There’s no skool like the old skool, apparently, so here are 20 of the best retro wheels for your viewing pleasure.
Retro. Vintage. Classic. Basically, anything old seems cool these days and the same goes for old aftermarket wheels. With everybody getting wrapped up in the whole nostalgia thing, it’s no wonder people are going mad for retro wheels, too. With that in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to highlight our top 20 Retro Wheels to get your creative juices flowing and point you in the right direction if you’re in the market for a set yourself.
Rare of the year…
Secondhand and ancient race wheels in particular are the hot ticket right now, and if you can find a set of sought after classics there’s a good chance you’ll be able to turn a tidy profit if you carry out a sympathetic restoration and flog ‘em targeting the right audience.
With firms popping up left, right and center that specialize in locating and restoring unheard of relics from motorsport’s past, there’s every chance something special awaits on a popular internet auction site or one of the many Facebook groups around. Anyway, here’s some of our faves featuring some of the rarest, strangest and coolest rims around…
Revolution 4 Spoke Classic
Revolution’s 4 Spoke Classic has been around for longer than we can remember and is a favorite with the OG Mini folk, although, in our mind these work best on an old-skool Ford. To be fair, these do look amazing on anything retro, especially with body-colored centers. The single-piece variants are still available to buy today and despite only coming in four-stud, 13” fitment, are available in a huge numbers of widths, PCDs and off-sets. If you’re after the modular version (once favored by the National Hot Rod guys) for extra brownie points, then eBay is the best place to begin your search.
Tech spec:
Available in: 13in diameter. 5.5-10in widths. 4×88.9 – 4×114.3 PCD. ET -38 to +19 offset. Various center bores available. Weight: 4-5.9kg. Wheel type: Aluminum alloy. Colors available: Matt Black with Diamond rim.
Where to buy: Revolution Wheels
Votex (Porsche Design) Four Spoke Retro Wheels
Favored by the aftermarket water-cooled VW scene, this was one bizarre Porsche design collaboration that resulted in a world-famous four-spoke wheel of questionable origins. Produced by Speedline, 15- and 16in versions are available – if you can find a set – and they even produced a matching three-spoke steering wheel with similar-style spokes. Yep, this one had to feature here in our best retro wheels piece.
Tech spec:
Available in: 15-16in diameter. 7in widths. 4×100 – 5×100 PCD. ET 36 offset. 57.1 center bore. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Aluminum alloy. Colors available: Silver.
Where to buy: Discontinued. Try eBay.
Porsche Teledial / Fuch / Design 90 Retro Wheels
Choose one of the classic 80/90’s Porsche wheels, slap on some PCD adapters and low-profile rubber and away you go! The classic Teledial, Fuch (pictured) and Design 90 wheels were found on models such as the 911, 944 and 928 and they all had a high, positive offset (in a 5×130 PCD), so there’s a good chance they’ll work with your car given the right adapters. Light, strong and still readily available on the eBay for not much cash, these make great winter wheels or polish them up and hit the show ground. Just look out for replicas, some are good but many are bad…
Tech spec:
Available in: 14-17in diameter. 5.5-9in widths. 5×130 PCD. ET 52.3-55 offset. Wheel type: Aluminum alloy. Colors available: Various
Where to buy: Discontinued. Try eBay.
BBS Magnesium ‘E’ Code Retro Wheels
Magnesium motorsport derived split rims from the BBS range are fetching ridiculous sums of your hard earned these days and they come in all shapes and sizes. E30, E48, E50 E55 etc. – if you know the number you’re after, be prepared to go and see your bank manager to bolt them to your ride. Go center-lock for proper baller status… This one had to feature in our best retro wheels piece.
Tech spec:
Available in: 13-17in diameter (Can be stepped up). Various widths, off-sets and center bores. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Magnesium alloy. Colors available: BBS Gold
Where to buy: Try BBS Racing
Banded Steels
A relatively cheap way to get noticed, with a real OEM look. Eternally cool on older vehicles ever since car modification began, right back to the Hot Rod days. The recent uprising of the banded steel has taken a hold particularly on the VW and Ford scenes. 15in G60 steels and 17in T5 steels are often increased in widths up to and beyond 10-inches wide and painted in lairy colors to transform the hum drum into the hell yeah! We’ve even seen 18″ space savers banded on Nu Wave cars. The sky is the limited with these…
Tech spec:
Available in: 10-18in diameter (Generally). Various widths, off-sets and center bores. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Steel (the clue is in the name). Colors available: Any color you like.
