loomeye

Hi, first post. First time / Long time.

So lucky me:
Yesterday, a not-at-fault fender bender trashed all four OEM wheels on my 05 TL 6MT. Free wheels make me happy.

Anyway, I can get four new OEM wheels or spend the $189 per wheel toward something else. I've always love the look of the stock wheels, but a change would be nice. The car is NH Black with 15% tint. All stock.

Any advice, opinions, ideas, pics, links to pics all welcome! Budget is $250/wheel.

So far any the best I can come up with are TSW Vairano's.
Link to close up.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

stick with stock wheels over those.

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

Yea the stock wheels look better than those.

But with that being said, there are still other wheels you get for under $200 a wheel. Look at the Enkei Performance line, as they have a nice lineup of wheels. And even the same company you posted, TSW, has some other nice wheels that are in your price range. With a little searching, I'm sure you can find a nice set of wheels.

For example:



These are the Enkei EKM3's. They cost $186 each on tirerack. They are 18x8 +40, which is nice and classy fitment. These look awesome on the TL. There's a member that has it on his TL and it looks great. This is just an example of the good looking wheels that can be had for the price you stated.

loomeye

Thanks for the replies guys. I actually want to stay with 17's because the roads I drive on daily are bumpy as hell from the freeze / thaw we get in Wisconsin. I don't think my messed up back could take less rubber on the wheels.

In any event, I do like Enkei wheels (that's who cast the stockies). I've always liked the simple look of a 5-spoke, but the split spoke could work too.

How is Enkei vs. TSW? Because the TSW Snettertons are very similar to those Enkei EKM3 shown above.

jwr0ng626

iTrader: (1)

both are good company that make decent wheels. You cant go wrong with either brand

Toddy

iTrader: (5)

Theres a set of Privat Netz on ebay for 750 right now

loomeye

^Never heard of Privat. Decent Wheels?

I'll probably skip buying wheels on Ebay though; I had a horrible experience once that makes me rather spend extra for new wheels than risk getting stuck with the 4 bent wheels I had on my '00 GS-R.

jwr0ng626

iTrader: (1)

^By Konig I believe

My gf has a set of konig on her car for like 6-7 yrs with no problems (but she doesn't drive hard at all)

ASASN21

Umm... how did a "fender bender" trash all four wheels?

loomeye

I was in the right lane to get on the freeway and the 3 little old ladies in a Pontiac Vibe in the lane to my left decided to merge right into me. Their right wheels ground into my left wheels and my right wheels ground into the curb. Not enough to bang up the suspension; just enough to scuff the hell out of them.

Other than trashed wheels, it will be all new paint on the entire left side of the car along with a new mirror assembly. Estimate is $3600, so I guess "fender bender" may not be an entirely accurate descriptor.

Toddy

iTrader: (5)

Alot forum members have had em. They are decent wheels. The ones on ebay are new.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/19-20...item588f64077c

csmeance

privat nets are a nice wheel that a few members have had in the past! Just note that any rim with a lip will look much smaller on the car! Only get 19" wheels with a lip on our cars! Otherwise stick with wheels without a lip or little to no lip like the enkei's.

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

just so you know those tsw snettertons will look nothing like that pic you posted. the lip will be nowhere near that big unless you go with a crazy aggressive fitment. i have the enkei ekm3 and they come in 17 and 18" and i love them. heres a pic so you can get an idea of what they look like

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

Enkei has several models below $200/rim....i think xxr is a good option too....

Try tirerack...check the BM (BlackMarket) you might be able to snatch up a deal for yourself....

loomeye

Car looks sweet with those Enkeis.

Thanks for the heads up. The Snettertons are available in a +40 or +20 offset, so I was under the assumption that the +20 would have at least a little bit of a lip.(?)

It seems that I am quite limited by staying with 17" because of the Brembo calipers. I can see that by selecting a slushbox in Tirerack's or DTD's configurator allows WAY more options in a 17" wheel.

The Snetterton 17" +20's are a sure fit. I don't think ekm3's are unless I go with 18's. I definitely want to stay with 17's. I prefer the taller sidewall for ride quality on the roads I have to drive on, plus I don't have a spare $600 to buy a set of tires right now.

Thanks everyone for all of the help. This forum is the shiz.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Also take a look at RonJon's.

john_wrap

as mentioned tsw has some decent priced wheels. i think the tsw nurburgring's are nice wheels. however i think those are rotary forged so they might be a bit above some other wheels mentioned...but i don't think they're too $$$. they might at least be worth taking a look at.

also, check out HRE...they make some affordable wheels

KzooTL

If you going to stick with 17's, i would stay away from those rims with lips..don't think it will look good.

With 17's i would be looking for lightweight rims for performance reasons. 15lbs a rim vs the 24+?lb stock rim. No brainer

jhumbo

iTrader: (1)

I've been browsing wheels for a while and I honestly don't like very many 17" aftermarkets on our TLs. If you really are going to stick with 17", then I personally would stay with the stock wheels. If you go up to 18" or 19" there are some better options.

Steven Bell's suggestion to go with RonJon is a good one except that most RonJon options are 18" or 19".

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

i'd say sell the 17" tires and step up to 18's. would look much better imo and you can still go with a decent size tire. im running 235/40/18 and im lowered. ive had my enkeis six months and still not a mark on them