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I'm going to split this up into a couple posts to make it more digestible. Here's the background and the conundrum, posts after will be w/ the options. Here we go:
A couple weeks ago I got a set of 19x8.5 and 19x10 "Magnetic" style wheels from American Muscle and got some Bridgestone's to match (255/40R19 and 285/35R19). Long story short, there were tons of defects in the finish on the 8.5's, so I got an exchange from AM (they were pretty cool about it), and low and behold the replacements were just as bad, maybe worse than the originals. My shop warned me too about the cheap chinese made wheels you get from AM, and told to put the wheels on the spindle an spin them to make sure they were true. Sure enough three of the four had a bad enough wobble that I just decided to return the whole set for a refund. Killed me to, I was a big fan of the style:
All the green sticky notes point out the defects, but the 2nd pic below shows a little more closeup
In a bit of a conundrum now though -- AM was really cool about returning the wheels, but Tire Rack isn't about the tires. I can return them no problem, but I have to pay return shipping and that ain't gonna be cheap. Plus I'm still in the market for new wheels (as you can tell by me posting this thread), and I want to go up to 19's from my 18's. The problem is there's not a lot of wheels out there that I think are going to work too well with Tungsten Gray in the sizes I need (19x8.5 front & 19x9.5 or 19x10 rear).
I'm ideally looking for something with a machined face, or at least a brushed rim to make the wheels pop. Tungsten is a pretty medium gray, and most of the painted wheels in the size/bolt pattern I need are all pretty much charcoal/graphite/anthracite. Just the style now I guess, and they aren't really gonna stand out too much. Or they'll just be kina 'meh'. Take these two as an example.
First up is my Konig Stampedes I'm currently running on the car. 18's, polished stainless lip. Problem with these is the polished stainless picks up all the dark reflections, so if the lighting isn't right, they're too dark.
So I decided to go all out and dipped them in Anthracite from DipYourCar. IMHO, they were too dark and it doesn't look all that good:
Next up is Niche Misano's I took off my wife's Mazdaspeed 3. Just so happens to be the same bolt pattern and right offsets. If the wheels look tiny, these are 18's, it's just the tires are tiny (think they're 225/40R18 or something like that). The actual wheels don't look too bad but it does just kinda blend in.
Here's another one from American Muscle, charcoal magnetic's on someone's tungsten GT
First option is the Vossen VFS-1. This thing caught my eye on one of the forums years ago and I wish I'd gone for it back then because now the options are limited. They came in two main finishes, silver w/ brushed face and matte graphite. Hands down I'd be getting these in silver if I could, but Vossen recently discontinued that finish and nobody has them in stock anymore (believe me I checked -- AM and carID both listed them on their websites, but when I emailed them they said 'sorry, discontinued in that finish and all gone'). And that SUCKS because c'mon...look at them
So my only choice is matte graphite. Which looks pretty decent on a Sterling Gray Mustang, but that's a darker paint than Tungsten:
This Infiniti is probably closer to what I'd see w/ Tungsten:
Nnnnext! BBS CI-R. Vossen's ain't cheap but these are even more. They come in platinum silver w/ polished stainless lip (pretty similar to my Konigs) but the stainless lip is pretty thin, so you can't really see it in the pics too well. Advantage of these is they're light and they're a highly recognized brand so resale should be pretty good. Can't find a pic of them on a S197 though:
Last is the TSW sweep. I can't find any pics of these on a car, period. But I like the gunmetal w/ stainless lip. Might end up being like the Konigs though where the polished lip just catches all the dark reflections.
Too bad I can't get the Bathurst in silver anymore (not in 19's anyway)
Personally, I would go Vossen, Niche, TSW or Forgestar for the looks and superior quality. Nothing wrong with Ford Performance either. But definitely stay away from AM, LMR and Steeda, as all their wheels are manufactured in China.
I like the Vossen VFS-1, I think the darker color will look very sharp on your Tungsten Stang.
So have you considered the Shelby wheels? Just wondering because the Shelby Venom is a similar style to the Vossen VFS-1 and they do come in silver. Not sure if they have your preferred size.
I picked Vossen for 2 reasons.
One, I like the wheel on your car the best.
Two, better quality than the others.
Originally Posted by m05fastbackGT
Personally, I would go Vossen, Niche, TSW or Forgestar for the looks and superior quality. Nothing wrong with Ford Performance either. But definitely stay away from AM, LMR and Steeda, as all their wheels are manufactured in China.
