does upgrading the wheels on a 350z not seem to do a whole lot for the car?

In other words, the car is so hot already, IMO, that unlike many other cars, rather then improving the looks of the car, changing wheels just customizes it.

 

Throw a body kit on OEM wheels and you will see. OEM wheels look okay but they arn't wide enough.

 

Hmm, don't remember seeing stock wheels with body kit.

 

I think rims do a lot for looks beyond simple customization.

check out cloudy's car before wheels
https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-tires/133335-trying-to-decide-wheels-for-my-car.html


and after wheels
https://my350z.com/forum/media-share/136039-finally-doluck-kit-and-wheels.html

IMO the wheels set off the body kit, and contribute to the overall appearance of the car. They definitely *do* give the car a custom look, but they do WAY more than just "customize" the apperance. The rims complement the body kit and vice versa.

 

Heres a thread with a body kit on stock wheels then aftermarket wheels. You be the judge!

https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-tires/136464-got-some-rims.html

 

I agree it looks better once a body kit is put on. However, I am talking about stock 350z, no body kit. Sorry, didn't realize the difference before I made the post.

 

I actually think the opposite is true. The transformation is amazing with some wide wheels, fat lip, and aggressive offset. It totally changes the whole look of the car for the better.

 

I think it does tons, though I have a kit as well (so ther before and after is a bit skewed). From what I've seen, sans the ugly wheels that people sometimes choose, the wheels totally transform the car in some cases.

 

That is why I put the option that the wheels make it look worse. I have seen some people with poor taste choose some wheels that are worse then stock.

 

looks better for sure. The wheels are tucked way in at the rear, plus the 18" wheels look exactly like maxima rims :\

 

Rims are a must on any car imo...

 

only thing I didn't like on the Z are the stock wheels

 

No way can I agree with this.

I even had the track wheels ... supposedly the awesome stock wheels. Although they were light ... the offsets were way off and it made the car look like the fenders overhung the wheels .. just not right in my eyes.

I think the addition of the wheels here made the fenders look wider and the car look MUCH more agressive. Plus, the mesh wheel gave it a classier look in my opinion.

see for yourself

 

Good rims can add performance, looks,and much needed grip. They are expensive but well worth it imo.

 

our wheel wells are too big for the stockers.

 

makes it look better for sure.

 

IMO wheels can make or break your Z as far as appearance is concerned.

 

Of course. Custom paint jobs can make a car look better, however if you paint it hot pink with purple polkadots, then it's going to look like donkey no matter what.

Let's put it this way, the best looking Z's I have ever seen haven't been stock Z's. Nothing wrong with stock, I think the car looks great overall (or else I wouldn't have bought one, heh), just that adding even a small front lip and wheels completely takes things to the next level (most often, as you said, poor choice in anything ruins it).

Of course, whether something looks better or worse is completely subjective. If you like the stock look, then good news is that you saved yourself thousands of dollars in new rims and tires. Bad news is that it won't be the hottest Z out there, but it will still look good.

Before I modified my car, it was... stock. People used to say, "I like my car." Now they say, "I really like your car." -and after I thank them, they often add on another, "Really like it!" Multiple people who seem to have an interest in the Z and have checked them out, have said that it's the best Z they've seen. People have practically jumped in front of me when I've been out driving to flag me down and ask about it. People stare at it as it drives by. They ask about it at stop lights.

Now, as I said, it used to be stock and people liked it then. I didn't do the mods for anyone else but me. There were things I didn't like about the car, so I changed them. For me. That's all.

Wheels or no wheels, kit or no kit, stock or modified, make yourself happy, even if that means putting on ugly rims that no one else likes. So what? Knowhuddamean?

 

Again, my point is, that just changing out the wheels, without putting on body kit parts, does not seem to do a lot for the car, IMO. I just wanted to see what others think.

Now, as others have mentioned, if you put on a body kit, then yes, I think putting different wheels on can make a huge difference.

 

Yeah, I understand your point (not that slow), however mostly everyone else seems to feel changing rims does a lot for a car (any car). Who is right? No one. I guess you just felt like sharing your views, nothing wrong with that.

On an unrelated related note, I changed the seats and feel it has transformed the interior. You might disagree.