After market wheels vs. factory

[rcdice]

As a few of you out there know, I'm anxiously awaiting delivery of my first Viper. Scheduled for May 8th. Anyway, among other things, I'd like to add after market wheels sooner than later. I was over at a neighbors house last night who owns two 01 GTS's (ones an ACR). The non-ACR has been heavily modified by Archer and sports 18" Forgeline wheels. The wheels are factory size and have standard 18" Pilots on them. However, the tires "look" totally different than the tires on the stock ACR. They stick out slightly farther and actually bulge. Looks much more aggressive than the factory stance.

Do all the after market wheels (HRE, Kinesis, etc.) provide this look or is this unique to Forgeline? I personally like it. When both cars are sitting there side by side it's a night and day difference.

 

[patgilm]

I have Forgelines as well and the offsets are a bit different than other aftermarket wheels causing the wheels to stick out a little bit more and flush with the fender. I have noticed this also when comparing mine to HRE's.

 

[STUGOTS]

maybe its just me but i like the stock gen 2 wheels over ever after market wheel i have seen.

Thats why im getting another set since my are scratched bad

 

[rcdice]

Stugots,

I don't dislike the factory wheels, I just want a slightly different look. The wheels on the car I'm buying look perfect. I plan on keeping them in case I want to return the car to stock. Actually, I'm still looking at going with a five spoke type look but more like the wheels on say a 97. I like the look of the small bolts all the way around on the three piece wheels and want a lip offset to give a slightly more deep dish look. Right now my favorite (from pics anyway) are Kinesis K58's or K58R's.

 

[STUGOTS]

what year viper are you buying?

 

[rcdice]

01 RT, yellow. I plan to stay w/ 18" wheels. I like the look of the Kinesis better than the Forgeline, but the way the Forgelines mount up looks awesome. IMHO anyway.

 

[C O D Y]

I know this will not go over well, but changing wheels has to be the worst mod ever to a viper! Look at the cost and the benefit is almost nothing besides looks (to some people the stock ones look better). When I see after market wheels I think one of two things has happened, either it is a wrecked car or the wheels were curbed so bad that they put new after market wheels on. Nothing wrong with changing some things on a viper, but the wheels! Come on, there is nothing wrong with 18" factory viper wheels.

The stock 18" wheels are light weight, polished, clear coated, look good and are very strong. You know what, forget it...... I can't change your minds nor do I really want to. Keep changing them and selling the stock ones. I'll sell them back to the guy that buys your viper from you in 10 years and wants it to be stock.

If you really want to change something change the air filters, go to smooth tubes, lose the muffler, resonators, get rid of the cats, change the rear end to a 3:55, add stripes, or add some nice MGW pieces to the interior. All could be done for close to the cost of some after market wheels.

I'm sure I'm just to old to get it.

 

[STUGOTS]

well man im 20 and i don't get it.

I love the stock gen 2 rims,now gen 1 rims if i had a gen 1 i would change em for sure but i love the gen 2 rims.

so if anyone can sell MINT gen 2 rims and beat the price of 1900 i saw on a site let me know cuz im looking cuz mine were curbed before i bought the car.

 

[Jerry Dobson]

I like the Stock wheels. I just sent mine off to be chromed.

We just put a set of 546 HREs on Rycks car. Hmm...Stock looked almost better. HRE are not race wheels and have broken on the track.

Forgelines sticks out too far. The offset is wrong. The factory wheels line up with the sidesills. So seeing Forgelines, they line up with the top of the fender. This makes them stick out.... Almost has a "Rice" look to them. Too me, it looks like someone had a set of wheels lying around and put them on a Viper.

These are just my personal opinions. We all have different tastes. Remember, you paid for your car, make yourself happy with mods and updates that you like.

 

[Go Fast For Life]

Remember, only 99 and later had the 18" wheels. Earlier models had 17". And 96 and early 97 wheels were cast AL vs forged AL.

Aside from the personal choice of what you think looks best on your own car, the fact is that with larger wheels, you can add larger aftermarket brakes.

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[Russ M]

well man im 20 and i don't get it.

I love the stock gen 2 rims,now gen 1 rims if i had a gen 1 i would change em for sure but i love the gen 2 rims.

so if anyone can sell MINT gen 2 rims and beat the price of 1900 i saw on a site let me know cuz im looking cuz mine were curbed before i bought the car.

STUGOTS,

As I replied to your other post that company has never had nor will they ever have a Viper wheel. They list all manufacturers wheels, and will only sell you a set of Viper wheels for that price if they get a set.

Dont keep your hopes up, for that to happen some one with a set of Viper wheels needs to sell it to them for about 1/2 of that 1900 price. Which means you will never get a set from them.

If you want a set of 18" factory wheels you will have to pay about 2500-3000.

