noddaz said:David S. Wallens said:In reply to bluej (Forum Supporter) :
Geez, why are cool looking steel wheels $169 each? (Because they can be...)
noddaz said:David S. Wallens said:In reply to bluej (Forum Supporter) :
Geez, why are cool looking steel wheels $169 each? (Because they can be...)
I daydream about getting some boxy 80s/90s sedan or old 2wd truck and slamming it on some Aero or Basset steelies. But I'm a coward and only buy Miatas or 4x4s 
Wow! Michelin XWX tires. I had them on my '65 Mustang back in the '70's.
Saved my butt a few times when I really needed cornering grip and sidewall stiffness because teenage boy with a 300 hp Mustang who thought Mark Donahue was the greatest ever.
Also because they were stock on a Ferrari Dino, my grandpa was a Michelin tire dealer, and the factory Michelin salesman, my good buddy, made sure I got the rock bottom wholesale price for that set.. And they still were not cheap.
I am only slightly into the wheel game now.
The first being an uncommon (due to bolt pattern) Mille Miglia F20. Fit the Intrepid nicely and luckily since at the time of purchase they were literally bought as a 'ooo, I like how those look' and knew nothing about bore diameter or offset. 18x8 in a unknown offset (stamped twice, I've never measured)
(not my car, but those are the F20's)
The second cool set is the Momo Arrows that came with the BMW, I need to get centre caps for them yet and possibly get them refurbished but they have a nice vintage vibe to them and the fitment is perfect for an e36 (and came with the car when the PO bought the car)
(actually my car, prior to hitting the deer)
thatsnowinnebago said:I daydream about getting some boxy 80s/90s sedan or old 2wd truck and slamming it on some Aero or Basset steelies. But I'm a coward and only buy Miatas or 4x4s
chrome plated lips on custom basset racing wheels lol. I don't remember who marketed these but it was a VW/ Porsche shop in KC.
David S. Wallens said:At some point, we could start a whole separate discussion about eight-spoke wheels: Watanabe, VTO, Panasport, Minilike, Rota RB, Konig Rewind, Black Racing, Enkei Compe, etc., as each one has its own nuances.
There is a thread with all the different designs, it was a ton of fun while the OP was creating and sharing all his knowledge which was wicked intensive. I'll see if I can find....
In reply to chandler :
Oh yeah, thank you for the reminder. So many variables, so much goodness.
So, is there a generic name for those kinds of wheels? A friend in the biz once referred to them as banana-spoke wheels.
Keith Tanner said:That's why my Ronals stand out so much!
There is something about Ronals...... (has anyone here ever run these - and is willing to admit it?)
In reply to wspohn :
Hey, we're written about that wheel before: What is the perfect Miata wheel? And can we agree it’s three-piece Bears? | Garage Rescue Miata
Wheels. Yeah, wow, I've never been really able to afford anything fancy. I'd much rather spend the money on good tires.
Besides, in the rough and tumble world of street driving (vs. tracks and autoX parking lots,) I value toughness and "meh, its already pretty beat-up so...) over feather-light and "hand-formed from the finest Swiss unubtainium." Don't get me wrong...I get whole light un-sprung weight/beauty/exclusivity/bench racing forum bragging rights/etc. arguments. Its just that when you have to pay for something out of your own pocket - a pocket that also has to support mortgage/food/credit cards/wife's shopping needs/etc. - fancy wheels can end up pretty far down the list.
That all being said, last year I did spring for some nice wheels for my GTI-DD. I chose some mid-grade cast products from Enkei - a manufacturer with a good reputation. Nothing wild...stock diameter, 0.5" wider, similar off-set wheels. I did get T.R. to add some last gen Pilot AS3+ tires. This netted me a handsome set-up that was (barely) affordable but really transformed my VW from fun to drive daily to REALLY fun to drive daily. And, (so far) the Enkei's seem to be holding up just fine out on the streets. I'm very pleased...and, really, that's all that counts in the end.
Not gonna lie, most of the reason I bought my corvette was because of the wheels that were on it.
^ VERY NICE!
I agree that wheels can change the looks of a car immensely. My Mustang GT got some 20" wheels that were modern versions of the classic Torq Thrusts seen on so many muscle cars.
before and after:
And my Volt with 20" Forged TSWs...
Back in the early '90s, on my RX7 autocross car I only was concerned with size and offsets, so I got the cheapest aftermarket wheels that provided those specs. If I were to do it again, I'd get something like 17" versions of what I put on the Mustang to match the style of the car.
Re. the Volt, Mustang and C5: Yes, amazing how wheels can totally transform things.
In reply to Spoolpigeon :
Very nice C5. I've nearly done the same thing...
I once got a set of TR7 steel spoke wheels for my Mk4 Spitfire for $10 each! They had been recalled because the hub was welded to the rim with an uncertified welding process. Rather than x-ray them, Triumph recalled them and replaced them with the standard wheel (same width). One of my friends in the Delta Region SCCA tipped me off and I got a set before they were shipped back to England (I made a $40 contribution to their Christmas party fund!). The bolt pattern matched and I had no problems with them.
In reply to jerel77494 :
Many years ago, we might have visited a car company that had issued a wheel recall. They had a chain link cage full of wheels, each one with a hole drilled through the rim.
"Wheels that make you happy"... and are appropriate for their use. I put some real race wheels on a street car and both potholes and tire shops showed that they weren't up to the assigned role.
In reply to wspohn :my best friend had an 84 colt turbo with Ronal 15x8s on it with 205/50 comp ta/r rubber. That thing was brutally quick on back roads omg use to auto x it with brr scca. It was white.
In reply to wspohn :my best friend had an 84 colt turbo with Ronal 15x8s on it with 205/50 comp ta/r rubber. That thing was brutally quick on back roads omg use to auto x it with brr scca. It was white.
In reply to z31maniac :
somewhere in the realm of 250 000$ to 500 000$ for the car as Forgelines are usually run on GT4's and GT3's race cars.
These wheels fit the standard spline for British cars (except the larger Jag splines) and are magnesium, 7" wide and very light. Plus you get three eared knock offs and can pretend that you are Ben Hur rounding the turn at the Circus Maximus. They'd look pretty cool on an Aston Martin or Austin Healey.
Only downside is the cost - https://www.ebay.ca/itm/154629833802?hash=item2400a8044a:g:~20AAOSwEvZgDYDM&vxp=mtr
and that doesn't include knock off spinners.
The coolest thing to ever happen to old, vintage, classic wheels is Love20Bee His work is total wheel porn
In reply to amg_rx7 (Forum Supporter) :
Yes to that. Some very, very cool stuff.
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