by
George A. Magalios, Mediasophia INC

Custom wheels make a statement and represent the height of the coolness factor, regardless of what you drive. To be considered a serious player in the car collecting or racing game, you must have custom wheels. Custom wheels provide much more visual appeal, unique styling, and performance than stock cheap aluminum wheels. Most custom wheels are alloy wheels and are exceptionally well engineered for greater performance and durability. Custom wheels come in thousands of models and in many diameters, widths, and bolt patterns.

Whether you are a driver of a Toyota, a Ferrari, a Porsche, a Lexus, or a Dodge, custom wheels made by manufacturers such as American Racing, Dub, Boss, Status, Asanti, Lexani, TSW, KMC, Foose, XD Series, Ruff Racing, Cruiser Alloy, Limited, Element, and many others come in finishes ranging from chrome, silver, black, polished and hyper to machined, white, and gunmetal. There is practically no end to the possibilities when it comes to custom wheels styles and finishes. What is important for you is to find the right wheels for your budget that will fit on your car. To figure out the proper fitment, a good custom wheel shop will research your vehicle make and model, as well as its year and then find the appropriate diameter, bolt pattern, and offset. This is why it is important to make sure to purchase custom wheels from a reputable dealer that offers these services, knowledgeable expertise, and that stands behind all of its various custom wheels.

What makes custom wheels so special is that they are a fashionable accessory and an important element in your car’s performance. Custom wheel and rim fanatics change their wheels and rims as often as some people change their shoe styles. They are that serious. Custom rims usually change models every year and offer a number of variables and style types. Some wheels come with center caps while others have none and leave their lugs exposed. Most custom wheels and rims offer lugs and locks to protect your wheels from theft. American Racing pioneered custom wheels for road and track in the 1950s with the Torq Thrust model that is still manufactured today.

Some people collect custom wheels like others collect jewelery or baseball cards. Whatever your obsession, nothing beats a set of new custom wheels for your ride. If you want to get the attention of the beautiful blonde next door, your neighbor, or your town, just roll down the street in a new set of custom chrome wheels and watch the heads turn!

by George A. Magalios, Mediasophia INC

American Racing wheels are a living legend and a testament to ingenuity, fine styling, and engineering. Founded in the 1950s, when European racing rims prioritized modular semi-solid custom wheel designs, designer, the American Racing “Torq Thrust” was born when designer Tom Griffith created the tapered parabolic contour spoked wheel. This first American Racing wheel is a living legend in its own right and is still available today in a number of finishes and sizes. American racing wheels are known for the their custom designed wheel weight, increased stability, and more efficient brake cooling. The Torq Thrust is so intertwined with custom wheels and rims history that many claim it alone is responsible for starting the custom wheel phenomenon. The Torq Thrust ventually made the jump from racetrack to street and is available  in chrome and grey finishes for today’s hot cars.

The authentic “old school” Torq Thrust is highly collectible and is prized for its history and performance by many auto collectors. American Racing wheels represent the pinnacle of custom wheel history and design, and American racing is a proud fabricator of a number of fantastic new models like the Baja, the Razor, the Aero, and much much more.

The reputation and reliability of American Racing wheels extend all the way to the world of television where the tv series “Dukes of Hazzard” featured American Racing wheels for its seven seasons on the air. The 340 “General Lee” 1969 Dodge Chargers built by Warner Brothers for the show’s entirety featured American Racing Vector custom wheels. Many cars were totaled from all the stunts performed and during the entire run of the show only one wheel ever failed! This wheel is now an artifact in the private collection of a custom wheel and racing afficionado in California.

American Racing wheels have also played important roles on the big screen in such films as Bullitt, Transformers, and Die Hard with a Vengeance. Each of these roles testifies to the enduring appeal and classic look of the American Racing brand. Today American Racing wheels are available in finishes such as anthracite, magnesium, chrome, polished and silver. Sizes include 15 inch wheels, 16 inch wheels, 18 inch wheels and many more diameters and widths, allowing you to get a variety of looks and styles for your ride.