Yeah I think quality really matters on a wheel fitted with such a low aspect ratio tire. Definitely leaning towards anything flow formed ($$) or forged ($$$) for that reason. My wife got a flat on her wheels (Niche Misano) and just driving the mile home warped it pretty bad (it wasn't totally flat by the time she got home either).
Personally, I would go Vossen, Niche, TSW or Forgestar for the looks and superior quality. Nothing wrong with Ford Performance either. But definitely stay away from AM, LMR and Steeda, as all their wheels are manufactured in China.
Originally Posted by shaneyusa
I like the Vossen VFS-1, I think the darker color will look very sharp on your Tungsten Stang.
So have you considered the Shelby wheels? Just wondering because the Shelby Venom is a similar style to the Vossen VFS-1 and they do come in silver. Not sure if they have your preferred size.
Nope, can't believe I didn't think of them! Shelby's one of the first things that comes to mind w/ upgraded mustangs. The Venom wheels are nice, but I'm not a huge fan of the 6+ spoke wheels. The Vossen's can kinda 10 spokes, but they're merged enough that they're more split 5 spokes.
I really wish the CS2's were available in 19's! It'd be game over right there!
Gonna try to find more pics of the CS5's. They come in 19x9.5 is on the edge of being a little wide for the 255's I have for the front, but they might work.
Glad I could give you some more options. I too am a 5 spoke kinda guy. Do like the original Shelby Super Snake Alcoa wheels. The CS5s kind of remind me of them, nice look. Hope you find a quality wheel that works for you. Good Luck.
I didn't read all the discussion, just looked at the pictures . . .
I notice all of the wheels here are what I call "thin spoke" wheels; very open designs with thin spokes. Those are what I think of as "modern theme" wheels . . . but this is kind of a "retro theme" car . . . did you consider anything with "thick spokes" like the good ol' bullitt wheels?
I didn't read all the discussion, just looked at the pictures . . .
I notice all of the wheels here are what I call "thin spoke" wheels; very open designs with thin spokes. Those are what I think of as "modern theme" wheels . . . but this is kind of a "retro theme" car . . . did you consider anything with "thick spokes" like the good ol' bullitt wheels?
I know, TL: DR. If you can find any in 19 let me know. All the retro wheels are either in 18 or 20. 18 for people who either like a little meat on the tires or have an older car with smaller wheels. 20's for people who are about style. 19 seems like it's an odd size
LOL, maybe that should be "SAT;DR" meaning "short attention span; didn't read"
I am not trying to influence you toward Bullitt wheels, it's your car . . . it's just my personal preference that these cars seem to look "best" with those retro style wheels; probably because I grew up with them. I can't comment much on the others. If I was buying a more modern style of wheel, I'd shop mainly on weight and structural integrity.
I'm pretty sure they are available in 19", below is example from American Muscle . . . though I would not buy from them, unless I wanted low price over quality.
LOL, maybe that should be "SAT;DR" meaning "short attention span; didn't read"
I am not trying to influence you toward Bullitt wheels, it's your car . . . it's just my personal preference that these cars seem to look "best" with those retro style wheels; probably because I grew up with them. I can't comment much on the others. If I was buying a more modern style of wheel, I'd shop mainly on weight and structural integrity.
I'm pretty sure they are available in 19", below is example from American Muscle . . . though I would not buy from them, unless I wanted low price over quality.
Yeah definitely not going w/ American Muscle brand wheels, the first wheels I had to return were theirs (and got me stuck on 19's w/ the tires I bought).
As to why not Bullitts? My all seasons are on the stock 17 bullitts and I can't bring myself to spend this kind of money to have 2 sets of the same wheels (even if they're different sizes).
I got ahold of Vossen directly, they said they can do a custom finish on the VFS-1, one option being Satin SIlver, which would come out something like this (color only). Brushed finish definitely out.
I also called a wheel shop in my area that has a CNC machine that can do the brushed finishes, but they said flat surfaces only, no curves. They'd have to see them in person to see if they'd have any problem areas. The VFS-1 curves in right around the lug nuts so probably a no-go on that way.
Also threw together some quick photochops of the original options. Definitely leaning away from the BOSS 302's. Pretty much confirms my suspicion that the spokes are going to be too thin. The BBS and Vossen's look pretty good though...
BBS CI-R BOSS 302S Matte Graphite Vossens Silver Vossens
4/1/21, 09:28 PM
I too am a 5 spoke kinda guy. Do like the original Shelby Super Snake Alcoa wheels. The CS5s kind of remind me of them, nice look. Hope you find a quality wheel that works for you. Good Luck. 
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