As we said a few months back, trying to put all our favourite wheels in one little feature would do little more than cause an office riot. So, having seen the big man’s and chief Jules’ all-time favourite wheels last time around, here’s a few thoughts from our Midge…
My first set of wheels was, if I can remember back that far, some 6.5×15-inch BK Racing 7-spokes, which I crammed onto my 1.1-litre Mk3 Fiesta and immediately proceeded to drive around like I owned the whole of Dartford. Good times!
Let’s just say I’ve owned more than a couple of sets since then. Having worked on FC for 15-plus years and spent the best part of that reviewing quite literally hundreds of the buggers, I’ve seen many more than my fair share too. But what would I actually spend (and indeed, have spent) my own cash on? Well, here are my FC Favourites…
2Forge ZF1, from £720 (set)
These are pure, all-business, lightweight racing wheels and I like that concept. But it isn’t the design that floats my boat most here. It isn’t even the fact they make use of the most recent flow-forming technology to achieve a (7.5×17-inch) starting weight of just 7.4kg. Nope, it’s more that, rather cleverly, they can be spec’d to fit just about anything with big enough arches.
You see, like all other 2Forge wheels, and the cast offerings from their sister company Bola, these have special ‘PCD pockets’, which are elongated blanks that can be drilled to just about any PCD. It doesn’t matter who you are, that’s quite the innovation!
For more info see 2 Forge Wheels
Sizes: 7.5, 8, 9 and 9.5×17, 8, 9 and 10×18
PCDs: Any 4×98.3, any 5×100-5×130
Finishes: Matt Black, Gloss Black, Gunmetal, White
3SDM 0.05, From £132 (each)
If I had a favourite cast wheel of all-time it would be the Ferrari-inspired 0.05 here. In fact, a good few years have gone by since they launched these, and I still think it’s one of the benchmarks. The whole scene went ape shit when these dropped, and rightly so – I’m pretty sure they still haven’t been beaten for German motors.
If I’m honest, the only reason I didn’t buy a set back in the day, is because Jules beat me to it with his E46 BMW. But looking back, that was puerile, childish and just plain stupid on my part. Luckily there’s still plenty of time…
For more info see 3SDM
Sizes: 8 and 9×16, 8.5 and 9.5×18, 8.5 and 9.5×19
PCDs: 5×100, 5×112, 5×120
Finishes: Silver Cut, White Cut, Gloss White, Satin Black
Center Line Convo Pro, From £245 (each)
Center Line in the USA may not be the best at spelling, but they’re a dab hand when it comes to drag racing. That’s the reason you’ll find them making a super skinny 4×15-incher version of this epic rim. Still, this splitty may be classic and hardcore in equal measure, but I really don’t have to explain why I love it so much do I? Just look at it!
For more info see Centre Line Wheels
Sizes: 4, 7, 8 and 10×15
PCD: 5×114.3
Finish: Polished
Rota BM8, From £125 (each)
My love of Japanese metal is well documented, as is my love of classic wheels from the Far East. But am I some sort of JDM purist? To be honest, no. I’m well aware that the BM8 looks a lot like a certain classic Japanese rim that I can’t quite remember, or pronounce, the name of. But I couldn’t care less that’s it’s more of a homage. I’m way too old to worry about that shite. The same goes for ‘fake’ splits and those replica BBS wheels you see knocking about. I don’t want to know anyone who can tell the difference at first glance anyway. Besides, this thing is even more crazy than the original – we’re talking wide
15s with a silly ET10 or ET0 offset here, that’s it! Mark my words. History will prove the BM8 to be one of the greats.
For more info see Rare Rims
Sizes: 8 and 9×15
PCDs: 4×100
Finishes: Black Polished Face, Bronze
Ronal URS, From £144 (each)
You’d have to be blind, or some sort of halfwit, not to covet the original Ronal Turbo, but I still (just about) prefer the URS. The ‘Teddy’ is probably the last of the all-time mental wheels, a rim that’s so out of the box that it’s forgotten what the box even looks like. Right up there with the Mazda 121 Koalas and Michelin Man wheels (seriously, Google ‘em).
You’ve just got to smile when you see these. And after all, that’s what it’s all about, right? Besides, these have been around for almost 30 years and I love their story. Apparently they started out as earrings from one of the company board members, a lady they affectionately called Bear Mother. Those crazy Germans. You really couldn’t make that shit up!
For more info see Speedline Corse
Sizes 5.5 and 6×14
PCDs: 4×100
Finishes: White, Silver
Cali Off-Road Summit, From £600 (each)
I love cars (well, that’s good to know – Jules), but my guilty pleasure is that I also love big-ass pickups. I don’t know if it’s because I have a touch of Yank in me (er, so to speak), or if it’s because I spend most of the year sulking until I can pretend that going to SEMA is a ‘business’ trip. But, I’m a silly truck addict. Whether they’re jacked up to the sky or body-dropped on their belly, I can’t get enough.
Now this will make dick-all difference to your life if you drive a Golf. But there are a lot of mental wheels out there for pickups and the Cali Off-Road Summit is the one I want most. I’ll never have a truck big enough for ‘em, because I don’t own the local Esso garage. But with only 6- or 8-stud PCDs, and offsets to ET-81 (yes: MINUS EIGHTY ONE!), these are some of the craziest wheels on the planet.
For more info see Cali Off-Road
Sizes: 9, 10 and 12×20, 12×22, 12 and 14×24
PCDs: 6×135, 6×139, 6×127, 8×135, 8×139.7, 8×165, 8×170, 8×180
Finishes: Polished, Gloss Black with Milled Spokes
Vossen x Work VWS-1, From £965 (each)
I’m no wheel snob by any stretch of the imagination, but we all have our dream wheels, and these are mine. Designed by Vossen in the USA and custom built by the legendary Work Wheels in Japan, these forged, 3-piece collab wheels are utter perfection in my eyes. So much so that, as I’m getting on a bit now, I saved up for what seemed like two Ice Ages, just to import myself a set last year. They’re not what you’d call cheap, and at the time they came with a bonus kick in the spuds from Her Majesty’s Customs too. But you know what? They’re still worth every penny.
Luckily if you’re in the market, they’re now available in the UK through the Prestige Wheel Centre, so give them a call. Well, unless you happen to have a beige TT of course. Then you can sod right off!
For more info see Vossen Wheels & Prestige Wheel Centre
Sizes: 19 and 20 diameters, 7.5-12.5 widths
PCDs: Any
Finishes: Any custom
