at an additional charge or in O.Z. Racing's next bulk shipment at no extra cost.

O.Z. Racing is one of the leaders in wheel manufacturing. Their 2011 racing campaign included:

• F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
• WRC Citroen Total World Rally Team Championship
• 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner Team Audi Sport
• DTM Title Team Audi Sport
• GT1 Title HEXIS AMR Team

As long as O.Z. has the wheels in stock ready to be finished, the turn around on an order with air freight is pretty prompt. The wheels for my customer's recent order came to us in just over two weeks from the original order date. A custom order that comes over with the bulk shipment from O.Z. usually comes within 60-90 days. This is obviously a longer wait but it saves on the cost of express shipping.

If you're looking to set your car apart from the crowd, a custom-finished set of O.Z. wheels and a set of high-performance tires would be a great place to start. 

When it comes to light, fast, compact European hatchbacks, the MINI Cooper S has been the only game in town. With the release of the FIAT 500 Abarth,  MINI finally has some serious competition. The 500 Abarth adds a whopping 59 hp and 72 ft. lbs. of torque compared to the FIAT 500 Sport. That's a lot of power for a 2,564 lb. car and some serious power for those front tires to handle. 
 

If you have an Abarth on order, then you'll be counting on 195/45-16 all-seasons or the optional 205/40-17s. The 195/45-16 Original Equipment options for the vehicle are either the Grand Touring All-Season Continental ContiProContact or the High Performance All-Season Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season. The optional 17x7 is equipped with the 205/40-17 Max Performance Summer Pirelli P Zero Nero tire.

Given the Abarth's sporty suspension and short wheelbase, factory choices may not be ideal. In my opinion, the 16" tire choices offer relatively subpar grip, while the vehicle's ride is compromised with the 17" wheels. If I had an Abarth on order, I'd select one of the 16" options and sell them to a FIAT 500 Sport owner and look at a 205/45-16 Tire & Wheel Package.
 

If you're looking for wheels for a 500 Abarth with a black exterior and red mirror caps and red side stripes, I'd take a look at the black painted O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT. For the red-colored vehicle with black mirror caps and black side stripes, the red painted Alleggerita HLT is a great choice. With a white or gray Abarth, there's a number of Alleggerita finishes that'll work.
  

When looking for a tire that offers great dry and wet grip, predictable handling, optimal balance between steering response and ride compliance and relatively low noise take a look at the 205/45-16 Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport.

 

O.Z. Racing Black Painted Alleggerita HLT $279*

O.Z. Racing Red Painted Alleggerita HLT $299*

Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport $105*

 

Mounted, balanced and ready to install, the Tire & Wheel Package including the Black Alleggerita is $1,712*, while the package with the red painted (special order color) Alleggerita is currently $1,792*.
 

E 'in poi, è su come Donkey Kong (It's on, it's on like Donkey Kong).
 

2012 FIAT 500 Abarth FAQ:

1. Can I run 205/45-16 sized tires on my Original Equipment 16" wheels? Yes, the O.E. 16x6.5 wheels will accommodate the 205/45-16 tires.
    
2. Would the Sparco Assetto Gara be a good fit for the vehicle? The wheel is a good  choice as well, however I personally like the Alleggerita design a little better. If you're open to either design, the Assetto Gara costs less and is priced at $1092* (the red painted Assetto Gara is estimated to be available in June).
    
3. How do the above 4-100 wheels fit on 4-98 bolt pattern vehicle? You can install these wheels with the provided wobble bolts. Wobble bolts are bolts with floating seats. Each bolt seat moves slightly upward to accommodate the 4-100 bolt pattern.

*Price subject to change, excluding shipping

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!

Thanks to the success of its custom color's program for the Alleggerita, O.Z. Racing is offering the same program for the Ultraleggera HLT. The HLT manufacturing is used to make larger wheel sizes lighter than they would otherwise be. For the Ultraleggera, nearly all 20" and most 19" sizes are produced using the HLT manufacturing process.
 

O.Z. Racing's color program is designed for tuners and enthusiasts seeking a distinctive wheel finish that stands apart from the usual silver, black or grey options that are by far the most common in the wheel industry. A few of the available colors include: red, orange (pictured), white and gold. 
 

