Welcome to our special Sunday Edition of Prove Me Wrong! This time it’s a bit different because you’re not actually proving me wrong, you’ll be proving our On-Staff Professional Real Authentic British Auto Designer, Adrian. Adrian is a stylish designer-man full of designer-man opinions, one of which we encountered the other day in the Autopian Corporate Slack Fellowship Hall, when David showed off his now-motile Chevy HHR and the Saab wheels it rode on. That’s when we learned that Adrian does not believe in cross-pollinating OEM cars and wheels.
Just so you understand the full situation, here’s how it played out. It started with this message from David:
David did ask for honest opinions here, so he’s getting what he wanted. I saw the Saab wheels and my first reaction was this:
Because, of course the Saab Inca wheels would be better. They’re always better. At this point, we were all having fun, gleefully enjoying the combination of wheel and car, and then whammo:
Oh shit. Now we’re in trouble. I pressed Adrian for clarification:
Of course, Adrian isn’t wrong that lots of effort, design and engineering-related, goes into the wheels chosen for a given car. No question about that. But does that really mean you can never do some mix-and-matching? Other Autopians chimed in:
I admire S.W. Gossin’s boss-level not-give-a-fuckery on that Stratus Coupé, and I think Adrian is delusional if he thinks Thomas has any clothes from Hugo Boss or Giorgio Armani. I know what we pay him. Seeing how this was going, I decided to stir the turd a bit:
I don’t know, I still think that looks pretty great. Knowing how much this was driving Adrian bonkers, I couldn’t help but remind him of the existence of these:
Yes, the Ronal Teddy Bears. You’d think that would be the trump card against anyone complaining about aftermarket wheels, right?
Anyway, here’s the takeaway: the genuine, professional car designer who works for us says that it’s a sin to put wheels from one carmaker onto another car. While I can understand this purist argument, I’m personally not sure I agree, as my fundamental automotive rule is the same as what Aleister Crowley proposed for his Thelemic brand of sorta-Satanism: Do What Thou Wilt.
If it’s making you happy on your own car, have at it. And, I do think there are some wheels that can work great visually crossing carmaker lines. But I never graduated from the Royal College of Art, of course.
So, let’s put it to the Autopian Collective Mind: is this okay? What do we think of mixing OEM cars and wheels? Tell us! Explain! Prove Adrian wrong!
Some of us Jalops… er… Autopians… on a budget rely on junkyard oems to pimp their rides ok? Discovered Ford (mustang/fusion) wheels fit first gen Tacomas, saw several with this swap around town and had to try it out… Pulled black 17 inch five spoke Ford Fusion steelies from salvage for my black base 5 speed Tacoma and results are pretty rad.
Junkyard wheels are bad from a safety point of view. You don’t know what those wheels have been subjected to.
It’s akin to buying a second hand crash helmet – you might not be able to see the damage.
Nope., rims from another manufacturer are fine. For one thing even though the designer thinks they look good, they may actually suck wheel nuts. I have seen several cars out there with rims that are just flat out so ugly that I am not sure how the casting machine did not break when casting them.
Second once I buy a car, it is mine to customize how I wish and no self important blowhard of a designer has any right to criticize my choice. You put something out and if I like it fine, if not then it is my prerogative to change it.
Sure you can go ahead and do whatever you want, along as you understand the implications for safety. But if it looks shit, I will call it out, and tell you why.
The 5 spoke RX-8 wheels are nice, and I’ve seen them on a ton of cars, not just Mazda’s. If they look good, and don’t ruin drivability of the car, go for it!
I’m with Adrian on this one.
Hidden in Adrian’s response is the issue of materials science, almost always the metallurgy part of materials science. Also hidden are the mechanical and industrial engineering aspects of assembling a two-part wheel as opposed to a single part casting or forging. None of this is observable or measurable by Autopians. Engineering excellence ranks: 1. Your OEM wheels, 2. Another makers OEM wheels, 3. Very costly aftermarket wheels designed for highest speeds and well know to be used by professional race and WRC teams, 99. Aftermarket wheels from Tires-R-Us stores.
