Hey all I was looking through different types of wheels. I looked at a lot of the lower priced ones on wheelmax and wheelguyz and other websites and I gotta say they all are dissappointing. I mean sure they look like more expensive wheels, buts lets face it in the end, they're still just knock offs. A lot of the high quality wheels are priced high for a reason. Quality and reliability are what really sells a wheel. The most expensive wheels can command a higher price because of exclusivity. I'm at business school in south florida majoring in Automotive Aftermarket and Management and this has been a hot debate in my Aftermarket classes. So I figured I'd bring it up to car owners I can trust (Hell I own a Cobalt too! lol) I've talked to some execs at famous wheel companies about this. Work Wheels, RAYS, Racing Hart, and American Racing. They all say the same thing knock offs are cheap for a reason.

So the question I'm bringing up is, Is it better to settle and buy cheap wheels now or wait and save up more and get higher quality wheels that will last longer and get your ride more credibility when it comes time to blow the doors off that Mustang or S2000 next to you.

I just want some feedback because when I graduate Im gonna be working for one of the Big 3 (hopefully GM) and I want to know what you guys think because I will be making stuff for you,lol Thanks everyone!

-Stealth06LT

 

Personally I like brands that I know and trust, or at least heard of. I don't try and skimp for the off brand, I save for the good stuff, unless I find out that they are really the same (ie the Banks tuner box is actually made by another company, and they sell the same thing for less than banks.)

 

I always buy the highest quality when it comes to my car.... If you buy cheap... you get cheap.. and a lot of times itll lead to disappointment.

 

I bought some cheap wheels of wheelmax, I just hated the little wheels on the cobalt. I agree if I had a performance car I would have bought performance wheels because you do get what you pay for.......... Check out my cardomain, within a week I bent a rim in a pothole....like butter... If the tire would have lost pressure I would have rolled it about 6 times in a cornfield... after I saw the bend thats all that kept going trough my head.

 

 

everything i get for my car is of the highest quality. my rims alone are worth well over $600 a piece and for a reason. 18x7.5 and under 15's and stronger than most wheels out there. a buddy of mine had some rota's that looked identical to mine and he always bragged about how stupid i am for buying the real deal when his look identical and people believe they are the real deal. he even put volk racing decals on the wheels and got the center caps. well he went to an auto-x track and 3 of his spokes off one wheel broke clean off. so yeah, i'm sticking to brand names.

 

Low price doesn't always mean low quality depending on the company and method of production.

Centerline for example, You can get a set of 18X7s for about $640. Sure its awful cheap for performance rims but they're 1-piece rotary forged from an aluminum billet. That means they're as strong as or stronger than many cast wheels because of the material and process used.

 

ahhh the old saying YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

 

'nuff said

 

I love that there is a random bottle of stolli in my picture...lol........ thats freaking great.... really guys I'm not an alchi.....really

 

someone cheaping out on a car? that's unheard of!

In reality though, if you cheap yourself and your car you get **** on later.

 

im glad to see people agree,lol because im tired of people whining how theyre $299 set of ebay wheels are bending. I can't wait to shell out $310 a piece for my Work wheels because I know they're one of the best wheel companies out there. Sure I'm in college and it may take me another year to buy them but at least I know they're not crappy.

 

are the work wheels for the cobalt? didn't know they fit. if they do then that's awesome. work wheels is one of the top companies.

 

he has the 4 lug it looks like. oh and by the way are motegis good wheels????

 

aren't Work wheels for most RWD vehicles and come in crazy sizes like 19x10 and like a 25mm offset?

Anyway, I've went knockoff twice now and I haven't been screwed...although I like to get peoples opinions and experiences before I purchase.

My Rotas have been good to me...I would buy them again because not all styles of wheels they make are knockoffs and the general customer is happy with them. Plus they're fairly lightweight for the price...

And my Tsudo exhaust took some work to get it where I wanted it (stupid 4.5" tip) but overall quality was the same as the $500 TR&D exhaust.

I guess I'm planning on going cheap again with the Pacesetter header and one of the $40 ebay strut bars made by a RL owner. If it can do its job I'm not going to rule it out because I didn't spend absurd amounts of money for it...

That, and I'm broke

 

Nope I called Work Wheels in California and spoke to a sales rep. They make a 18x7.5 wheel in 4 lug configuration and they said they are coming out with a lot of new wheels that can fit our cars. Work wheels are amazing and of the best quality. I can't wait to get a set.

 

Does anyone know anything about the OZ Ultraleggera(spelling)? I agree with buying a good quality product but just because it costs more doesn't make it better. A 06' Z06 will spank cars that cost many times is price, just because it costs less doesn't make the quality or performance inferior.

 

I know they're very light and look amazing. They're about 25 bucks less than the Work Emotions I want. They weigh only 16.8 lbs which is nuts for an 18" wheel.

Heres the address if any of you guys wanna see them:

http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/Call...pecial=Pricing