O.Z. Racing builds and finishes each set of these wheels to order in Italy. Special orders in this program will take approximately 60 days to deliver. If you're willing to wait, the reward is a distinctive set of wheels that combine unique color with the high finish quality characteristics of all O.Z. Racing wheels. The Ultraleggera HLT can be ordered by itself, or you can select a tire to create a Tire & Wheel Package. To see if the Ultraleggera HLT is available for your vehicle, shop by vehicle. 

Featured in a recent issue of the Subaru magazine Drive Performance was Part 4 of Project WRX, (mechanical upgrades). Also included was an all important wheel upgrade for the project car. In a poll of Subaru WRX owners the hands-down winner for the best wheel for the WRX was the O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT.

"Alleggerita" is Italian for lightened. The O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT is a lightweight, nine spoke, single piece, low pressure cast, aluminum alloy wheel that is heat-treated for added strength.

The High Light Technology (HLT) process uses rollers to compress and elongate the material along the barrel of a low-pressure cast aluminum wheel to obtain the desired profile. This flow forming process, also known as spinning, produces wheels that are extremely light and strong, with mechanical characteristics similar to those of a forged wheel at a greatly reduced cost.

We carry the Alleggerita HLT in 8 colors with hundreds of sizes and fitment combinations. O.Z. Racing has proud tradition of building strong, light and stylish wheels for many tastes and requirements. A winning record in racing series around the world such as Formula 1 and IndyCar is an incontrovertible testament to their performance capability.

If you want a good looking, great performing wheel that looks right at home on your Subaru WRX, without breaking the bank, look no further than the O.Z. rims/wheels selection available from Tire Rack. Are your WRX tires in need of an upgrade? Find the right match for your WRX and create the perfect Tire & Wheel Package!

There are tons of car care products out there, so how do you know which ones to choose? Reading reviews are a great start, but viewing a demonstration allows you to actually see the results. Tire Rack carries an exceptional line of car care products from Griot's Garage and through the following experiment of cleaning the tires and wheels on a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville, I'm going to show you which products I used and how I removed the brake dust: 

• Wheel Cleaner (35oz)
• Finest Sprayer
• Tire Scrubbing Brush
• 3-Finger Detail Mitts
• Long Reach Wheel Scrubbing Brush
• Multi-Pattern Hose Nozzle and Car Wash Dispenser

Now that the wheels are clean, it may also be a good time, if possible, to utilize the Multi-Pattern Hoze Nozzle and Car Wash Dispenser, and its ability to house any type of wash you would like within the added cartridge. You can use any car wash or tire wash you would like at this point along with the tire brush. I would recommend using the Long Lasting Tire Dressing as well. Not only will it protect your tires without drying them out (like many other products do), but you have the choice of getting the kind of look you desire. Like the normal look?  Add a single coat and enjoy. Like the wet sheen look? Add multiple coats.

 

All in all, the end result is a set of tires and wheels that are quick and easy to clean, without removing them from the vehicle! It is a great time saving option for the busy worker who likes to keep sections of his or her car clean!

 

For more information on caring for and cleaning your wheels, read "Finishes and Care." 

With summer time here, it's time to get your Corvette out and go! Of all the cool sport cars that we get to work with, the Corvette is among my favorites because so many Corvette drivers drive their cars daily. What's the point of having a great car if you're not going to drive it? 

For C6 Z06 drivers that drive on the street and the track, rear 18" lightweight wheel availability has been limited until now. O.Z. Racing has introduced an 18x12 57mm offset Alleggerita HLT that's ideal for track use.

The anthracite painted (pictured above) and black painted finishes are currently available, while other painted finishes can be special ordered for delivery in approximately 60 days include blue, gold, orange, red and white.

Since the C6 Z06 typically comes with 18" front and 19" rear Original Equipment sizes, it's not possible to display the 18" wheels on our Upgrade Garage, so contact a sales specialist for assistance.

Combined with the 18x10 40mm offset front size ($399* Anthracite, $414* Black and $429* other finishes) you can run the following custom fit track fitments of 345/35-18 Hoosier R6 or A6 in the rear and either 295/30-18 or 315/30-18 in the front.  These custom fit track fitments are aggressive fitments where the edge of the tire will be further out towards the fender. Suspension modification may be required to clear the fender lips.

