Who are the best Wheel Manufacturers and why?

[tyoneal]

Hello:

I am looking for the best wheel manufacturer(s) I can find for a new product I want to bring to market in the near future. I have worked a number of years and have been Granted a Utility Patent on this wheel.

Specifically, I want to find out:

What wheel manufacturers do you think, as end users, are the best at what they do?

Since the end users are the people who have plucked their hard earned money down for the best set of wheels they can find for their personal dream cars, and who are in a position to determine what they have received for their money, and learned along the way, I consider these people to be experts in the field, and the ones who I really seek honest sincere answers from.

Manufacturers are also welcome, as in the end I hope to hire, or partner with one or more to help me bring a quality product to a segment of the wheel market I think has been over looked. My goal is to forge (No pun intended) a connection first, and a strong working relationship second, that has at its core a fair and equitable business arrangement for each of us, as well as the end user.

You can list different manufacturers, because in many cases some companies are better at specific applications than others.

Please consider the following categories in your answers:

What Manufacturer Builds the best Forged Wheels?

What Manufacturer Builds the best Cast Wheels?

What Manufacturer can produce the best Billet Wheels?

What wheel Manufacturer do you think offers the most options, or has the capability of building the most unique Wheels?

What Manufacturer Builds the best Carbon Graphite Wheels?

What Wheel Manufacturer gives the customer the best, "Bang for the Buck?

What Wheel Manufacturer has the highest quality control?

What Wheel manufacturer is best capable of offering a Custom Wheel at a fair price?

What Wheel Manufacturer has the best Customer Service?

Is being built in the USA an important factor in your buying decision even if it means you have to spent a bit more money?

All input is greatly appreciated.

I am trying to find out what peoples perspective and experiences, have been with the different Wheel manufacturers, and what do they wish had been different?

Please list only positive experiences one has had if they are current sponsors of
this Forum.

I don't want in anyway to cause any detrimental discussions about any vendor who has spent money to advertise on this site. If you have a problem with any of them, please report your problem to the website administrator, if you want to email me, and that is allowed by the owners of this forum, then I would certainly appreciate that as well.

If you have thoughts not otherwise mentioned above, please feel free to express these thoughts.

Thank again for your time and opinions.

Sincerely,

Ty O'Neal

[dontlifttoshift]

I still don't know what you are trying to accomplish and I realize that can't divulge too much information but if this is the 15"/16" wheel thing I implore you to consider that tire selection is non existent.

That I aside, I'll play.

What Manufacturer Builds the best Forged Wheels?

Forgeline or Billet Specialties. Almost all of the 2 piece wheels in the BS catalog are forged centers. Side note, last I heard there were only a couple of actual manufacturers forging the centers in the US that _all_ of the wheel companies use. Same goes for the one piece hoops.

What Manufacturer Builds the best Cast Wheels?

I really don't think it matters but I would talk to Team3 or Real Rodders Wheels.

What Manufacturer can produce the best Billet Wheels?

Billet Specialties. period.

What wheel Manufacturer do you think offers the most options, or has the capability of building the most unique Wheels?

Forgeline or Billet Specialties

What Manufacturer Builds the best Carbon Graphite Wheels?

:shrug:

What Wheel Manufacturer gives the customer the best, "Bang for the Buck?

Forgestar.

What Wheel Manufacturer has the highest quality control?

Forgeline or Billet Specialties

What Wheel manufacturer is best capable of offering a Custom Wheel at a fair price?

Lolwut. Define fair. Define custom.

What Wheel Manufacturer has the best Customer Service?

Forgeline or Billet Specialties....see a pattern?

Is being built in the USA an important factor in your buying decision even if it means you have to spent a bit more money?

It matters to me, it may not matter to others. It should matter to you. Not having wheels on back order for 8-10 weeks is a good thing so is not having to tell your customers you are waiting for the boat to come in.

[Build-It-Break-it]

Donny hit the nail on the head. I try to spend my money here in the USA when ever possible. I don't have the open check book like some on here but I do save to buy/ spend money where I feel it's best even if it's overseas.

I wouldn't mind a cast wheel but strength might be an issue with high side loads. Like said above tire selection would also be a limiting factor for track driving, so then your audience would be just a car show or cruising wheels.

[tyoneal]

Originally Posted by Build-It-Break-it

Donny hit the nail on the head. I try to spend my money here in the USA when ever possible. I don't have the open check book like some on here but I do save to buy/ spend money where I feel it's best even if it's overseas.

