Calling all wheel whores

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Alright, I was going to keep this a little under wraps, but I'm looking to get some 3pc wheels custom made. Well I guess I should say I'm looking to get the center piece custom made, and the wheel drums will be the ones everyone uses...supposedly. I've talked to two different companies that will make some custom centers for me, but they will only make them for flat lip wheels. I'd like to get step lip. So basically with a step lip, the center will be 17" for an 18" wheel, but for a flat lip the center for an 18" wheel will still be 18". I'm looking to get 18" wheels but I want a step lip, but they say they can't make 17" center pieces. A buddy at ISS Forged is doing up a design for me right now, but it's with a flat lip. I was wondering if any of you knew of a company that could make a 17" center. I actually found a design really similar made by a company in the UK, but it's cast and I'm looking for forged or at the very least billet, and it would STILL cost over $2k even though it's cast.

I've talked to CCW and they said it would be about $8-10k to do a custom center...um, no. Chips Motorsports said it would be $2800 just for the centers and it would still be another $1400 for the barrels, which is better than $8-10k but still not great since he still can't do a step lip. ISS said it would be...well, much cheaper haha, I'm not sure he'd want me to say since he's giving me a huge discount. He even said he'd hand deliver them and bring his NSX on a trailer to do a photo shoot. He used to have a really tricked out FD but sold that and got the NSX, and now he's doing another FD lol.

I'm still going to keep my AMEs, but I'd like for these to be the everything-wheels, meaning I want to be able to use them on the track as well as the street.

Anyway, anyone know of anything?

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Never heard of any of those brands except CCW, soooooo not sure I have any comment.

BBS, Forgeline, Fikse, OZ, etc are the standbys. $10,000 for a set of custom wheels is not much really, as the BBS monoblock (1pc) wheels as used on many modern race cars are about $1800ea depending on volume ordered and size. While billet makes nice show car wheels, I would stick to developed motorsports wheels for track use myself, as they will be lighter/stronger. Keizer, Kodiak, Jongbloed, Compomotive, etc can all do custom wheels without much issue but again, its going to cost you some $$.

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Have you checked ADV.1? They custom CNC machine all their wheels. Again, I have no idea how much they will cost.

I thought you were buying a BBK when you got back? LOLz

Ranger · Postby **Ranger** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Out of curiosity....why? Custom wheels are INSANELY expensive haha. Maybe post up what sort of wheel face design you're looking for and we could help you find something similar?

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

D Walker wrote:Never heard of any of those brands except CCW, soooooo not sure I have any comment.

BBS, Forgeline, Fikse, OZ, etc are the standbys. $10,000 for a set of custom wheels is not much really, as the BBS monoblock (1pc) wheels as used on many modern race cars are about $1800ea depending on volume ordered and size. While billet makes nice show car wheels, I would stick to developed motorsports wheels for track use myself, as they will be lighter/stronger. Keizer, Kodiak, Jongbloed, Compomotive, etc can all do custom wheels without much issue but again, its going to cost you some $$.

Well, Chips just started making wheels, and ISS has been doing them for a few years I think, but both of those companies seem to be more about form than function, although my buddy at ISS says his wheels are track tested...hmmm, I don't know. These wheels don't HAVE to be good for the track, considering I'm finally realizing it will probably never see the track, but just in case, I'd like them to be good to go if that time ever comes. And because of that, I'm willing to pay more, but not $10k type money haha. I agree though, I don't really want billet, but it's better than cast at least. I'd much rather have forged though, I'm pretty sure that's going to be insane expensive though. I'll check with those last companies you listed too, thanks!

chickenwafer wrote:Have you checked ADV.1? They custom CNC machine all their wheels. Again, I have no idea how much they will cost.

I thought you were buying a BBK when you got back? LOLz

I actually like ADV.1 wheels, but I was reading on another forum that they are the same guys that had 360 Forged and they had HORRIBLE customer service issues...well, more like they took the money and never delivered a lot of the wheels they sold, then went out of business and started ADV.1...and because of that several forums won't allow them membership now.

I'd still like to get a Racing Brake setup, but my current brakes are just fine so I figure I'll stick with them for a while. I'm not tracking it right now, and I may not ever, and since my brakes are fine for the street I don't see a need to rush right now, especially when they'll be a few grand all said and done. YIKES.

Ranger wrote:Out of curiosity....why? Custom wheels are INSANELY expensive haha. Maybe post up what sort of wheel face design you're looking for and we could help you find something similar?

Well, why does it matter? It's something I've been wanting for a long time, and I always compromise and take something that's close to what I want but not quite. I'm tired of doing that. I've customized my fenders, I've done pretty much everything else to the car to get it where I want it to be, just how I like, but always compromise on wheels. Now I ask you, why? Why do that if I've done everything else I've always wanted to the car and it's just how I like it, but still lacking in this one area?? Why not get a set of wheels made to my specs exactly and finally be done buying wheels? Not to mention, being 3pc if I curb the wheel, I take it apart and get just the part I need, which is way less expensive than getting a whole wheel repaired or buying a whole new wheel. It's the same reason I plan on building my own VMIC...not the radiator part too, I like my radiator, just the IC and then making all the mounting brackets to fit. The one I currently have works just fine, but I figure if I'm already getting a new turbo and I'll have to go through the hassle of getting piping to work again, I may as well do the IC at the same time, and then I can do my new hood with the vent for the IC. But why do all this right? lol

I've been scouring the internet and I've only found 1 set of wheels that are similar. They are Image BRM, made in the UK, but they're cast and they have a stupid center cap (although if I got them I'd just leave that off), and they just look cheap imo. The pic I attached I already modified with what changes I'd make, but you get the idea. If SSR still made the XR4 and in my size and bolt pattern, I'd SO get those. I've thought about just trying to contact them and see if they'd make a retro version that would fit newer bolt patterns haha.

Operator · Postby **Operator** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Have you tried to see if DPE http://dpe-wheels.com/wheels/ will do custom.

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

No I haven't tried them. Thanks David, I'll add them to the list!

I'm going to see what my buddy comes up with first, but if it's going to be flat lip I'm not sure I'll be interested anyway. I may start looking at other companies in the mean time, just to see if anyone else can do it too.

Thanks guys!

Operator · Postby **Operator** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Another option.
http://mhtwheels.com/wheel_designers.cfm

or

http://www.vipmodular.com/v3/customize

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Thanks David, I'll check them out! I don't think DPE is a go, and Forgeline I'm not sure about but I may send them an email. I just sent Keizer an email now.

iani1.1 · Postby **iani1.1** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

Try weds they make custom wheels to whatever you want. They are pricey though.

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:14

I was wondering how long it would take you to post here Ian, since you are one of our wheel whores haha. I'll try Weds too. Thanks!

I've noticed a lot of companies touting custom wheels "completely custom for whatever you need" aren't necessarily custom when it comes to what I want. "Hey, pick your CUSTOM wheels from what we already sell" lol. Yeah, they're custom in that they aren't factory, but there is a higher degree of custom too lol.

iani1.1 · Postby **iani1.1** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:14

ive been really busy lately with work and the fc... i have something coming

Operator · Postby **Operator** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:14

speedjunkie wrote:Thanks David, I'll check them out! I don't think DPE is a go, and Forgeline I'm not sure about but I may send them an email. I just sent Keizer an email now.

From what I understand mht, starts the building process for alot of the "higher" end custom companies.

Calling all wheel whores

Calling all wheel whores

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