 

[Casey]

Remember, only 99 and later had the 18" wheels. Earlier models had 17". And 96 and early 97 wheels were cast AL vs forged AL.

Aside from the personal choice of what you think looks best on your own car, the fact is that with larger wheels, you can add larger aftermarket brakes.

You must be registered for see images

That's a Nice Looking GTS!!

Anxious to get it home?

 

[Go Fast For Life]

Casey,

I'm counting the minutes!

 

[STUGOTS]

Russ after you told me that on the other post i gave them a call and they said they had them in stock.

 

[Kurt 97 GTS]

I have chromed 17 inch wheels and am switching to 18 inch HRE. The HRE's just look better and I think there are some handling benefits to going with an 18 inch rim/tire (except if your a drag racer!!).

 

[IEATVETS]

Everybody is different and likes different things. Most of us like the look of the factory wheels, me included, but it would be a pretty boring world if we all had the same wheels on our Vipers! I have Forgeline wheels as you all can tell from my avatar, and I like the looks of them. I do not know what some of you mean by saying that the Forgeline wheels stick out. Mine are flush with the wheel well and look great. So Bob, if you like aftermarket wheels buy them. Don't let anybody else tell you what to do to your car. Let people tell you what they like, mull it over, then in the end do what you feel is the best thing for you. That is all.

 

[rcdice]

Everybody is different and likes different things. Most of us like the look of the factory wheels, me included, but it would be a pretty boring world if we all had the same wheels on our Vipers! I have Forgeline wheels as you all can tell from my avatar, and I like the looks of them. I do not know what some of you mean by saying that the Forgeline wheels stick out. Mine are flush with the wheel well and look great. So Bob, if you like aftermarket wheels buy them. Don't let anybody else tell you what to do to your car. Let people tell you what they like, mull it over, then in the end do what you feel is the best thing for you. That is all.

Exactly! Now here is a man who knows what he's talking about. What is it that they say about variety... yeah, you know. Likes and dislikes in wheels, stripes or no stripes, wing vs. no wing, one color over another, etc. It's all subjective. I'll keep the factory wheels in storage. Since they're perfect now and won't be on the car, I expect they'll be perfect in 10 years. I have some rather strong likes and dislikes as it relates to cars as I'm sure most everyone on this board does too. To ME, the factory 99+ wheels look too heavy. They may weigh the same or even less than many of the after market wheels, but they look too bulky to me. Who knows, they may grow on me and I may decide that it's not worth the $4k+ for after market. But for now, I'm doing the research because that's the direction I think I'm heading. First things first however. Air intake, exhaust and a 3:55 rear end upgrades first, then I'll worry about wheels.

 

[KurtZ RT-10]

I like the stock wheels, but when my wife saw the startech she said those are so butch, I got to have them. So what ever my wife wants see gets.

 

[ViperRay]

The 17" wheels pose a problem if you want to go with bigger (stoptech) brakes. Now I got 18' Purners and have some racing rubber on them. I still can't get the stoptechs though 'cause the 17' stock wheels have the street rubber. You need 2 sets of wheels if you track the car at all and still drive it on the street unless you have your own tire mounting machine (or just drive the stock 17" wheels/street tires with sh!tty brakes on the track). It's no small problem unless expense is no problem. I may end up selling the stock wheels to get a second set of aftermarket wheels for the street.

 

[AG98RT10]

You can have your stock 17 inch forged wheels AND good braking! Forget the Stop Tech front kit that REDUCES braking force to make up for the weak rear calipers and buy Incyte Technology (TomS) 40mm rear caliper upgrade for 600 bucks. There is nothing wrong with the Brembo front calipers - just need to bring the rears up to speed so the fronts don't lock up early! I just put Tom's rear calipers, Stoptech slotted rotors, Stoptech stainless steel lines, and Brakeman 3's on my car and it tracked very well.

 

[JWVIPER]

AG98RT10, where did you get yours from, I like the idea for me on the street.

 

[AG98RT10]

AG98RT10, where did you get yours from, I like the idea for me on the street.

Let's see if I can link this... if not, go to this site's Performance Modifications area and look for Tom's post.

thread

 

[JWVIPER]

AG98RT10, where did you get yours from, I like the idea for me on the street.

Let's see if I can link this... if not, go to this site's Performance Modifications area and look for Tom's post.

thread

thanks I followed the links and will try to acquire the same for my next visit to the Viper Wizard Chuck Tator and he can install all for me

 

[Russ M]

Russ after you told me that on the other post i gave them a call and they said they had them in stock.

Call them back and try to buy them, been there done that. They gave me the same story for the ACR wheels which they have listed for $480.00 each.

 

[STUGOTS]

dam that ***** that would be a great deal too.
I would have tyied to order em but i don't hav ethe $1,900 as of yet, unless you would like to spot me $1,900 lol then i would buy em today lol