Simply put, the first, the foremost, the top decision you have to make before you start to select  wheels for a car. Bar none. That decision and that decision alone will shape the entire direction of your build. What do you talk about Willis?

Classic Wheel vs Modern Wheel :

So it’s no surprise that one of the biggest debates in the class of the car world is whether to choose wheels. Based on nostalgia or performance Today, it’s all about Wheelhero classic and modern wheels . 

Basic Element of  Car 

There are three basic elements that make your car stand out. Wheels, stance, and paint. If you swing and amiss on any of those three, your car will never perform or look right. Wheelhero offerings like classic steelier, dog dish hubcaps, and iconic rally wheels all hold a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts. 

Car customization aftermarket

And with the rise of car customization aftermarket 14 and 15 inch wheels took the scene by storm. Wheelhero stand out in a sea of options. Car enthusiasts are always on the lookout for ways to boost their ride’s performance and appearance. 

Modern wheels significance

Modern wheels aren’t just lightweight and strong, but they can also give your car a significant boost in acceleration, handling and breaking capabilities. They can give your car a strong and contemporary look, and they typically come 17 to 20 inches . 

But once you go bigger than that, it sets off an entirely different debate. Passions run deep no matter what your flavor is. Factory original, classic custom, pro street or drag racing, or even modern large diameter pro touring wheels offered by  Wheelhero .

Wheels are the ultimate statement

For any car enthusiasts, your decision or flavor will impact your build, to varying degrees, depending on what you’re doing, so plan accordingly. The last thing you wanna do is to chase that decision. So what do all the hot rides have in common? round and big tires! What’s the most asked question online in car forums? How wide can I go without rubbing? My car for example, a 1967 Camaro, came stock with 14 inch steel wheels. Most had an eight inch wide by 26 inch tall tire, a 205 75 R14 by today’s standard. Many muscle cars would run L60 – 15s on the rear. A 275 60 R15 today, Huh! Problem was those wider tires were also two inches taller. 

Wheel decision based purely on a look

You can make a wheel decision based purely on a look, but achieving that look if you’re not careful, can set off a domino effect. Say your new wheels and tires rub. That’s okay. Just go slow. Or you reach for a BFH and move some metal that doesn’t work. Back in the day you’d go to your neighborhood speed shop and pick up a set of air shocks or spring shackles and lift the back end up. Car Rake was out of necessity to clear those wider, taller tires, but you’re not done there because no sooner you get your big meats to fit. And then you quickly realize you’ve lost all your jam off the line with those taller tires. 

Now you need a shorter gear, headers, and a four barrel car. Yeah, that’s the way to go. Need more? Maybe a new high-rise manifold, swap in a big cam. Love that Lokey cam. Now I need a bigger car too. Now your hood doesn’t close. Whoops. Yeah, you need a cowl hood now, or a scoop, and the beat goes. Sound familiar? You groove on wheelhero . You feel it to your core that a dog dish steelier or a rally wheel is the epitome of classic custom wheel design. Just the thought of a low profile tire makes your skin crawl. 

Consider Performance limitations

Just know that choice comes with performance limitations. When you run a 15 inch wheel, you’re almost always forced to run a low performance tire. Tire companies simply do not make high performance tires for 15 inch wheels anymore. They don’t. Unless you’re running on a slick street. You really need to upgrade to a 17 or 18 inch wheel if you want a decent set of tires. Don’t believe me. Look at the Wheelhero collection. It has the lowest speed rating allowed by law and a tread design for long wear, not performance. They’re also extremely heavy. Hey, but they look cool! I know. So simply embrace it and align your performance expectations accordingly. 

Understand Car Model For Perfect Wheel 

Classic vs Modern aside, there’s a better way to pick a wheel. Understand what you want to do with your car first. Is it a museum piece, a daily driver, a weekend cruiser? Maybe you’re into track events, drag racing, autocross, or both? Is your high performance ride street legal or a trailer queen, or you wanna mash it all together and your goal is a cross-country power tour. Once that’s clear in your mind, then you dial in the level of performance needed to support that want in terms of power, handling, including chassis, suspension and steering, braking safety, and even creature comforts. 

Classic looks gain popularity

For all those points you have choices and options galore, ranging from simple rebuilds to bolt on mods to entire modern swaps. With all that figured out, then you overlay the look you’re after, align it with your budget and hone your vision. You’ll probably have to compromise somewhere to find a balance or shift your priorities accordingly. Good news, though, the line in the sand is getting a little blurred in the classic vs modern debate, few manufacturers are starting to tap into the popularity of some of the classic looks. 

Modern wheel companies.

Steeles and rally wheels, for example, are now available in lighter, stronger materials and larger sizes to fit big ass brakes and modern performance tire sizes. The only limitation there is for the old school camp to accept a lower profile tire. I know. Easier said than done. With over a half century of aftermarket wheelhero production in the rear view mirror. There’s no lack of supply. Swap meets, eBay, Facebook marketplace are great sources for car wheels, while store.autocarsindustry.com have thousands of wheelhero styles to choose from as do the modern wheel companies. There are a lot of great online tools and galleries to help you visualize your car with different wheel tire combinations. 

Summary 

Found a cool one on the Weld Wheelhero website… Say that three times fast. You can pick your cars, make models, and color, and you can even raise and lower your ride height. To adjust the stance, check it out. If you want a classic vintage look for your muscle car, steel or classic custom wheels are probably the way to go. If you want, or need to maximize your car’s performance and are willing to sacrifice some of the traditional look in order to do so, modern race wheels or forged wheels would be the logical choice.