Entry Level/Mid Range Winter Rims

[riander5]

In response to Mistu (quote didnt work?)

Steelies and hubcaps on a brand new lexus is350

I get the logic in general terms, but would you really put that one a new 60-70k car and look like a doofus to save 300 bucks

[nzwasp]

Also worthy of mention that after awhile those steel rims are going to rust and then they will really look shit.

Looked up costco wheels to see if they had any options for me. Nope only steel rims.

[The_Rural_Juror]

I saw a white Model 3 on steelies outside of Earl's Tin Palace last year.

[ExtraSlow]

I think @tirebob has some pretty reasonably priced rims that look decent.

[The_Rural_Juror]

My question is. What's the advantage of buying a more expensive TSW/Niche vs a Replika/Fast?

[ThePenIsMightier]

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My question is. What's the advantage of buying a more expensive TSW/Niche vs a Replika/Fast?

There will generally be more appealing styling options and more "modern" styles. Also much more likely to be lighter and better fabrication.
My stock Lexus wheels are so fucking heavy I think they must be lead or depleted uranium. The Enkei I bought for summers are several pounds lighter, each.

[dj_rice]

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My question is. What's the advantage of buying a more expensive TSW/Niche vs a Replika/Fast?

I'd say wheel designs/styles. Most of the Replika/Fast winter wheels are pretty plain/boring. And people running TSW/Niche for winter got money to burn. Some people run those wheels for summer setups.

[The_Rural_Juror]

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And people running TSW/Niche for winter got money to burn.

I am concerned about structural integrity in case I have a meeting with the Sage Hill Rock or its cousins.

Are you saying that one could potentially pick up more than 6 women in a Honda Fit if one had TSW/Niche wheels?

[Lex350]

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I am concerned about structural integrity in case I have a meeting with the Sage Hill Rock or its cousins.

Are you saying that one could potentially pick up more than 6 women in a Honda Fit if one had TSW/Niche wheels?

I bent one of my Niche rims on a pothole on Country Hill Blvd a few months back. Took it to a place to fix it. When they got the tire off it had a 9" crack down the centre....basically a throw away at that point.

[90_Shelby]

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I am concerned about structural integrity in case I have a meeting with the Sage Hill Rock or its cousins.

Are you saying that one could potentially pick up more than 6 women in a Honda Fit if one had TSW/Niche wheels?

I have Niche rims for my wagon which is rarely driven in the winter and I found one of the lips was bent after installing the rims last winter. It has since been repaired but my OEM rims have never been damaged structurally and they see the most miles.

Personally, I would stick with OEM rims if given the opportunity as they are typically better quality or simply take more abuse then a lot of aftermarket options.

[chongkee_]

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I have Niche rims for my wagon which is rarely driven in the winter and I found one of the lips was bent after installing the rims last winter. It has since been repaired but my OEM rims have never been damaged structurally and they see the most miles.

Personally, I would stick with OEM rims if given the opportunity as they are typically better quality or simply take more abuse then a lot of aftermarket options.

Where did you get it repaired and what was the cost?

[tirebob]

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I am concerned about structural integrity in case I have a meeting with the Sage Hill Rock or its cousins.

Are you saying that one could potentially pick up more than 6 women in a Honda Fit if one had TSW/Niche wheels?

Really it is more about production methods more than brand. Just like anything, you pay more for the brand recognition even within items produced by the same methods. In short, the cheapest is gravity pour casting, then moving up to low pressure castings then moving up to flowform/rotary forged (same thing different name) then full forged.

Now all this said, IDGAF if your wheel is forged or cast.... You drive something weighing multiple thousands of pounds at speeds and if you hit a hard edge hard enough to compress the tire far enough drive the lip into the obstacle, you are going to hurt something. We fix shit tons of forged wheel lips that are bent as well as cast wheels, not matter what anyone tries to tell you. I am not saying a premium build will not have a better chance at surviving catastrophic failure under specific conditions, but impacts fuck shit up and you have to expect that.

Surprising maybe to many, but the wheels I have had the most success with as durable winter options that are cheaper and cheerful are the RTX line and the DAI line. Fast as well are seeming decent enough. I have sold literally 10's of thousands of these wheels over the years and they have no more issues than any OEM rims I have ever used in regards to bends and breaks on bumps. Besides, if you hit something so hard that you fuck it up, it is nice to know a replacement might be the close to the same cost as a repair would be.

That said, I am happy to take as much money as somebody wants to spend on a set of wheels that makes them happy or feel better about what they like. I just try and approach things for the client how I would do it myself.

[benyl]

I am hoping that most people know that the production method is related more to weight than strength.

Flow Formed Fast wheels seem to hit the cost vs weight vs style vs value proposition pretty good. Canadian company to boot.

[The_Rural_Juror]

We could be twinsies. Also impressed they opened up the entire shop just for you.

[tirebob]

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I am hoping that most people know that the production method is related more to weight than strength.

Flow Formed Fast wheels seem to hit the cost vs weight vs style vs value proposition pretty good. Canadian company to boot.

Truth... Yes it is stronger with the better methods but most companies use them to reduce the amount of metal used in the wheels while retaining strength rather than just a beefier wheel.