Where to buy: Try Banded Steel Wheels
SSR Formula Mesh
Classic Japanese wheels are generally favored by the drifting Skyline, Celica and AE86 crowd. They smack of old school design cues but will easily look cool on just about anything you could think of, even more modern stuff. The Mesh is still produced to this day in 16, 18 and 19in diameters or you can find smaller stuff second-hand on eBay.
Tech spec:
Available in: 16-19in diameter. 5.5-13in widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. ET -52 to +62 offset. 71.6 – 74.1 center bore. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Three-piece split-rim. Colors available: Gold, Silver or Titan.
Where to buy: SSR.
TSW Venom
When TSW launched the Venom back in the late 90s they were such a radical design that they sold like hot cakes. You might laugh, but we reckon these are due another comeback. If you can find a set (eBay is your friend) you’ll get these for next to nothing as almost everyone still seems to hate them. Surely that’s reason enough to give a set a try.
Tech spec:
Available in: 14-18in diameter. 6-8in widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. ET -52 to +62 offset. 71.6 – 74.1 center bore. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Three-piece split-rim. Colors available: Gold, Silver or Titan.
Where to buy: SSR.
AZEV A Retro Wheels
Once popular with the BMW and VW peeps the timeless five-spoke A soon reached the masses once Euro-look stormed the global modified scene. As with a lot of wheels in this line up, Azev’s A suits both old and new vehicles, and if you search really hard, you may even spot a set of split-rim versions, too. It just had to feature in our list of the best retro wheels.
Tech spec:
Available in: Currently 16-18in diameter. 7.5i-10n widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. ET +13-34 offset. Various center bores. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Aluminum alloy. Colors available: Silver.
Where to buy: eBay.
Hayashi Racing Type C Street
Talk to any retro Japanese car fan worth their salt and they’ll instantly tell you about the Hayashi Racing range of rims, especially the unmistakable Street. If you’re in the market for a retro Hayashi wheel then also look out for the Yayoi and Techno Racing as the most popular designs. They’re so iconic that firms such as Rota have been known to get inspiration from these classics for their own wheel designs.
Tech spec:
Available in: 13-15in diameter. 5.5-8in widths. 4×114.3 to 4×120 PCD. ET 0-+25 offset. Various center bores. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Aluminum alloy. Colors available: Silver.
Where to buy: eBay.
Nothelle N-Classic
Seriously cool and controversial, the Nothelle N-Classic is a real Marmite wheel that’s become increasing rare and hard to find these days. Available in a number of Germanic fitments, these 4 and 5-stud PCD wheels have always been popular with the trendy VW peeps and are amongst the coolest retro rims around today. Both 16in and 17in are available, although we have seen these made into three-piece custom splits for mega scene points!
Tech spec:
Available in: 16-17in diameter. 7-8in widths. 4×100 to 5×112 PCD. ET35 offset. 57.1 center bore. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Aluminum alloy. Colors available: Silver.
Where to buy: eBay.
Antera 109 Retro Wheels
Popular on pretty much anything back in the 90s, these days you can really put the cat amongst the pigeons with a set of three spokes. These super-rare rims rank up there with the Saab 9000 Turbo three spokes for rated or hated appeal. Surprisingly, there were quite a few three-spokes available back in the day, but Antera’s 109 has got to be the most sort after, which is why it features in our best retro wheels piece.
Tech spec:
Available in: 16-18in diameter. 7-8.5in widths. 4×100 to 5×112 PCD. ET20-35 offset. Various center bore. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Aluminum alloy. Colors available: Silver.
Where to buy: eBay.
Ronal Racing Wheels
Another motorsport favorite, these lightweight (magnesium) multi-piece wheels are gaining in both popularity and price all the time. Used on a number of classic touring car and racing sportscars back in the day, the VW guys have been fitting these to Golf for years. If you can’t find or afford a set, then Ronal still produce the aluminum Turbo monoblock, which is a cool alternative.
Tech spec:
Available in: 13-17in (can step up) diameter. 5.5-12in widths. Various PCDs and center lock. Various center bores. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Magnesium three-piece split-rim. Colors available: Silver or gold.
Where to buy: eBay.
OZ Futura Retro Wheels
OZ’s five-spoke Futura is a favorite on the German aftermarket, although it also came as stock on some Lotus Esprits. The timeless design and multi-piece application meant it looked good on anything. It is a modular masterpiece that comes in a huge variety of PCDs, widths, diameters and offsets. Just watch out for the cheap replicas…
Tech spec:
Available in: 16-19in diameter. 7.5-9in widths. 4×100 – 5×130 PCD. Various ETs. Weight: Depends on size. Wheel type: Aluminum three-piece split-rim. Colors available: Silver as stock.
