5 of the Lightest Economical Wheels To Purchase Now

What Wheels to Buy?

We all know wheels make a huge difference in a car. Both from an aesthetic standpoint and a performance point of view, getting the right wheels for your car can make or break it. Let's take a look at some affordable wheels you can buy that help reduce the unsprung mass of your machine.

SSR Competition

These little nuggets are lightweight and super strong as they are 1-piece forged wheels. If you get lucky, you can find a used set for around $1,200 but they don’t come up all that often. These wheels were so light that some 15” sizes weighed under 10 lbs with a 17x9s coming in around 15.2 lbs on the scales. Massive reductions in unsprung weight can be gained with these wheels over many other aftermarket units of the same size. As a result of the forging process, you can bang potholes and curbs at the track without having to worry about breaking them. You get what you pay for and they just happen to look good on almost anything. 

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Enkei RPF1

A classic wheel to put on any car, the Enkei RPF1 also looks the part on just about anything. Weight comes in at 15.9 lbs for a 17x9 size wheel. The 6 dual-spoke design gives adequate brake cooling as well—another added bonus on top of increased performance in acceleration, braking and cornering. If you get a chance to score a set of 4, you shouldn’t pass them up. These wheels are legendary for a reason. 

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949 6UL

Sounding more like a serial number than a racing wheel, the 949 6UL has become a legendary wheel among the tuner crowd. Priced around $250 per wheel, they come in at 17.4 lbs for a 17x9, which makes them slightly heavier than the Enkeis, but they are still one of the best wheels on sale today. They are a cast unit, which means they aren’t as strong as a solid forged wheel, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good. Emilio and the guys really did a number on the industry when they released these and they’re used on everything from autocross cars to endurance racing machines. You save a bit of money compared to a fully forged wheel, which means if one were to crack, it isn’t as big of a deal to replace it. Solid wheel, great team, and a lot of engineering that went into making these quality pieces that are obtainable by anyone who is serious about their build. 

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Wedsport TC105N

Wedsport hails all the way from Japan with a serious resume to back it up. These 17x9s come in at 15.7 lbs a piece and utilize something called flow form casting. This method fits somewhere in between a standard cast wheel and a fully forged wheel. This emerging middle ground in the wheel world has created a new space for those on a budget that still want insane performance. 15.7 lbs is nothing to scoff at on a wheel of that size, and it will be immediately felt the first time you take a corner. Don’t discount these if you’re looking for a new set of wheels. The multispoke design is pretty aggressive and looks particularly good in a bronze finish. They are slightly expensive at $400 /each when new. Hunt for a used set on this one before you fork over your cash. 

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Enkei PFO1SS

Enkei makes the list again with this wheel. The PFO1SS has a similar design to the 6UL, minus one spoke. Tipping the scales at 19.18 lbs, these aren’t the lightest in the comparison, but they aren’t exactly heavy enough to notice. Prices vary by $20 here or there depending on where you buy from. Expect to pay somewhere around $275 per wheel. Made with a process called M.A.T., the wheels are 1-piece cast design with a process called “spinning” that creates the rim. They’re great looking wheels that come in at an affordable price for the weight. Definitely worth your a look for your vehicle. 

>>Join the conversation about these affordable lightweight wheels right here in LS1Tech.

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