You should swap two and three, because another OEMs wheels will be engineered to the same high standard, that standard might be different and not appropriate for your car.
I’ve seen an NC Miata with 5-spoke wheels from a Mustang. They are heavy af and unsuitable for the car but they look absolutely fantastic. Something like these, but without the center cap, obviously.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5ngAAOSwQY9d-mBz/s-l640.jpg
Adrian, Adrian, Adrian. Mad props to your design school, and everything, ok? But, as far as wheels, just because some designer cobbled some crappy wheel design an hour before his deadline in a hungover haze, doesn’t mean it’s GOOD. RIGHT? Looky here, old son, designers styled the Pontiac Aztec, dint they?
Now, engineers figured out sizes, offsets, etc. and that’s valid. But sometimes someone else’s design just works better. Not casting any aspersions here, but not EVERY designer is Harly Earl, Or Sergio Pininfarina. RIGHT? So, settle down, listen to some Black Flag, and take some deep breaths. This time, for once, you’re buggered.
If it fits, it ships. On my ’02 Silverado. Certain RAM wheels will fit, as will certain Tacoma wheels with custom aftermarket lug nuts specifically sold for that purpose. When my truck needs tires, I’ll go with whatever wheels/tires I find on FBM.
I’m with Gossin. I could care less if my wheels match. I’ve never bought a set of new wheels in my life and I can’t imagine any circumstances where I would. As far as I’m concerned, the best rim is the cheapest rim. I only notice car wheels when they are big and stupid and that’s mostly so I can ponder about the type of person that evidently likes buying tires.
I will walk with my people.
While all y’all are waffling about design and freedom; he mentioned offsets, weights engineering, specs. It almost seems like material for an article by a knowledgeable insider.
Sure. Wheel offset will change scrub radius, which will effect handling. Different wheels weigh different, which will effect acceleration and handling. One should understand these things when changing wheels.
However, to each his own. Mix those OEM wheels!
Yeah it’s almost like I know what I’m talking about. Weird huh?
You’re excluding the possibility that anyone else knows what they’re doing, that anyone else might be a knowledgeable insider. You’re assuming that no one has ever considered or researched compatibility before just slapping on anything that fits.
I’ve seen multiple classic Toyotas on 90s Ranger/Explorer Deerhoof wheels and each time I’ve loved it. Although that might be because I love the Deerhoof wheel and put them on my Ford built Mazda B2300. Also knew someone with a Corolla on Honda wheels and it was hot as hell. So yeah, mix and match if it looks good and have fun with your car.
I understand where you are coming from and from a meta-physical point of view, I agree. But there is one element you have brushed over lightly, safety!
If Delbert Dumbass decides to put some really honkin’ big ass wheels on his Chevette he may be able to make it work but is this combo “safe”? Hell no. Okay, its his life. No it isn’t, it’s everyone else on the road until Delbert removes himself from the equation.
So let us temper our desire to do whatever the hell we want with just a bit of thought to the consequences.
What would make those wheels on the Chevelle unsafe? They have to pass the same standards of OEM to be sold especially in the states. I have larger lighter stronger wheels on my excursion than the factory and retain the stick height tires, are you implying that I’m rolling on a time bomb for the last 150000 miles?! Should I immediately swap out my wheels before something happens? Or my 62 continental with 15 inch supremes on it, they’re 1 inch bigger 1 inch wider and tires are 3 inches shorter ….and my car is unsafe? Seems like I’ve been dodging a bullet for over 100k! I need to go buy some lottery tickets!
I mean… if they have the specifications you’re looking for, and you like the design, and they’re not some sketchy Amazon bullshit that is likely to shatter at the first pothole… why the fuck not?
Brands are not sacred. That way lies madness and Musk-worship.
