bkacher17

Hi everyone,

New to the forum so maybe you can help. I have been through the process before, hit a couple potholes and bent a couple rims a few years back. Instead of checking with Acurazine went out and bought OEM replacement style wheels from OE Wheels LLC. Looked good but when I had them installed two different dealerships said that they had to add a lot of counterbalance to make rims work. 2 years later I am still not satisfied as I have a definite shimmy above 70mph!!!

I would like to stick with 17 inch X 8 inch size, 45 mm offset per factory specs. I would ideally like maintain a similar pattern as the 5 double spoke design of the original. Since I have been burnt on replica ones I am hesitant to buy replica or refurbished rims, and I imagined new factory OEM would be in the $250+ range.

What quality brands/model wheels would you recommend that you know are consistently in balance and I could probably pick up for a budget of $125-$175 per wheel. My brother has had ENKEI's for years with no issues.. can you confirm their quality or any other recommendations or sites to purchase from.

Sorry for the lengthy post.. Your feedback is appreciated!!!

Kind Regards,

Bret

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

I have always had great luck with Enkei wheels; that said, from what I can see their offerings in the 17x8 size which fits our cars are pretty limited and not exactly inexpensive. For the cost of new aftermarket wheels (or less for that matter) you should be able to buy reconditioned factory wheels.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

also to note; MOST factory wheels are Enkei! the Acura wheels are def. Enkei

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, that's good to know.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

very popular Enkei wheel... the RPF1's!!



these are popular because of how light in weight they are. and also match or look similar to the 07-08 base TL wheels.


http://enkei.com/shop/racing/rpf1/

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

I'm fond of how the Enkei PF01s look on the Gen 3 TLs.

• https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Whee...d+Transmission

bkacher17

Thanks for both of your quick responses, I really appreciate it. I like the RPF1's. I am familiar with them as those are the same ones my brother has had for years with no issues. I was hoping I would not have to spend $250 per wheel. But that wheel will be my default unless anyone else on the forum can recommend another that they have had long term success with in the $125-$175 range.

BROlando

For a quality 17" wheel for cheap....Rota or Konig may be your best bet. You should be able to get a 17X8 +45 set for under $1K. They might even have something within your $125-150/ea budget.

You could buy wheels from Acura...but you're looking at $1200 or so for TL-S waffles (shipped). I don't know if base model wheels are cheaper. The waffles are certainly more attractive.

Enkei is a great option on a reasonable budget. RPF1's are often not big brake friendly. But if you have an automatic base model (non brembo), you'll be fine.

The non-roll forged Enkeis are dirt cheap...and they're built well. Even the roll forged versions are cheap (something like $200ish per wheel for RPF1's). I guess that's what huge volumes and OEM partnerships will do.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Per TireRack.com, the PF01s will fit over the Brembos on my 2006 TL 6MT.

BROlando

PF01's are shaped differently than RPF1's.

The spoke design on PF01's often will accomodate larger brakes.

I am not a fan of the PF01 in terms of looks. but looks are subjective.

bkacher17

Thanks Brolando... I will check out Rota and Konig as well. If you guys think that Enkei's are the safest bet I may have to go for those.

I just have base, non brembo TL (unfortunately)..so I think most of the 17" options should fit. What to you know about Enkei tuning series.. I see they are going for $195 per wheel on tire rack. Do you believe that series quality to still be good enough for daily driving... 25,000 miles a year.. 7 days a week? That would be probably $850 with shipping.... $400 cheaper than factor replacements at $1,200.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Enkei wheels of any stripe will be more than a match for any amount of driving you happen to be doing. Errr, that is unless you're doing a lot of off-roading or deliberately trying to hit every pot-hole you can find.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Agreed, subjective to be sure; to my eye at least, I prefer the PF01s.

bkacher17

All right. Thanks everyone.

Well like my wife said..... I guess I need to stop being cheap and ante up the $$$ to get something that is decent so I don't have balance/tire wear issues. From your feedback and looking around, it seems pretty consistent that Enkei's are well thought of by everyone. I will need to look at one that appeals to me and maybe stay in the Enkei tuning category and $195 price point. Well.. I better save my pennies.

Thanks again everyone.

Rob Daddy

I am selling a set of new Enkei EKM3 in 18s in the Black Market section for $500. They have never been used.

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

You did not just say that.

OP: My recommendation is to buy factory refurbs from someplace like Detroit Wheel and Tire.

BROlando

Lol...I'm not saying Rotas are high grade wheel. But in the budget of $125-150....they're one of the brands that stand out as being better.

They won't fall apart or be taxed to their limit for a normal street driven car. They balance well, go through a good quality process, the finish is decent, etc.

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

Your experience is certainly better than mine. I'll literally walk before Rota's go on any car I own. But I'm glad you've had good luck with them.

Truthfully though, the moment the OP said " hit a couple potholes and bent a couple rims a few years back", all cheap after-market wheels were off the table. I think that, if you are good to your cheap wheels, if you buy decent size tires, don't hit any curbs, or potholes, then maybe you could be ok. I myself run a set of Miro's on my TL, and a set of uber-cheap XXR's on my Lotus (for photography only), and I think they'll be fine. But sometimes that stuff is out of your hands, like with bad roads. For this reason I absolutely recommend good refurbs to the OP, as long as they weren't bent, just refinished. No way to do better than that, and they aren't very expensive.

BROlando

I haven't used Rotas for years because of my own vain reasoning. I never had one bend from pretty sizeable potholes, back when I would use them for daily driven cars. I found them to be significantly lighter and of better finish quality than XXR.

I kinda observe that they'll break on a race track sooner rather than later...but smart people use them as disposable track wheels (inspect often...toss out when questionable). But...street driving really doesn't demand that much from a wheel.

Idk. A lot of people (including me) kinda consider them the Rolls Royce of knockoff wheels lol.

I agree that a genuine OEM wheel is a fine idea, though, if you're fine with some extra weight. I don't think that a Rota would bend more easily than a stock wheel, however.

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

You are incorrect in your thinking. But you're welcome to prove me wrong by posting more pictures of failed OEM wheels than failed Rota wheels. Good luck with that, BTW, hope you're Irish.

And the style of wheel certainly makes a major difference. For a forged wheel, small spokes are most often fine (but not always), but for these cheap cast wheels, choose the thick spoke design.

If, heaven forbid, you must choose Rota wheels, choose the Slipstream.

bkacher17

Thanks everyone,

Got OK from the wife and she said stop being cheap.. So I think I will look at the Enkei Tuning line around $195 that should be decent. That is still probably cheaper than OEM new, and I think I want to stay away from refurbished. Enkei's for $40 more than refurbished per wheel...? I may go that route.

Thanks again. Will keep you posted.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Which wheels are on your car at the moment?

sockr1

iTrader: (5)

renew your vows and lock that one in. rare when a wife says that about car stuff...