I wouldn't mind a cast wheel but strength might be an issue with high side loads. Like said above tire selection would also be a limiting factor for track driving, so then your audience would be just a car show or cruising wheels.

==========================================
Your sentiment reflects my own value set regarding where something is made. I know in some cases the processes to make certain things because of Government regulations makes it impossible for specific parts to be made. In that case you have "assembled" in the USA, instead for really manufactured.
I hope with the new president manufacturing will begin to come back so many of the people now who are very experienced craftsman can go back to work and do what they do best and like to do.

Made in the USA, will always my preference.

Ty O'Neal

[tyoneal]

I am pasting in the original post so your answers will make more sense to the readers. (And Me)

Hello:

I am looking for the best wheel manufacturer(s) I can find for a new product I want to bring to market in the near future. I have worked a number of years and have been Granted a Utility Patent on this wheel.

Specifically, I want to find out:

What wheel manufacturers do you think, as end users, are the best at what they do?

Since the end users are the people who have plucked their hard earned money down for the best set of wheels they can find for their personal dream cars, and who are in a position to determine what they have received for their money, and learned along the way, I consider these people to be experts in the field, and the ones who I really seek honest sincere answers from.

Manufacturers are also welcome, as in the end I hope to hire, or partner with one or more to help me bring a quality product to a segment of the wheel market I think has been over looked. My goal is to forge (No pun intended) a connection first, and a strong working relationship second, that has at its core a fair and equitable business arrangement for each of us, as well as the end user.

You can list different manufacturers, because in many cases some companies are better at specific applications than others.


Dontlifttoshift:

I'll answer you questions (In Red) within your answers, ok?

Thank you giving the feedback, it will make a difference.

I hope a few others will do the same. I am hoping to find a pattern with the input that helps point in a common direction, with similar goals.

Best Regards,

Ty O'Neal
=====================================

[QUOTE=dontlifttoshift;659812]I still don't know what you are trying to accomplish and I realize that can't divulge too much information but if this is the 15"/16" wheel thing I implore you to consider that tire selection is non existent.

Believe me, I have hit this wall over and over, and that is one of the reasons I posted this.

Your exactly right the sizes of tires (for the 14-17 inch wheel) are extremely few and far between. Virtually nothing that would be really helpful for a Vintage/PT car. The solution I am proposing will take this issue off the table.

I think it will solve any issues people have with finding the correct Size, Speed Rating, Traction, and Wear Resistance.

I have contacted the tire manufacturers personally about getting some of the older sizes made for our segment of the market and have not had any luck.

Between minimum orders, stocking inventory, and just plain logistics, this route seems to go nowhere very quickly, and is simply not economical.

So this being is the case, I have a solution, and I want to try and bring it to our niche of the market. I am wanting to reach out find out what other interested people think.

I do appreciate you following through with your answers even though the problem of no size options, seems like a waste of time.

I promise if it was a waste of time, there is no way I would be asking you and everyone else to voluntarily waste their time, and signing my name to it.

I love this hobby now, and have my whole life, the last thing I want to do is be at the top of everyone "Poop" list for being a jerk.

For what it is worth, I have already invested a lot of time, and borrowed money into giving us a fix to this problem. (At least it would fix this problem for me. I would buy this product myself, however I have a big bias for it.)

This however, only gives me a sample size of 1, and unscientific at that. I am seeking to broaden the base of information specific to this, hence the reasons for all the questions.

I am wanting to further refine some of the nuances of everything, and the best way I know to do this is to get feedback from the end users, and do my best to satisfy, to the best of my ability, peoples frustration and my own.

I also have some very personal reasons, which I will go into later why I spent time trying to find a fix for this constant issue.

Again, thank I really do appreciate you bearing with me on this.

Sincerely,

Ty O'Neal

That I aside, I'll play.


1) What Manufacturer(s) Builds the best Forged Wheels?

[COLOR="Black"Forgeline or Billet Specialties. Almost all of the 2 piece wheels in the BS catalog are forged centers. Side note, last I heard there were only a couple of actual manufacturers forging the centers in the US that _all_ of the wheel companies use. Same goes for the one piece hoops.[/COLOR]

Noted

What Manufacturer Builds the best Cast Wheels?

I really don't think it matters but I would talk to Team3 or Real Rodders Wheels.

Noted

What Manufacturer can produce the best Billet Wheels?

Billet Specialties. period.

Noted

What wheel Manufacturer do you think offers the most options, or has the capability of building the most unique Wheels?

