Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[guitarguylp]

I am looking for some reasonably priced wheels that are not total junk. I would prefer 17" since the roads by me are quite rough, and with the sport package the ride is hard enough on 17s.

I was really close to ordering some Drag DR-37s, but I have heard that they crack pretty easily, so I decided to stay away from them.

Does anyone have any experience good, or bad with sport edition, msw, platinum, axis, ASA, or any other brands I should look at, or avoid.

Or should I just suck it up spend the extra $500 and get some enkei, or other TUV approved wheels?

[c_ozanich]

In my opinion, there's certain things you don't go low on. Anything that might leave me stranded or has a structural need in accordance to the cars function definitely goes under that list. Wheels are a critical part of that--I have rough roads around me and I wouldn't chance it. Sometimes there are things out of your control on the road or things that you can't avoid (huge pothole or debris) even while paying perfect attention to the road, things happen. Ever reach for a drink or glance down at your radio? Eyes off the road at any moment and look up to swerve or to hit something miniscule?

I've already dented my stock wheel ever so slightly bc other vehicles positions didn't allow me to swerve to get around pothole. On any other day it was fine, just a situational happening that could have been worse.

[guitarguylp]

That is my concern as well, and part of the reason I am going with 17s over 18s. I also don't mind the look of 17s. I might have found a wheel that I really like that is TUV approved, and reasonably priced. I just have to see if tire rack can get the finish that I want. Finish is called matt titanium fully polished. I have already PMd Gill.

http://www.mswwheels.com/car_wheels_...25/561098.aspx

[n55_135]

I have a set of 17" sport edition for my winter tires and they seem to hold up just fine on our roads up in Edmonton Alberta, I have hit some decent potholes with them and no problems as of yet.

[SGM <3]

With wheels you get what you pay for, simple as that.

Maybe look into Enkei wheels? They're on the cheaper side and I've heard nothing but good things about them.

[Dackelone]

Why not look for some used BMW OE wheels in 17's. I've seen some 1er guys put e46 five spoke wheels on their cars.

[Lemans DTM]

VMR are always a good choice

[1speedbike]

I ran two different sets of 17" Drag wheels for winters. No problems whatsoever. Normally, thick winter tires help cushion them and prevent cracking, but I was on runflat snow tires both times which were pretty stiff. I like them a lot.

Sport edition, ASA, Bremmer Kraft, Moda, Sparco, Motegi Racing, and Elbrus are all decent cheap brands. I would stay away from Platinum personally. They look like weak "bling" wheels. But they're heavy for the size and don't come all that wide. Enkei and VMR are also good but a little more expensive (they're still super cheap, though).

I don't like wheels any more expensive than about $300-400 per wheel on the roads where I live because they all invariably get messed up eventually. Even if you NEVER curb your car, you're eventually going to go through some pothole with a sharp edge that nicks your wheels. That said, you do get what you pay for and no matter what a $100 wheel will be less structurally sound than a $300 wheel.