OEMs spend time designing wheels, yes. Sometimes they do a good job, sometimes they do a bad job, sometimes they could’ve done a better job but they didn’t have the budget. Once you buy the car though, it’s yours. Do what you want, as long as it doesn’t endanger yourself or others. It’s not a UNESCO-approved cultural heritage site, it’s a car.
The Tesla wheels on my Tesla-swapped Jag is by far the most controversial thing on my channel. Oddly, no one seems to care about the circle track steelies on the ‘64 Honda.
If it looks good, go for it. And if it ruffles a few feathers, even better.
I’m curious re: DT’s motivation in asking the original question.
Was he finally able to look at the car from somewhere other than beneath the engine and experience excruciating pangs of doubt?
(I’ll soon be attempting similar work on a 2003 PT and *IF* it gets to the state that his HHR exhibits, I doubt I’ll be aware whether I’ve put the freakin’ wheels on backward!)
All I know is: if you can’t get a set of Halibrand “kidney bean” or Lotus “wobbly web” wheels for your car, then you must set it on a quartet of Torq Thrusts. That is all.
Except for vintage Ferraris and Brit sports cars. Then, it’s gotta be wire wheels.
You have to include Minilites on that list. Or Panasport since they are more widely available.
I used to think we shouldn’t mix n match OEM wheels, but then I saw 4-lug bottle cap BMW rims on an NA Miata and it looked so good I was converted on the spot.
That sounds awful. They’re such an iconic BMW wheel.
Saab had the best wheels. All Saabs should have Saab wheels. Non-Saabs should not. Pretty simple.
Saab. The only manufacturer other than Smart to look great with three spoke wheels. Couldn’t possibly swap them though, even if the bolt pattern matched. Which it didn’t.
Nah, three spoke wheels suck. And SAAB’s were some of the very worst.
I’ve never understood why U.S. auto brands put such garbage wheels on their vehicles (90% of the time), but European and Japanese manufacturers generally put good looking wheels on their cars. It’s almost like the American brands are in bed with aftermarket wheel companies… “let’s put crappy wheels on our cars so customers will be inclined to buy aftermarket wheels and we’ll take 10% as a finders fee.”
The HHR is an ’06, if I recall? GM owned Saab from 1990-2010. Those ARE OEM wheels. It’s fine.
And it’s fine anyway. Adrian is just being a grouch.
My MK1 Supercharged MR2 looked great with Miata wheels and bonus, they were super light and the car felt quicker. I would post an image but…. Here are the wheels I used: https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-g41fvcdoz7/images/stencil/600×600/products/1477/1567/64815-mazda__41800.1519516243.jpg?c=2
Putting Saab Inca wheels on a Chevy HHR << Badge engineering a Trailblazer as a Saab.
If GM can do it why not you guys?
Adrian is wrong. Very wrong. Not just a little wrong. Not just a lot wrong.
Adrian is “I’m losing respect for his entire profession if he keeps this up” wrong.
Yeah. That wrong.
Bingo.
Adrian is just as wrong about this as he is about the fact that bigger wheels always look better.
That’s a gross simplification of what I’ve said in the past.
Maybe if the pictures were bigger, I might actually be able to form an opinion. 😀
Remember, most of us here are old farts and can’t see for shit.
Acquaint yourself with “pinch to zoom”.
Not really a thing on desktop.
Exactly!
Right click the picture and slelect “open image in new tab”
From there you can zoom in if it’s not big enough then
Honestly I HATE OEM Wheels, one of the first things you can do to improve the looks of a car is change the wheels. I really don’t give a shit about what engineers say about that, have you actually worked on a car made since 1980? Fuck what they think! I don’t care if the wheels put on are to small, too wide, or too big….it ALL looks better….FIGHT ME
“FIGHT ME”
You can’t fight crazy.
I don’t know about that. I fight with my wife all the time.
“I fight with my wife all the time.”
Yeah but I’d expect there’s a post-fight upside to that…
I wish!
Dude I was 7 in 1980.