STOCK 18s or AFTERMARKET WHEELS???

[DEVILDOG]

I'm interested in getting everyone's input on this subject. I've been thinking of getting aftermarket wheels to complete the mods on my car for a loonnngggg time. However, I keep coming back to the stock 18s because of the thick spokes and clean design not to mention the ease of cleaning. I don't want to go beyond 18s due to performance issues and can't decide on a wheel I like better than the stockers. Anybody got any aftermarket suggestions/pics? How many of you like the stock 18s best?

 

[MacManInfi]

I hear ya. I really want new wheels, but no aftermarket wheels catch my eye. The only rims that I'd jump for are the new coupe's wheels. Mmmmmmmm... so spendy though. Gotta save my pennies.

 

[Danno]

You will get a lot of different opinions on this one but I really like the looks of your factory wheels. (I also like my factory 97 wheels but wish they were made in 18 inches instead of 17)

 

[Midwest Muscle]

My GTS is the first late model car that I've ever bought where I didn't feel the need to change the wheels the first week I owned it. I like these!!

Mike M

 

[DodgeViper01]

Had the same delemia but finally chose to keep the stockers. I went and bought a new set and had them chromed. Amazing looking. I would say for your car, get a set of aftermarkets. They will accent your car, only thing is they are so darn expensive although CCW's are not bad. I just decided to stay stock after talking with Tator. I rather have my somewhat smooth ride and the stockers do not look half bad, especially when chromed, they look amazing!!!

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

I don't mean to be rude, but about how much did it cost you for the chrome F355? I'm leaning toward doing the same thing.

 

[DodgeViper01]

I don't mean to be rude, but about how much did it cost you for the chrome F355? I'm leaning toward doing the same thing.

Not rude at all, you are looking at $200 - $250 a wheel. The cheapest best looking option in my opinion.

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

Not to mention the fact that they will stay shiny shiny

Thanks!

 

[DodgeViper01]

Oh yeah. Always clean. LOL! Good luck.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

I like the stock wheels so much, I bought a 2nd set. One for the track and one for the road.
It's funny, even kids that have never seen a Viper before, love the RIMS. If only, they would keep spinning when you stopped
I would like to see what a set on an SRT would look like.

 

[JUCD VPR]

In my opinion i think the stock 18's look nice BUT i think like a set of the CCW 505's look way better on a car, especially one like yours. I am going to be switching over to the CCW's soon. Just my .02 cents but the CCW 505's would look awesome on your car.

 

[Detlef]

Here are my choices for your consideration:

The new coupe wheels

The new H wheels

After market wheels

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

I like the new coupe wheels on you car. It gives you car a more solid and mean look.

 

[mit]

SRT Coupe wheels are 19" in the rear. The original poster wanted to stay with 18's. If I did a wheel upgrade, I would go with CCW SP600 or HRE 845R. I have only seen those wheels in 19" and not 18" but think both would still look great.

I get compliments on my factory 18" wheels all the time. I have had the car 5 years so when these tires burn out it will be tempting to get new wheels and rubber just to change things up a little bit. I am also a little concerned about 355/25/19 on the rear. That doesn't sound like a lot of sidewall and I have to think ride quality will suffer but I have heard people swear by the Pirelli Rossa's.

On the other hand, my tires are fairly new and as much as I like my car right now when I hit 7 years, I will probably get an itch. I don't want to start dumping money into it especially since I fear that body panels are going to become harder and harder to come by.

 

[Randy]

I like the stock wheels so much, I bought a 2nd set. One for the track and one for the road.

When I had my '95, I really REALLY *REALLY* wanted a set of the wide-five spoke 18" wheels when they came out in '99. I priced getting a set of them and found, to my chagrin, that the MSRP of them was something like $1350 *each*. Now, through a club arrangement with a local dealer, I could get them for cost-plus-10% (which worked out to $750/each - nice markup, eh?), and since I had the 17" three-spokers that were stock in '95, that would imply a full set of new 18" tires, which worked out to a total price of something like $4500 at the time. Ouch.

So, when a fellow club member was selling a set of '97 (narrow five-spike, 17") wheels, an additional spare front wheel, and 8 Hoosier RS03's (six slightly used, two fronts still in the plastic) for a total price of $2600, I jumped at it.

I still wanted those '99-'02 wide-spoke 18"s, though. In the end, I got mine by getting the whole car, though.

So, I now have the set of narrow spoke '97 wheels for my track wheels, which works out very well because 1) you have more tire options in 17", 2) 17" tires are cheaper, and most importantly, 3) the narrow-spoke wheels have better cooling, according to people that have more track experience (as well as a few track records) than I.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

Here are my choices for your consideration:
The new coupe wheels

The new H wheels

After market wheels


--------------------

I'm a big fan of the H wheels, but I still think 18'' OEM's look best. Call me crazy. I'm a purist.

 

[Knight Viper]

I agree with JUDC VPR THe CCW 505 is an AWESOME on the Viper.
http://gallery.viperclub.org/showphoto.php/photo/24580/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

 

[JUCD VPR]

Knight Viper ~ Yup great minds think alike lol

Detlef ~ can you photoshop some CCW 505's on those pics so he can see what they look like on his car?

 

[Got Venom]

I think like F355, that Polished or chrome is the best bang for the buck. I had my wheels High-Polished, and they are even shinier than chrome. They are not that hard to keep clean either. I think they charged me around $500 for all 4 wheels to strip off the clear coat and polish them up for me.

 

[viper spray]

Too bad Austin is banned , he could photo shop any wheels on any color car.

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

I was going to get new aftermarket wheels. I was on my way out to an event and saw a viper dirve by me going about 70. the wheels looked great! The way they spun and just generally looked great. Later when we got to the event, I saw they were stock wheels. Needless to say, I stayed stock.

AC

 

[V 10 MAFIA]

I had the same dilemma and wanted to keep the geometry of the car the same. So I ended up keeping my stock 18's. The only aftermarkets I was considering were the new SRT rims, I Forged, or Forgeline VR 1. I thought the stock wheels were the best compromise because I didn't want to loose the integrity of the original setup. I didn't want to put aftermarket only so everyone would just be drawn to the wheels and not the rest of the car. Although wheels are important, I don't think they should take attention away from the rest of the car (just like the way everybody checks out 24inch Giovanni wheels on a Hummer and that becomes the whole focal point of the vehicle). If I was going aftermarket I would definitely stick with 18".

Andrew's right, nothing looks as nice as the stockers when the're spinnin!

Badass I-Forged!

Even though these are 19" IForged can make them 18"

I-Forged Aeros Black Center

Kickin Forgeline 19", I don't know if Forgeline makes these in 18"

If you go too crazy with aftermarket stuff it may turn into something like this.

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

Stock 18" are one of the best factory wheel IMO....
Or the Gen3 coupe wheels...
All OE parts...

 

[DEVILDOG]

Thanks for the thoughts and pics. Seems like the majority is for the stockers thus far. Anybody else care to comment? Thanks.

 

[INSOMNIAC]

Thanks for the thoughts and pics. Seems like the majority is for the stockers thus far. Anybody else care to comment? Thanks.

Do you like these?

They are for sale. http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB21&Number=651790&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Good luck.

 

[DodgeViper01]

If you go too crazy with aftermarket stuff it may turn into something like this.

Nice exhaust system there. LOL!

 

[C-Note]

These are CCW 505A's
They are 19's but I think you can get them in 18's.

 

[Dave's Big Brakes]

I like VR-1's

 

[Midwest Muscle]

What's the going price for a full set of 19" CCW 505A's ... I like those!!

Mike M

 

[JUCD VPR]

What's the going price for a full set of 19" CCW 505A's ... I like those!!

Mike M

Midwest Muscle~ I was quoted $3000.00. for a set of 18"