Forgeline or Billet Specialties

Noted

What Manufacturer Builds the best Carbon Graphite Wheels? (I added this question from my original posting, but I'm not sure it is in the right place given your answer, can you please tell be where this question belongs. Be Nice!)

:shrug:

I'm assuming the :shrug: is for the company below, and not above correct? Please consider sending me an email, if you haven't already for the "Shrug", ok. If you would prefer not to I understand that is fine as well.

Forgestar.

What Wheel Manufacturer has the highest quality control?

Forgeline or Billet Specialties

Are these wheels companies ones, where you have owned personally their products and had a positive experience with them , as far as being the customer, or second hand through a friend, or through the grapevine as in reputation?

What Wheel Manufacturer gives the customer the best, "Bang for the Buck?

or

What Wheel manufacturer is best capable of offering a Custom Wheel at a fair price?


Lolwut. Define fair.

Fair: "Given the cost of the Materials, Manufacturing, Overhead, Machinery necessary to build the product they offer, R and D, is the price being asked for the product appear to be something that can be justified, given what all was involve to get the product to the market"

Nothing is free, and people have to eat. The word Fair was used because I wanted your perception of value vs. quality vs. their competition.

Define "Custom"

Custom defined as intended: (Requested Definition) Which companies possess the ability to create something new enough in concept, and use, that the US Patent Office would allow a Utility Patent for, "A Wheel"? (Something that has been around for 1000's of years)

"An idea whether perfect or not, that brings with it something useful and unique to wheels previously produced before it."

Is this more helpful?

What Wheel Manufacturer has the best Customer Service? (Is this question pasted in the right location?)

Forgeline or Billet Specialties....see a pattern?

Is being built in the USA an important factor in your buying decision even if it means you have to spent a bit more money?

Is this answer related to the Customer Service question, or the one above?

It matters to me, it may not matter to others. It should matter to you. Not having wheels on back order for 8-10 weeks is a good thing so is not having to tell your customers you are waiting for the boat to come in.

Would you mind clarifying the above answer?

Thanks again for your participation. I promise I am really trying to make an attempt to further our passion in a positive way.

If you wouldn't mind encouraging other like minded people to voice their thoughts and experiences, I would really appreciate it.

There are so many other manufacturers out there, and since I am putting my name on this idea, I want to do the best I can to find the finest, most dependable people to manufacture this product. (If possible)

It makes my job easier to get input from the people I think might find it a worthwhile acquisition for their cars.

As always, "Thank You".

Sincerely,

Ty O'Neal

Everyone, if you wouldn't mind, please participate, and make sure the questions are near your answers so you efforts and time won't be wasted.

[JB400]

I'm going to take a long shot guess. You came up with a way to extend the wheel lip of a smaller wheel to accept a larger tire.

For example: putting a 18 inch tire on a 15 inch wheel.

Sort of like guys painting the outside of a wheel lip white making it look like a larger white wall tire.

[tyoneal]

There are only so many things one can do to solve this problem, that will achieve the desired outcome.

[tyoneal]

Originally Posted by JB400

I'm going to take a long shot guess. You came up with a way to extend the wheel lip of a smaller wheel to accept a larger tire.

For example: putting a 18 inch tire on a 15 inch wheel.

Sort of like guys painting the outside of a wheel lip white making it look like a larger white wall tire.

=========================================
I was thinking about your post, can you give me an example of what you are referring to?

I think you are the second person who mentioned a "white wall", having something to do with this wheel, but I'm not sure what that means.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Ty O'Neal

[dontlifttoshift]

Whitewalls. https://www.pilgrimrides.com/blank

The :shrug: was in response to carbon graphite wheels. I have no idea who makes the best ones and it seems irrelevant to your cause.

Our company has been using Billet Specialties products since the dawn of their existence. Never had a problem.

I don't know what fair pricing is. All of this stuff is expensive and none of it is essential. I will say, I don't believe there to be a huge market for expensive wheels that do not look expensive.

It is aggravating to be waiting for a product that is literally on the slow boat from China. Make them here, it's a selling point.

I had no idea where Frisco, TX was so I looked at a map. Finspeed is in Austin and I "think" they are back up and running again. They may be worth talking to as well. They certainly have the capability and their proximity to you should be a plus.

[craig510]

Originally Posted by tyoneal

=========================================
I was thinking about your post, can you give me an example of what you are referring to?

I think you are the second person who mentioned a "white wall", having something to do with this wheel, but I'm not sure what that means.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Ty O'Neal

I guess you never watched West Coast Customs. Do a google search for "west coast customs whitewall wheels corvette". It will come right up in the images.