My vote is 17".... make them light, wide, properly offset, 3-lugs, and non-bling-blingy. I understand that a forged wheel is better and costs more, but $200/wheel is (beyond) pushing it price wise... especially when you can buy cast AMG 19" Replicas for your C,E, or S class for $799 for the set. Those (found on Ebay) manufacturers will be right behind you with cast 17" Smart wheels for $499/set.
I have bought these replica wheels before for my MBenzs and Porsches and they are good quality. If a forged wheel can provide significant weight reduction, and still looks great... I would spend a little more for it.
Bill
a "custom" 17" wheel for $200? i think we all might be dreaming, that's not gonna happen. i've purchased several sets of aftermarket wheels and have always found that you get what you pay for. sure you can buy a wheel for $150, but i have always found those to be the ones you continually take back to the shop to get re-balanced and finally give up and just accept the fact that it's gonna have some front end shake. the Lorinser wheels that some people are using are available in Europe for around $1600 just for the wheels (no VAT for export to US). shipping from the UK is another $400, so that's $2k just for the wheels. i would have ordered those wheels if they were directional, but they are not so the wheel looks different from the left side of the car compared to the right. usually for that type of $, the wheels have right and left specifics. i'll wait for some other options and will probably go with 16's anyway just to save some level of ride quality.
I currently have measurements in to a wheel company to see if they will drill out some blanks for me at a decent rate. Got in directly to the manufacturer through my auto connections. I should no early next week what I am looking at.
here's a link that Flying Tiger sent to me a few days ago of the wheels he will be selling in the next few weeks. i would not suggest requesting pricing or any other info from them just yet as it appears that they don't have the info yet. i kept asking for specifics and kept being told to check the website (that says to contact them for pricing) hahahaha.
In my gallery is a photo of a Compomotion RL Silver 17x7 that I am seriously considering from Performance Alloys in England... This is the look I seek ...they are in the $345 per corner range (no shipping estimate yet but it will be expensive)
This company will make custom rims in a three piece set up for $2000 and up but I hate the millions of bolt heads to clean
So the verdict is, there are wheels out there but very expensive.
true. until there becomes a demand in the US, they will still be a bit hard to get. and with the devaluation of the dollar, we get killed on anything we buy in Europe. we will be better off waiting for something to arrive from Asia. i'm going to Taipei in a month and plan to see if i can find anything there. but anybody who has been to Taiwan knows what a tough task finding anything can be since the city is so convoluted and confusing.
a "custom" 17" wheel for $200? i think we all might be dreaming, that's not gonna happen. i've purchased several sets of aftermarket wheels and have always found that you get what you pay for. sure you can buy a wheel for $150, but i have always found those to be the ones you continually take back to the shop to get re-balanced and finally give up and just accept the fact that it's gonna have some front end shake.
Then you said:
"we will be better off waiting for something to arrive from Asia. i'm going to Taipei in a month and plan to see if i can find anything there"
So we agree.... somebody needs to make a QUALITY wheel for a GOOD price. Vonhep asked for input, and I believe he is getting just that. I support the made in USA idea, and I appreciate the benefits of a forged wheel..... if he can make 'em at a good price I'd buy 'em if they look good.
I agree...if what I seek can be sourced in the USA. I would be in the mood to pay a fair price.... but not interested in being screwed just to buy USA..... I do not have a problem with a global economy
But on the other hand I will step up and support a American entrepreneur if I think they are serious about good quality and fair price..
some people dont want bling, well I do. I want a full face chrome wheel where u can't see any lug nuts. I won't spend more than 150 per wheel. I spent good Money on 24s for my escalade but people won't pay alot for tiny 17s. There will be plenty to select from in due time I suspect.
I would personally want to get a 15" rim so I don't have to worry about bending them on every pot hole on the highway. Considering that the current tire is only 155-55-15 and 175-50-15, neither of these has much in the way of padding between the road and the rim. If you were to go to a 17" rim, you would have to drop that sidewall to a 35 or 40 profile which would leev you with a hole in your pocket every time you went to buy W rate tires(cause that's al you would probably find out there).
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