This 18" combination weighs 3.8 lbs. less per rear wheel compared to the 345/30-19 Hoosier R6 on 19x12" O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera HLTs. 3.8 lbs. Less rotational weight will significantly improve braking and accelerating at the track. Read "Road Wheel Weights Can Affect Your Vehicle's Show...and Go" to see how lighter wheels can affect a vehicle's ability to accelerate, brake and corner.

Keep in mind that the above tire sizes are custom fit options, so whether or not you rub depends on a number of factors:

Are you looking for affordable track wheels for your Cayman? Then take a look at the O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT.

The Alleggerita HLT offers a very unique combination of low weight, O.Z. engineering and great value. The High Light Technology (HLT) uses rollers to compress and elongate material along the barrel of a low-pressure cast aluminum wheel to produce the desired profile. This particular process is derived from O.Z.'s experience in F1 and produces a wheel that is extremely light and strong. Combining the HLT technologies with the flow forming process creates mechanical features similar to those of a forged wheel. This allows for a dramatic reduction in wheel weight while enhancing structural rigidity vs. a standard cast wheel.

Ideal tire sizing will vary depending on your Cayman's suspension tuning and/or fender modifications. Listed below are a few common sizes Cayman drivers enjoying running:

245/40-18 front and 275/35-18 rear 
245/35-18 front and 295/30-18 rear

Combining the O.Z Racing Alleggerita HLT with the Hankook Ventus Z214 Dry Racetrack & Autocross Only tires in 245/40-18 front and 275/35-18 rear sizing creates a Tire & Wheel Package at $2,444* plus shipping.

Shop by vehicle to see which wheel is a great option for your vehicle.

*Prices subject to change

With gas prices continuing to hover around $4 a gallon, could the weight of your wheels affect your car's fuel economy? In short, yes. The weight of your vehicle's wheels can not only affect the way your vehicle looks but how it drives. Reducing rotational weight by getting lighter wheels has an impact on fuel economy, braking and acceleration. Read "Road Wheel Weights Can Affect Your Vehicle's Show...and Go" to see how your wheel's weight can benefit your vehicle's performance.

For example, if you drive an E92 M3 and are looking to lower the weight of your wheels while giving it a great look, consider the 19" O.Z. Racing Superforgiata that only weighs 17.5 lbs for the 19x8.5 front and 19.9 lbs for the 19x10 rear. This wheel is considerably lighter than the O.E. while providing a new style for your ride.

As for tires, is the lightest always the fastest? Not necessarily because overall grip, steering response and handling predictability are critical as well. Review Tire Test Results to see how a particular tire performed on our Test Track Drives as well as the Real World Road Rides. View all Extreme Performance Summer and Max Performance Summer tires.

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! 

Working at Tire Rack gives me the unique opportunity to test all the tires that we sell. Feeling the ride characteristics of each tire on our controlled road rides and the tire's performance abilities on our track allows me to accurately describe the differences between Standard Touring, Ultra High Performance All-Season and Extreme Performance Summer tires to our customers.

Although tires is our primary line of business, we also stock and sell wheels, suspension components, brakes as well as tire and wheel care products.

I have always been a nuts and bolts kind of guy; if I can tighten it or loosen it, I can understand it. However, I felt that my testing of Tire Rack's products needed to expand into our line of Griot's Garage cleaning products. Although detailing is not, nor has ever been my strong spot, I was amazed with how simple and safe it was to use the buffer.

Guaranteed not to burn or damage your paint, the Griot's Orbital Polisher has the ability to polish at low and high speeds to help remove surface scratches and provide the best results.

Although pieces can be purchased individually, many consumers prefer Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher Bag Kit, which includes the following:

• 6" Random Orbital Polisher
• Best of Show Wax® (16 oz.)
• Machine Polish 2 (Mild Polish) (16 oz.)
• Machine Polish 3 (Very Mild Polish) (16 oz.)
• 6" Orange Foam Polishing Pads (2)
• Wax Applicator Pad (red)
• Microfiber Polish Removal Cloths (3)
• Microfiber Wax Removal Cloths (3)
• Speed Shine® (8 oz.)
• Paint Cleaning Clay (8 oz.)
• Spray-On Wax, (8 oz.)
• Window Cleaner (8 oz.)
• Microfiber Window Cloths (4)
• Interior Cleaner (8 oz.)
• Microfiber Interior Cloths (2)

Search Griot's Garage products to help your vehicle look good this summer.

