Spike100

This is something I've wondered about for awhile (after reading many threads here). I realize this is a topic that may be a hot-button for some, but I'm wondering what readers think about buying expensive wheels. I realize that some want aftermarket wheels (for whatever reason... and there's nothing wrong with this), but I'm curious if the majority of members keep their stock wheels. I suppose this could be a poll-type thread, but I'm looking more for comments.

My question: Why install aftermarket wheels?

(1) Is it simply esthetics (not that there is anything wrong with that )?

(2) Or, is it to get better performance or some other advantage?

(3) And, is it worth it? ...I read so many threads about expensive aftermarket wheels getting scraped and how this tortures the owner.

--Spike
______________
Just practicing... OOh, Ouch, Eeeh

DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

1) Yes, it's aesthetics. Think about it, isn't that the reason for 50% of all mods?
2) Yes, it can be for performance but not necessarily. Again, isn't that the reason for the other 50% of all mods?
3) Yes, it worth it. Hell, I had my OEM wheels scraped and that tortured me. Most of us are tortured when anything happens to our cars, be it aftermarket wheels or a simple door ding. When you spend hard-earned money for something, you hate to see it destroyed.

The Brickyard Rat

iTrader: (1)

I've never "got it" on why people trade out stock rims.

Personally, I don't think I've ever seen a set that looks better than OEM rims.

I guess people just want to "customize" their car and wheels is easy way.

Not knocking anyone; only stating an opinion. To each their own on sports cars.

Andres30o0

Modding is not for everyone.

Lawn Dart

iTrader: (4)

I would say that 90% of the people on this forum choose wheels for looks.

Andres30o0

Regardless of why you do it, performance wheels and tires are among the most significant mods you can do. Try on a set of lighter, wider wheels with some nice sticky rubber and feel the different. Doesn't mean you have to blow 4K on your set though. To each their own.

Spike100

That is exactly my opinion. But... maybe you and I are just getting a little old and not connecting with the younger members here? Generation gap? ...(a term we haven't heard for awhile)

--Spike

Motero

iTrader: (1)

It makes the car look much, well most of the time!

rock350z

getting old? 41 yo here and first thing I did was put on some nice fat 285 BFG's and (heavy)Ruff rims. Looks great! Everybody has positive comments on the set up

Bumpinjeep

iTrader: (3)

Wheel set the car apart from all of the other Zs. In most cases it makes the car look totally different. I went with Ce28N Time Attacks because they 1) look amazing and 2) perform a lot better that the stockers, they are wider weigh 16lbs in the front and 18 in the rear. Granted wheels and tires are gonna run like 4K but hey, i figure you pay to play. Sure i could have just left the stock 18s on and called it a day, but how boring.

Spike100

Very true. I scraped my stock Nissan front-passenger rim (2003 Performance model), and it really bothered me... so much that I had it fixed when doing the first change on my front tires. The nice thing was the repair was inexpensive (< $125) for the stock wheel.

Scraping a $700 aftermarket wheel would have been a lot more painful. I just came-off a thread where the OP spent $700+ to resolve a scrape on an aftermarket wheel. It got worse since the aftermarket wheel was not easily repairable, and it was out of production. His choice was installing two new front wheels (and it could have been 4 new wheels except that it was only an offset difference). That is ugly. I'm thinking that my stock wheels look pretty good.

--Spike

zand02max

iTrader: (22)

+1, + the rear end looks much meaner with the 275's!

Spike100

^^ I agree. 275's look really good on the Z.... so much that I was considering a set of 18" Nismo's and 245/40-18 fronts and 275/40-18 rears. But, then I was at an event where several people commented how cool my wheels and tires looked (I have the stock 18x8" wheels with 245's square all-around). That made me believe that only about 1% of the population appreciates the wider/staggered stance (as to esthetics).

Don't it beat Hell how people spend money they don't got, to buy stuff they don't want, to impress people they don't like.

--Spike

davidv

iTrader: (2)

You failed to define expensive.

Generally, a lighter wheel will provide better performance. You will find plenty of performance set-ups in the racing forum. Those wheels may be dedicated racing wheels.

chriskabobbers

iTrader: (13)

with the volks, the forged wheels are very tough, very hard to damage them be it if you hit a pothole or what not (not saying they can't crack but it's hard to do so), and with sticky tires, you have a better chance of staying straight than losing control and going sideways, most of the stories you hear are from people saying "spun out tonight, what tires should i get", and 90% of the time, they are on the stop Z tires (potenzas)

mr. sparco

iTrader: (13)

Wheels make the car.

BornSlippyZ

iTrader: (1)

I have to admit 350Zs look gorgeous with a nice set of wheels, My Z is lowered on the stock 17's and the car is just begging for a set of nice wheels. Albeit my better half says the car needs nothing LOL!: Oh well.

Spike100

You're right. "Expensive" was a paradigm meant to describe a range where most people install aftermarket wheels. "Expensive" will not have the same meaning for different people. For our purposes, lets say this is around $3k (plus or minus a few hundred $'s). Is that reasonable (I'm not sure)?

In the racing forum, I notice most go with 17" or 18" wheels. Again I'm not certain. From what I read here, the serious racers don't seem very concerned with esthetics and concentrate on performance.

--Spike

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Correct. Racing is about performance, reliability, and ease of removal and installation.

90 percent of the wheel-tire combinations that you see hear are about looks.

alving

I'm totally in this camp, also add in stance. These 2 set apart "plain jane" from "cool"

When I got my Z I knew right away that I wanted to ditch the stock '06 wheels and put CE28Ns on. Stock '06 rims look great imho as well.

If I see a 350Z/G on the road and it's rockin stock rims I think, "Cool, another Nissan owner", and move on.
If it's got some attractive aftermarket rims then I look twice.

-To answer the OP, yes I did it for looks!