Hooniverse Asks: What's the World's Greatest Aftermarket Wheel?

'69 Spider with 15x7 Rotas
Take a look at those cool wheels on the ’69 Alfa boattail Duetto above. While they may look at first glance like legendary Panasports, they are in fact Rota RBs, riffing on the original.
That homage in style demonstrates how often certain aftermarket wheels become iconic. Whether it’s Pannies, five slot mags, or charm bracelet-cute Minilites, there are a number of aftermarket wheels that have gained classic status. The question for today is, which in your mind is the most classic?
Image: alfabb

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    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      I was going to post this myself. Go ahead, call me an artless Philistine, I think these BBS wheels are awesome – gold finish and all.

    2. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      A single wheel style that would look good on either of my cars — a Honda minivan and a near-classic Merc. That’s saying something.

  1. Tanshanomi Avatar

    I’m really dating myself here, but I have to say Cragar S/S, followed closely by Jackman white spokes.

    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      Those ended up out of order for no apparent reason. Thanks, Disqunibbles.

      1. Scoutdude Avatar
        Scoutdude

        Cragar S/S was definitely one of the first ones that came to my mind as well.

    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      This answer got me to thinking … for a brief time in the 1970s one could purchase Cragar S/S style mags, albeit with wood spokes. I think they sold mainly to the vanning crowd. Do you remember those? The Internet seems to have forgotten.

      1. Tanshanomi Avatar

        I don’t think anybody ever made them in regular production. You may be thinking of the Munster Koach. Dick Dean put wood inserts into the spokes of some Raider Astro wheels, but it was strictly a custom one-off thing.
        http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/apennyworth/munsters/KoachRimandWheel.jpg

        1. Alff Avatar
          Alff

          This was a production item – the brand name is on the tip of my tongue. I saw them advertised regularly, probably in Hot Rod. As an aspiring hoon of 11 or 12, I had a subscription.

      2. Scoutdude Avatar
        Scoutdude

        I remember seeing ads for the wheels with the wood look spokes as well. So no you are not the only one to remember them. To me it seems like it could have been Keystone that offered them though I do not know that for certain.

    1. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      An aftermarket wheel so awesome that the Bullitt was created for it.
      I’d read (and can’t remember where or if it was reality) that the designers came up with the torque thrust looking factory wheel, liked it enough to make the 2000 Bullitt concept car. That led to the 2001 production Bullitt. That clean design lent itself to the S197 which looks way more like McQueen’s Bullitt than the New Edge. Then the 2008 Bullitt came along- which started out as a Boss specialty car but was deemed unBoss worthy. The torque thrust looking wheel was offered all the way thru the 2009 model year in 17″ and 18″.
      I can remember all this but I can’t remember where I put my car keys.

    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      These give me paws….

    2. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      ‘Ow could ‘oo not wike him’s widdle smiwing face? Isso cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!

    3. The Real Number_Six Avatar
      The Real Number_Six

      Dodge Omnivore wheels

      1. Citric Avatar
        Citric

        Well if you get those you’re very ballsy.

        1. P161911 Avatar
          P161911

          Maybe he mentioned to get these and something was lost in translation. http://www.total911.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Porsche-930-LE-wheel.jpg

          1. The Real Number_Six Avatar
            The Real Number_Six

            WTF?

          2. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            I hate my phone. Mentioned = wanted.
            Fuchs wheels btw.

          3. The Real Number_Six Avatar
            The Real Number_Six

            My bad – I was too lazy to type out “What the Fuchs?” I used semaphore instead.

    4. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      They are, without doubt, the MOST bearable.

  2. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Under $60 and can be pounded mostly back into shape on the trail to get you home. There is nothing better than the Cragar Soft 8.
    http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/mediumlarge/CRR-3975850_WB_ml.jpg

  3. Kaido Spec Avatar

    Advan SA3R

  4. XRSevin Avatar
    XRSevin

    Wires. No other wheel has the potential of looking good on so many different cars.

    1. jim Avatar
      jim

      … or they can be the icing on an already ugly cake

      View post on imgur.com

      1. XRSevin Avatar
        XRSevin

        Oh, yeah, things can always go horribly wrong.

  5. Inliner Avatar
    Inliner

    OZ Superturismo

  6. HuntRhymesWith Avatar
    HuntRhymesWith

    Surprising lightness coupled with good looks: two reasons why you see Enkei RPF1s at every autocross.

  7. Scoutdude Avatar
    Scoutdude

    I can’t believe that no one has mentioned the classic aluminum slot mags. It seems like most companies made a version of them back in the day. With a high polish and a deep dish they are one of my favorites, along with the Torq-Thrust and Cragar S/S.

    1. Fuhrman16 Avatar
      Fuhrman16

      American Racing still makes these, calls them Ansen Sprints.
      http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/arahr/arv_ansen_sprnt_pol_pdpfull.jpg

    2. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      They were mentioned. I don’t think Rob using it as an example in the post counts as an official nomination, though.

  8. mad_science Avatar

    American Racing Daisys are a favorite of mine:
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachments/1-jpg.1866940/
    Also, those Panasports have a uniquely awesome look on a meatier car:
    http://themustangsource.com/timeline/69-70/70/ParnelliJones.jpg

  9. Chris Tonn Avatar
    Chris Tonn

    ARE Libres. As found on the Datsun 510 racers, among others.

  10. salguod Avatar

    Keystone Classics. When the Cragar S/S is too common.
    http://texasthinktank.net/KimbroImages1/Keystone_Mags_small_1.jpg
    They do not translate well into larger, modern sizes, however.
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/jeffaary/IMG_1530.jpg

  11. Gee Nick Avatar
    Gee Nick

    Enkei ek86

  12. Manic_King Avatar
    Manic_King

    AZEV and AEZ Icon 5, I had Mazda 6 with Icon 5’s once….
    http://img4.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/foto2h4zqxwkb52.jpg
    http://i49.tinypic.com/waiob8.jpg