Category Archives: wheels

The Rays Vesta Eins Glacé “Strawberry” is the ultimate JDM fashion wheel

Today is Strawberry Day in Japan. The Japanese word for strawberry is ichigo, but as it happens, the Japanese pronunciation for the number one is ichi and the pronunciation for the number five is go. So “one-five” becomes “ichi–go” and … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Enkei RPF1RS now available in 18-inch sizes

It’s been 20 years since the release of the Enkei RPF1, a timeless racing wheel for Bubble Era cars. The super lightweight design has its roots in Formula 1 racing, but its consumer version has for two decades been one … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The base 2023 Nissan Z Sport 18-inch wheels will be timeless

Recently we got the chance to manhandle the 2023 Nissan Z. Nissan provided a base version, now called Sport, and an enthusiast’s version, called Performance. Most reviews have focused on the Performance trim, and rightly so. While the Performance is … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

SSR MK-I deep dish wheel goes back into production with a limited run of 600 units

SSR will soon be putting its game-changing wheel, the SSR MK-I in deep-dish spec, back into production for a limited run. How limited? There will be only 600 units made, enough to make only 150 sets of four. SSR’s now-parent … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | Tagged | 4 Comments

The 4×4 Engineering Bradley V returns for the wheel’s 40th anniversary

We’re sure most readers here are familiar with Japan’s most famous racing wheels from the likes of Rays, SSR, Work, Enkei, RS-Watanabe, and so on. On the off-road side of things, however, there’s another iconic wheel that is celebrating its … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Volk Racing 21A’s introduction completes Rays’ neo-classic wheels trilogy

Rays Wheels has launched their latest neo-classic model, the Volk Racing 21A. With its introduction to the market, the wheelmaker has completed its wheels inspired by the glory days of Japanese tuning and built for domestic cars of the era, … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | Leave a comment

SSR MK-II and MK-III re-releases sold out in five hours

Last year, SSR made a limited re-release of the legendary Speed Star series, known for their clean, timeless spoke designs and wide barrels. Demand for the wide sizing and interest from a new generation of kyusha fans brought them back … Continue reading

Posted in Product Guide, wheels | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Here’s what modern cars would look like with their predecessors’ wheels

There’s a new Facebook page that seems to have nothing but photochops of new cars with old wheels. Specifically, the images on the aptly named Unnecessary Wheel Swaps are of modern vehicles wearing the wheels of their predecessors. The ND … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Hayashi Racing is (maybe) bringing back the Bomber wheel as part of a (maybe) Heritage Wheel reissue program (…maybe)

Hayashi Racing may be best-known for its venerable Street Wheel, which was Japan’s first aftermarket alloy wheel, and has been in production since 1967.  However, they do also have a bulging back catalog of wheels from the pre-bubble era which … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Barrels, wheels | Tagged , | 9 Comments

PRODUCT GUIDE: RS Watanabe Toyota Works replicas

RS Watanabe has revealed their latest wheel design, and it’s a gorgeous revival of the famed Toyota Works racing wheels of the 1960s and 1970s. The classic four-spoke crosshairs pattern is back, and is now available in a 15-inch size. 

Posted in Product Guide, wheels | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

PRODUCT GUIDE: Return of the SSR Formula Mesh, but with a twist

The SSR Formula Mesh is one of the classics, a vintage barrel whose design looks fantastic on cars from nearly any era. The good news is Speed Star Racing is bringing them back. However, the catch is that they’ll only … Continue reading

Posted in Product Guide, wheels | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Deep Yayoi “Sakura” Barrels

The Yayoi “sakura” wheel has long been considered the holy grail of vintage Japanese barrels. Now, a never-used ultra-deep set can be yours for the low, low price of — pinky to mouth — one million yen ($10,000 USD). 

Posted in for sale, wheels | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

NEW PRODUCT: Hayashi Streets now available in 17-inch

The “Street” by Hayashi Racing is a favorite among collectors of old school barrels. Now the company is updating the classic design in a 17-inch size called the Hayashi Street STL.

Posted in subaru, toyota, wheels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

QotW: What Japanese concept should have been produced?

The Tokyo Motor Show is known across the auto industry for having the most crazed concepts in auto-dom. Future is what Japan does best, but last week Toyota debuted a concept at a toy show to get Japanese kids off … Continue reading

Posted in concepts, minicars, nissan, Question of the Week, toyota, wheels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

QotW: What’s the coolest vintage barrel?

No other car culture comes close to Japan’s in terms of wheels. The sheer enormity of selection can be matched only by the magnitude of a rim collector’s obsession. From ninja star designs to barrels deep enough to bathe a … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week, wheels | Tagged , , , , , , | 44 Comments

JCCS 2011 PREVIEW: Debut of Enkei’s Classic Series Apache II

Another debut that will take place this weekend at JCCS is that of the reborn Enkei Apache II. This will be the third wheel in Enkei’s Classic Series line of revived vintage designs, hot on the heels of the Enkei 92 … Continue reading

Posted in wheels | 17 Comments

MS112 Toyota Crown on Super Volks

1980s swirly rims always seemed a bit cheesy so we’ve never been real big fans of them. Until now. Get a set of white Super Volks and slam a similarly white S112 Toyota Crown on top of them in a … Continue reading

Posted in toyota, wheels | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

JNC Vintage Barrels II T-Shirt

Ever since we released our original Vintage Barrels T-shirt, the suggestions have been flowing for a second design. So without further ado, we are proud to present JNC‘s Vintage Barrels II T-shirt! We’ll debut the new threads at Toyotafest this … Continue reading

Posted in nostalgic wear, wheels | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

New Retro Rims: Work Meister CR01

You may have noticed a snazzy new rim gracing the arrest-me red kenmeri in our Nos2Days coverage. In case you were wondering, that’s the new Work Meister CR01, exuding what the wheelmaker calls “Nostalgic Competition Racing Style.” Now that’s an … Continue reading

Posted in honda, wheels | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Old Ad: Kenmeri Nissan Skyline for Techno Project TR-V

Was the Nissan Fairlady Z432 ad just a bit too stock for you? Maybe a vintage rim ad for the Techno TR-V is more your style.  This kenmeri shows how things were done back in the day — shakotan stance, … Continue reading

Posted in cm, nissan, wheels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments