Wheel Style Guide

When shopping for wheels, no one can argue that the number one consideration (outside of size, perhaps) is how it looks. You may have other requirements such as load rating, construction type, or durability but ultimately if that wheel doesn’t look good, you’re not buying it!

Unfortunately, there is no real consistency with how manufacturers describe their rims. With no oversight, one brand will call a wheel X and another brand will call it Y. It can make shopping for the right look, price, and size challenging.

We’ve decided enough is enough. This wheel style guide will take some of the mystery (and confusion) out of wheel shopping.

Or if you’re ready to dive in yourself, you can start by shopping our wheel catalog.

MESH STYLE WHEELS

Stylish and sporty, mesh style wheels utilize an intricate pattern of spokes to create interconnected diamonds or square windows. The look overall is meant to emulate a metal mesh pattern, like you may find on a metal fence or other structure.

As you can imagine, this type of wheel is popular with sport and performance enthusiasts.

Mesh wheels are often confused or lumped in with split-spoke wheels, and this is at least in part because wheel dealers and manufacturers often interchange the terms. Technically yes, mesh wheels have split spokes but they are tighter, closer together compared to split-spoke designs.

Some good examples are the Enkei 92 from Enkei’s Classic series line. It sports an old-school mesh design, excellent array of finishes, and works wonderfully in the tuner market.

For a more modern take on a mesh style wheel, check out Vӧxx’s Nice or Masi wheels. They both feature closely intersecting spokes in artful patterns in appealing finishes such as gloss black and silver mirror with machined lip.

DEEP DISH OR DEEP LIP WHEELS

Deep dish or deep lip wheels are easily recognizable due to their dramatic appearance. The wheel face is set far back into the wheel to expose an exaggerated, wide lip. This separates the rim from the spokes and center cap. Deep dish wheels allow for a larger diameter wheel and more aggressive stance on vehicles with limited clearance.

The degree of lip depth varies by design with some wheels only having a slim strip of lip on display and others basically giving you the entire width of the wheel. Regardless, a deep dish/lip wheel delivers instant impact and style.

Deep dish wheels offer improved stance and brake clearance but can be heavier than traditional wheels and can be more exposed to damage from curbs, rough roads, road debris and other damage.

You typically see deep dish/lip wheels on trucks but there are also tons of options for passenger cars too. The tuner and muscle car enthusiast community in particular loves this look; see the Kӧnig SSM with its traditional five star spoke design and race-ready build.

A related or partner style are concave wheels, which feature a wheel face that recesses inward away from the outer edge. The spokes typically still touch the lip. This creates a luxurious, high end look. Concave wheels can be for a wide variety of applications, whether for the street (check out the Drag DR-79) or for off-road jaunts (see the Fuel Beast D564).

SPLIT-SPOKE WHEELS

Split-spoke wheels, as you can guess, are characterized by a split in each spoke on the wheel face, often (but not always) in a “Y” pattern. This branching and splitting can yield some amazing design details and vibes. You can see this easily with the Niche Vice.

Other great examples of wheels with a split-spoke design include the Liquid Metal Shift (with a beautiful gunmetal finish) and the Drag DR-70 with its attractive directional split-spoke styling.

Some split-spoke wheels can be so intricate in their splits and branches that one could argue they ought to be considered a mesh style wheel, such as the American Racing AR27 Barrage.

This is a wide category of wheel design with subset styles, including snowflake wheels which feature a split-spoke face that looks like a snowflake. Wheel Replica’s Snowflake is a great example. Star, flower, or sun designs are also popular looks.

MULTI-SPOKE WHEELS

Multi-spoke wheels are the standard wheel style and perhaps the most common. Multiple spokes radiate out from a central hub to brace against the wheel’s barrel or lip. There is a huge degree of artistry to be found in multi-spoke wheels by utilizing different layering, finishes, spoke shapes, and designs.

A multi-spoke wheel can fall in other wheel design categories. For example, a deep dish wheel can also have multiple spokes like the Vision Razor. Split-spoke wheels are a subcategory of multi-spoke wheels.

A popular option is the traditional five spoke wheel, often found on performance vehicles due to racing tradition. For example, the Motegi Racing MR145 Traklite 3.0 is found on street and track tuner vehicles. Its forged aluminum construction yields excellent but lightweight strength vital to crossing the finish line.

If you’re looking for a racing wheel, you can check out our blog on the best racing wheels for inspiration.

MODULAR WHEELS

Modular wheels are characterized by the circular holes on the wheel face instead of traditional spokes. Usually these wheels have 10 total holes and tend to be smaller than the “windows” created by traditional spokes. These cut outs help reduce the weight of the wheel, reduce brake dust accumulation, and allow air to reach the brakes to cool them down.

Modular wheels are typically truck wheels or trailer wheels due to their robust construction that can handle high load capacity. The Liquid Metal Mod Trailer is an excellent example with a wide range of trailer sizes, strong load capacity of up to 4400 lbs and customary silver finish.

For your dually truck, we urge you to turn to the Ultra Modular Dually, which offers style, capability, a lifetime structural warranty, and one-piece cast aluminum A356 alloy construction for lightweight strength.

VINTAGE STYLE WHEELS

Vintage style wheels seek to recreate the original look to your classic vehicle but at current wheel construction and safety standards. They tend to feature limited finishes, opting for a timeless silver, chrome, or polished finale. Compared to today’s designs, they tend to be simple and curvy. Popular styles include the “propeller” five spoke design like American Racing’s Torq Thrust II.

The classic full face Cragar Smoothie 313 is also a favorite option for vintage 50’s and 60’s trucks and sedans, such as the 1965 Chevy Impala or 1957 Chevy 3100. The chrome plated face provides a mirror like surface that is appealing in motion and creates a stunning cohesive look without taking too much attention from the vehicle as a whole.

Drivers with vintage muscle cars tend to gravitate towards vintage style wheels that sport superior modern technology. Take the Vision Legend 5, a throwback powered by modern construction and aesthetics. It has the traditional five spoke turbine/propeller design and stepped lip for that old-school vibe. But it boasts modern machined finishes, a huge array of fitments and offsets with lightweight cast aluminum alloy construction.

Some wheel manufacturers who offer vintage style wheels include Cragar, American Racing Wheels, Ridler, and Vision Wheels.

If you’re looking for appropriate tires for your vintage vehicle, check out our blog on classic car tires.

Ready to roll?

Wheel style is a lead factor for your next rim purchase. We hope this guide gives you the info you need to make an informed decision. But if you’re still not sure, give us a ring or drop in. We’ll help you get the best possible option (and price) for you and your vehicle.

Walk-ins are always welcome but we encourage you to buy and make your appointment online first. Customers who buy and book online wait less time in-store!

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