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You don’t have to be Nostradamus to know that in the aftermarket game, the wheel you choose can make or break your ride. But when it comes to aftermarket wheels, some designs look good, some that look straight-up hideous, and some that stand the test of time, even after over 50 years. We’re talking about the most iconic aftermarket wheels ever forged, cast, and bolted onto street machines, drag rockets, and track beasts. Let’s rip through three continents’ worth of legendary looks.
USA Classics
American Racing Torq Thrust
Cast in magnesium for the drag‑racing pros, these wheels went from the drag strip to Hollywood when Steve McQueen’s Bullitt Mustang shredded around San Francisco wearing them. Ford even honored the icon with Bullitt special‑edition Mustangs, complete with Torq‑Thrust‑style rims. It’s hands‑down one of the most timeless U.S. designs ever to hit the pavement, and looks right at home on anything from a 30’s-style hot rod to a modern American muscle.
Cragar S/S (Super Sport)
Born in 1964 from the mind of Roy Richter at Cragar Industries, the S/S wheel features spokes that grow deeper as they taper toward the hub, arming you with extra strength where other wheels get weak back in the day. Today, the Cragar S/S is not just a staple of the hot rod scene—it’s one of the most affordable legends.
CCW Classic
When power figures start flirting with quadruple digits, builders turn to CCW’s forged multi‑piece mesh. Built for strength, durability, and incredible flex resistance, these wheels were the unofficial choice of MK4 Supra kings before the auction gavel made these cars high‑five‑figure machines.
JDM Icons
Racing Service Watanabe F8
Magnesium‑alloy lightweights that kicked off a revolution in Japanese motorsports. From Datsun Zs to AE86 Trueno drift legends, and immortalized in the scenes of Initial D, Watanabe’s eight‑spoke OGs are the gold standard for vintage JDM cred. Even the KPGC10 “Hakosuka” Skyline rocked ’em straight off the showroom floor.
Rays Engineering Volk TE37
Debuting in ’96, the TE37 was a seismic shift in the tuning world: one‑piece forged, featherweight, and race-ready right out of the box. From humble Civic street builds to 600‑hp RWD monsters, TE37s are the go‑to look for Japanese precision. They even dress up luxury rides—there’s a reason this wheel is as ubiquitous in Tokyo as ramen shops at midnight.
Work Meister S1 2P/3P
Five bold spokes, mirror‑polished lips, and the choice between two‑piece or three‑piece builds—this wheel is JDM craftsmanship on steroids. Built-to-order in Japan to your spec, S1s can plate up deep‑dish geometry or a subtle flush lip. Whether it’s claying up an R34 GT‑R on the track or prowling a Lexus VIP build, these wheels demand respect.
Enkei RPF1
Introduced in 2002 with input from McLaren F1 team engineers, the RPF1 is a one‑piece cast marvel that balances weight, strength, and price like no other. Offering a dizzying range of sizes (14"–19"), these wheels dominate grassroots autocross events worldwide. Versatile enough for a slammed Civic or a lifted SUV, they earned their spot on every racer’s garage shelf.
Yokohama Advan SA3R Three‑Spoke
Born in the late '80s/early ’90s JDM tuning boom, its bold tri‑spoke design wasn’t just for looks—it channeled airflow to cool brakes and kept weight down. Typically two‑tone with bright lips, these wheels scream “street racer” from every angle.
Euro Flair
BBS RS
Arguably the poster child of mesh‑wheel obsession. Die‑forged two‑piece aluminum, a dizzying palette of face and lip colors, and an undeniable flush stance made the RS THE wheel for Euro classics, since 1983. Gold face with polished lips on an E30 BMW? Instant cult status.
BBS LM
Forged three‑piece construction meets simplified mesh madness. Born in the early 2000s as the spiritual successor to the RS, the LM features a perfectly aggressive face, polished step lips, and bullet‑proof strength. You’ll find them adorning everything from BMW M‑cars to Porsche 911s, old or new—proof that European tuning loves its heritage with a modern twist.
OZ Racing Futura
With five broad flat spokes that splay out into aggressive lips, the Futura delivers that old‑school German spirit for street machines. Debuting in the ’90s, it found homes on anything Euro—from Porsche 964s to countless BMWs—and, albeit discontinued now, it is still popular among old-school European tuning aficionados.
OZ Racing Superturismo GT
This Italian-born, rally-bred monoblock multispoke is the secret weapon on 90% of World Rally Championship warriors, rocking that iconic Rally White finish, a bold block‑printed OZ Racing badge, and a carbon‑fiber center cap that screams performance. Forged through precision low‑pressure casting and heat‑treatment wizardry, it strikes the perfect balance of rock‑solid strength and featherweight agility.
There you have it—the most iconic designs that came shockingly close to reinventing the wheel. Whether you’re chasing lap records, hunting drift angles, or just want your ride to look like a rolling piece of art, these classics have earned their stripes in steel, magnesium, and forged aluminum.