How long has it been since I’ve done a wheel post?  Too damn long!  Although honestly the reason is because I have not seen any new designs lately have piqued my interest; until today!  Granted the Weds Sport SA-50M may not be that “new” (although it still says the design is new on the website) but its new to me!  I really love the almost “sculpled” shape of the spokes and the grove (which kind of resembles a sword blade) is pretty sweet.  I can see a lot of people having fun doing custom paint schemes with this design.

I think in the near future this wheel will really catch on with the Scion FR-S crowd.  If you want to be among the first then I suggest you hit up your local Weds Sport dealer ASAP!

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Earlier today, the guys at Mackin Industries posted a preview picture on their facebook page of the next evolution of Volk TE37.  The new wheel called the TE37RT (RT stands for “Rigid Tune”) is designed to be just as light as the TE37SL but with a barrel that is “5-7% stiffer”.  It also features a diamond-cut rim flange, anti-slip bead, and machined logo.

The guys at Mackin say the new TE37RT will be released sometime in the middle of this year and so far the “burning red” color you see here will be the only hue available, although that will likely change at some point.  Most popular 5 lug bolt patterns will be available including 5×130 for Porsche 997 and GT3′s.  Sizes range from 17×9.5 up to 18×11.

Going by the picture (full pic by clicking the thumbnail below) it looks like the new TE37RT will also be right at home on the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ.  I can’t wait to see the new TE’s up close!

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Listen up Euro fan boys.  Vorsteiner just dropped new meshie shoes for your “insert awesome European car here”.  The new VS-400 is a concave, step-lipped, three-piece mesh wheel that is right at home on something like a BMW 1M.  The great thing about this design is that it adds some class without the yuppieness.  You are not going to see some glittery shirt, flat billed cap-wearing, tribal band tattooed douchbag rocking these bad boys.  That is one of the best things about Vorsteiner, they only market to the people who can appreciate what they produce.

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I just saw a sneak peek via Mackin Industries twitter feed at yet another new TE37 variation.  As the post title suggests it is dubbed the “Tokyo Time Attack- Progressive Model”.  It might be hard to tell in the picture but one of the first big differences with this new TE37 is that instead of the iconic sticker the Volk Racing logo is now engraved into the spoke.  Since moving/removing/changing the sticker is popular with some TE37 owners, the engraved spoke may not be great news.  For those who like the original TE37 sticker but are tired of having to replace it after it peels/fades then the engraved spoke is awesome news!  Personally, I think it looks fresh.  Click the thumbnail below for a larger pic.

Since this was just a sneak peek I have no information on pricing, weight, or release date but I imagine all of that will be public soon.  You might want to follow Mackin Industries to make sure you get the scoop ASAP.

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Hot from my inbox is news that HRE has launched the new Competition C90S series of wheels today and I can already pick out what I think will be one of the favorites.  The new series consists of three designs but the wheel that sticks out the most to me is the C96S.  When I first saw it I thought this is likely what the offspring of a TE37 and a BBS LM would look like yet it is still uniquely HRE.  The three piece construction makes it look elegant while the spoke design evokes some serious strength and motorsport readiness.  In fact, the C96S is the wheel of choice for the crazy Pikes Peak NSX built by LoveFab Inc. which has been making the Internet rounds lately. 

I would expect to see a lot more of this wheel and the other wheels in the new C90S line at this year’s SEMA show.

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It has been a while since I have done a wheel post so jumping back into it I wanted to make sure I came back with something good.  Thus, I present to you the Vorsteiner VS-310!  This is one of the few “split-spoke” designs from Vorsteiner and like the other split spoke designs the VS-310 has a nice aggressive look.  Sizes start at 19″ and go up to 22″ and widths go from 8″ to 13″ so you can go big and wide if you want.  I will pause here so you can form your double entendres….got them?  OK!  Anyhow, the VS-310 is a pretty sweet wheel for the Euro guys, heck you might want to sport this with some of the higher end Japanese cars.  I can see the VS-310 looking very nice on a Lexus IS, Acura NSX, or even a Nissan 370Z. 

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The TE37 has been around for a few decades now and no matter what Rays Engineering/Volk Racing does to it, they still have not found a way to make this wheel look ugly.  It is just not possible!  Anyhow Evasive Motorsports got a preview of the newest color variation on the TE37SL or “Super Laps”.  The TE37SL “Black Edition” will feature a “pressed black” finish and two “luminous” wheel spoke decals.  Not sure if by “luminous” they mean the decals would glow in the dark, but it would be pretty damn fresh if they did!  So far there has been no MSRP or production numbers announced but Evasive says the wheels should be available sometime in October of this year.  If you want a set you should give them a call.  If they like you they might let you pre-order a set.

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[Source: EvasiveMotorBlog]

Let me paint a word picture for you: You have your eye on a particular wheel but you are unsure how said wheel will look on your car.  You then go to your forum of choice and make a desperate plea that someone “photochop” the wheel onto a picture of your car.  Instead, forum trolls come out from under their bridge and begin an epic flame war hurling insults such as “your car is teh sux!!11″ and “mY eG CiViC PwNs U!” then the power-drunk forum mod closes your thread and nothing gets accomplished except raising your blood pressure.  All too familiar isn’t it?

Well the guys at SSR Wheels found away for you to avoid all of that grief.  If you have a particular SSR wheel in mind for your car simply download their SSR Wheel app for your iPhone or iPad, take a side profile picture of your car, then use the app to apply any one of their wheels to your car with some simple touch screen drag & drop action!

If this glorious innovation has not brought you to tears yet you will certainly sob after I tell you that this app is totally free! Yes! Gratis!  Now, go fourth and wheel shop ’till your heart’s content!

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The wheel wizards at Enkei Japan are working on a new light-weight racing wheel dubbed the RS05RR to help shave laptimes on track cars.  Word has it that even in the early test phases the wheels managed to shave .05 seconds off their 350Z track car.  That might not seem like a lot but in racing conditions that could be the difference between 1st and 2nd place.  So far there is no word on availability or pricing but I would expect a wheel like this to be in the range of a Volk TE37 price-wise.

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[Source: CornerBalance]

Work Wheels is adding to their “Gnosis” line with the new HS203 wheel.  It is basically your classic five-spoke star wheel but the guys at Work had European cars in mind during its design.  The HS203 is made to order in Japan and they have a few options laid out for users.  There are five different finish options as well as the option to go full reverse-barrel (19″ or 20″) or step lip (20″ or 21″).  These wheels look like they are forged but they are actually made through “low pressure casting”.  Which I am sure is a much better process than traditional casting but I would like to see a new forged wheel from Work in the near future.

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