If you're an automotive enthusiast, you likely know the name Enkei for their outstanding high quality aluminum alloy wheels. Enkei has been producing lightweight, strong and reliable wheels in Japan since 1950 for everything from Original Equipment options to Formula One and WRC rally racing. The
Enkei Racing Series is their highest level of aftermarket wheels and incorporates their MAT process and extensive testing that exceeds JWL and VIA strength standards.
MAT stands for "Most Advanced Technology" and is a process that combines Enkei's MAP (Most Advanced Production) and flow-forming forging technology. The complete MAT process has a drastic impact on the microstructure of aluminum and results in outstanding improvement of the mechanical property of the material. With wheels and tires becoming larger, use of the MAT process to manufacture wheels becomes even more important. In order to reduce weight under a vehicle's suspension, larger wheels must remain light. Enkei Racing Series' newer generation of 10% - 15% lighter weight, forged MAT wheels are stronger and retain optimum anti-flex properties.
One of Enkei Racing Series most popular wheels is the
RPF1. The RPF1 is available in a variety of bolt patterns in diameters from 14" up to 18" to fit a large number of vehicle applications from a 1990 Mazda Miata to a 2012 Nissan 370Z. Some of the most popular vehicle applications are Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, Subaru Impreza WRX, Mazda MX-5 and Honda S2000 cars. It's also available in many different finishes including
black painted and
bright silver paint.
Check out this photo of a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX with the Enkei Racing Series RPF1 wheels in a black painted finish.
To check to see if this wheel is available for your vehicle, shop by vehicle. Our site will show you the complete list of wheels that fit your car and let you view them on the vehicle. You can also pair up your wheels with high performance tires to create a Tire & Wheel Package that's ready to install upon arriving to your home or installer.
When upgrading your car's suspension, it is important to remember that you're going to be the person doing the driving and will have to deal with the ride quality on a daily basis. Whether it is MINI Cooper Suspension, Corvette Suspension, Mustang Suspension or WRX Suspension there is usually a trade-off in ride quality for performance.
Personally when I upgraded the suspension on my 2005 Saab 9-2X Aero (essentially a WRX) I wanted a good balance of ride quality and improved handling. I used the
H&R Sport Springs which gave an excellent improvement in cornering and steering response and a more aggressive look, but still retained a decent ride quality. It lowered the car slightly more then an inch in my case which was just perfect for me. Many people go more aggressive, but remember you're driving down the road casually much more often then when your cornering and will have to deal with the ride quality on a permamenent basis.
Have fun!
Have you checked out our
special offers lately? A number of WRX tires qualify for rebates and more. That means now is most certainly the time to buy that set you've been looking at for a while now.
Or maybe you've been looking, but haven't quite landed on a specific WRX tire or wheel. No worries,
Tire Rack can help.
Just enter our
Upgrade Garage and we'll do the rest (even recommend WRX suspension products, just in case you're looking for the total upgrade). Entering the vehicle specifications of the WRX above, we were able to put together Goodyear Eagle tires with Enkei wheels. More specifically, the
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 and the
Enkei Performance T-Fork. A sporty package for an equally sporty vehicle.
Will these WRX tires and wheels work for you?
Enter your vehicle specifications and find out.
Give it an
"Altitude and Attitude Adjustment."
Start with
shock absorbers. They maximize the ability of your tires to perform. And, of course, they give you a comfortable ride whenever potholes or speed bumps come into play. If you've been feeling it in your tailbone as of late, you may need to seek out some new shock absorbers.
Next, consider the effect that lowering your WRX will have. You'll increase its spring rate and give it a more aggressive look with reduced fenderwell gap. You'll need properly engineered aftermarket sport
springs that are designed to fit your WRX suspension system. Take
a look at lowering to see the effect lowering springs have.
There are many products available for tweaking your WRX suspension system. Check out
Suspension Tech for the "low" down on suspension, then
shop by vehicle for our list of suitable WRX suspension products.
2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