Where to buy: eBay.
Mad iN 3C
Generally found amongst the Formula Renault race fraternities originally (thought you recognized them, hey?), French firm, Mad iN produce this retro-look 8 spoke in 13-in and four-stud only, but it comes in a variety of widths and off-sets. Racecar aesthetics and show car looks for the absolute win!
Tech spec:
Available in: 13in diameter. 7.5-9in widths. 4×95.25 – 4×114.3 PCD. ET-86 to ET51. Centre bore: 57.1 minimum. Weight: Centre weighs 1.38kg. Wheel type: Aluminum three-piece split-rim. Colors available: A number of colors available.
Where to buy: Mad In
AutoStrada Modena Retro Wheels
With their large, center-lock look center cap bolt, three-piece construction and five-spoke design, these JDM favorites actually scream Ferrari F40, but actually looks good on any car, especially JDMs. In our mind, it’s best suited to classics like the FC RX-7, though. A staggered 9.5Jx17in front; 10.5Jx17in rear fitment, as seen here on Kohei Miyata’s 350bhp example, will work a treat.
Tech spec:
Available in: 16-17in diameter. 8.5-9.5in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. various offsets. Wheel type: Three-piece, five-spoke. Colors available: Silver centers.
Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay
RML Snowflakes
American firm RML (which stands for Retro Modern Line, if you wondered) have put their own spin an a classic VW wheel. You may remember seeing something similar fitted to the Mk2 Scirocco Scala or Mk1 Golf Clipper, but they were 14s. RML figured people would prefer an updated 15in version and you know what, we think they were right?
Tech spec:
Available in: 15in diameter. 8in widths. 4×100 PCD. ET30. Centre bore: 57.1 minimum. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Flow formed aluminum. Colors available: Machined/black.
Where to buy: RML
Exip Mega Retro Wheels
Super weird Marmite wheel that never fails to divide opinion. Exip’s Mega is technically a two-spoke wheel, however, because of the way it’s painted, gives the impression of just having a single spoke. If you can actually find a set then chances are it will be a 7×15 in a 4×100 PCD, hence why these are, once again, popular with the water-cooled VW crowd.
Tech spec:
Available in: 14-16in diameter. 7in widths. 4×100 – 4×114.3 PCD. ET35. Centre bore: 57.1 minimum. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Cast aluminum monoblock. Colors available: Polished with black insert.
Where to buy: eBay
Nismo GT1 440-R
Tough, timeless and purposeful. If you can find a set, then Nismo’s multi-piece GT1 440-R is arguably our favorite JDM wheel ever. Favored by the Skyline GT-R crew, these look good on any 90s Japanese car. Its simple five-spoke design is great for showing off big brakes and the rarity value with give you kudos for days.
Tech spec:
Available in: 18in diameter. 9.5in widths. 114.3 PCD. ET +14 offset. 66.1mm Center bore. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Colors available: White centers with polished lip.
Where to buy: Ebay UK
Renault Alpine GTA Turbine Retro Wheels
Turbo-style. Turbo fans. Turbine. All these futurist style are the rage these days and if you look back at the Renault Alpine A series catalogue you’ll find all sorts of mad looking single piece designs. The GTA V6 turbine wheel in particular is a favorite of ours, especially in a staggered fitment. Be careful with some of the earlier metric wheels, though, as you’ll struggle to find tires for them.
Tech spec:
Available in: 15in diameter. 6 and 8.5in widths. 4×100 PCD. ET20 and ET40. Centre bore: 60.1. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Cast aluminum monoblock. Colors available: Silver.
Where to buy: eBay
Mazda 121 Koala Retro Wheels
Ahhhh, a Koala. You will all be aware of Ronal’s famous Teddy Bear wheel, and even Michelin got creative with a Michelin Man wheel, but the ladies in your life (can you still say that?) will love a set of Mazda 121 Koala (special edition) wheels. These came as standard equipment on some Mazda 121s. Seriously! We’ve even seen a set converted into split-rims. As if they weren’t unique enough as it was…
Tech spec:
Available in: 13in diameter. 5.5in widths. 4×100 PCD. ET38. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Cast aluminum monoblock. Colors available: Silver.
Where to buy: eBay
Where to buy retro wheels?
Get online and try your luck on eBay.co.uk or, better still, even start searching the foreign eBay sites (Germany and Japan are great). Just bung obscure search terms in like racing rims, split rims, multi-piece wheels, old school wheels and try misspelling the name of the wheel manufacturer you’re looking for – you may end up with a bargain. Other sites, like Touring Car Spares and Race Cars Direct are great for racing classics!
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