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. 

Happy birthday O.Z.! O.Z. Racing turns 40 this year, and far from being over the hill, they are still a leader in wheel design and technology. 

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, they have released a new wheel named the Quaranta, which means 'forty' in Italian. A unique design that incorporates elements from 5 spoke and mesh-type wheels, the Quaranta upholds O.Z.'s tradition of Italian style. 

The wheels are made in Italy to O.Z.'s exacting specifications. They are pressure cast from Al Si-7 aluminum alloy and heat treated. Attention to quality control ensures that they conform to international standards for alloy wheels, including the most demanding German TUV requirements.

As a special edition wheel, the Quaranta is available in a limited number of applications: Four-lug wheels are black with machined face in 16" and 17" sizes. Five-lug wheels are grey with machined face, and are available in 17" with one 18" application. 

The Quaranta would make a unique statement as part of your Tire & Wheel Package this summer. To check the wheels that will correctly fit your vehicle, shop by vehicle. 

Spring is a great time for wheels. People are taking their fun cars out of storage, and taking the winter wheel and tire packages off of their daily drivers. Many wheel manufacturers introduce new designs, and Tire Rack often adds new brands to our line around this time of year. The most exciting addition to our lineup this year is HRE. 

Long considered a leader in custom wheel design, HRE has intensified its focus on engineering to make them a leader in quality as well as in style. It is great to be able to offer a world class, American made wheel at the top of our line, alongside the European powerhouses BBS and OZ Racing. 

While we keep many of the wheels that we sell in stock, most of the HRE wheels are built specifically to order. This usually means a 3-4 week lead time from the initial order to the shipment of the wheel package. With a little advance planning, these exceptional wheels will be well worth the wait.

View all of the HRE styles we carry and shop by vehicle.

Spring has sprung and Tire Rack wants to help get your vehicle looking great with the correct cleaning tools and cleaners.

The Griot's Garage Total Wheel and Tire Care Kit has everything you'll need to properly clean your wheels and tires. The kit includes:

• Tire and Wheel Wash Bucket (1)
• Wheel Cleaner (1 - 35 oz.)
• Paint Sealant (1 - 8 oz.)
• Long Lasting Tire Dressing (1 - 8 oz.)
• Finest Sprayer (1)
• 3-Finger Detail Mitts (2)
• 3” Red Pad and Holder (1)
• 100% Cotton Buffing Cloths (4)
• Detail Sponge (1)

After cleaning your wheels and tires, Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher Bag Kit provides everything you'll need for a perfectly cleaned interior and exterior. The kit includes:

• 6" Random Orbital Polisher 
• Best of Show Wax® (16 oz.)
• Machine Polish 2 (Mild Polish) (16 oz.)
• Machine Polish 3 (Very Mild Polish) (16 oz.)
• 6" Orange Foam Polishing Pads (2)
• Wax Applicator Pad (red)
• Microfiber Polish Removal Cloths (3)
• Microfiber Wax Removal Cloths (3) 
• Speed Shine® (8 oz.)
• Paint Cleaning Clay (8 oz.)
• Spray-On Wax, (8 oz.) 
• Window Cleaner (8 oz.)
• Microfiber Window Cloths (4)
• Interior Cleaner (8 oz.)
• Microfiber Interior Cloths (2)

Aftermarket wheels designed to use the Original Equipment center cap are available at Tire Rack. Let the wheels from Bremmer Kraft, Breyton, ASA, Elbrus and O.Z. Racing give your vehicle that custom look while maintaining the factory edge. Take a look at a few options that will set your car apart from the rest:

Bremmer Kraft BR05	Breyton Race GTS-R	ASA Type 8
Mercedes-Benz	BMW	Mercedes-Benz

O.Z. Racing Alleggerita HLT	Elbrus I02	O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera HLT
Porsche	BMW and Mercedes-Benz	Porsche

Use our website to view exact fitment and availability as some wheels may not be compatible with certain makes and models.

Note: Click the "Product Description" tab on the rim summary page to see if the wheel will accept the O.E. center cap. If available for the wheel selected, the O.E. center cap can be purchased from the "Optional Hardware" tab.