My friends uncle used to works at a car shop that is a retailer for American Racing. So he can get wheels for real cheap...very little mark up. I was looking at the “Casino” wheels. Online the cheapest I found them was $1200 for just the wheels. Well my friends uncle got me them for $550 and that included lug nuts, spacers, and locking lugs and key!! I was soo pumped. However I was a little disappointed because I ordered chrome and they came in as polished aluminum. But as I asked around everyone came to the same conclusion that these would look better because chrome is played out and too flashy. So I go to get them mounted and balanced and the guy says, hey, you know there is one wheel here that has been ran before. I’m like “HUH??” He said yeah there are already weights on it and tire bead residue inside the rim. I’m thinking ok that sucks but atleast the wheel looks good, no scratches or anything! So anyways, I get home and I’m all excited like a kid in a candy store. I go to put them on and the one ‘used’ wheel won’t go on so easily as the other did. Well closer inspection shows that it is the wrong bolt pattern. It’s 5-114.!!!! By this time I’m cursing every word I’ve ever heard and some new ones! I make a couple phone calls and find out that AR is closed for the day so I’ll have to wait until the next day. Make the calls and they seem very apologetic and claim there is one left in Sacramento,Cali. and they would ship it and I would have it by this Wednesday”today”. Ok I’m relieved. Well I get a call in this morning. Hey, come pick it up. It’s here, your chrome Casino. I’m like what??? No I ordered a polished Casino. So now this is the 3rd time they ordered the wrong part. We further discuss the issue and it turns out that the wheel is on a nation-wide backorder and it could be days, weeks, or months before I get the 4th wheel. And worst case scenario, I won’t have it until next season!!! They asked me if I wanted another style wheel so I wouldn’t have to wait, but the only other style wheel I even kinda like that I might settle for is 120 bucks a wheel more! What should I do. Just wait it out or return the three?? So the bottom line is that I’ve been waiting for 2 months in total and have spent over $1200 in wheels/tires And have nothing to show for it and might not see anything until next year/season!!

Have any of you been through anything like this, what can be done. Does anyone by chance have an extra AR casino haha

Here is a pic I took with the wheels just sitting beside the car and then just one of the wheels, I didn’t feel like putting them back on the car for a pic and then taking them back off.

 

I was originally going to flame you for even considering AR wheels... b/c I think most of their stuff is ugly as sin...

But those really aren't terrible and might turn out OK once they're all mounted. Sucks that they're such a PITA though. And I'm not sure if I understood completely, are you dealing with AR directly now? Or is this all through your friend's uncle or whomever?

 

Yeah i have never spoken to AR directly, i have to have my uncle speak to them, he just translates what i say. This is definately a HUGE PITA

 

awww yes, AR. i used to work on their print brochures and advertisements at my last design agency i worked for. word had it that we were all going to get free wheels (was a small agency) for busting our butts for them to meet impossible deadlines....this was almost 3 years ago...we never got the wheels. at the time i had my ford "danger" and was hoping to get some teflon coated "chambers". the motegi brand manager was a cool guy as were most of the other brand managers.

sorry to hear about your misfortune, sounds like they have been trying to accomodate you.

 

I wouldn't wait that long. (However long that may be.) I would return the 3 wheels and buy them from a reputable place like...

edgeracing.com (That's where my Flik Artics are. Great price right now!)

discounttiredirect.com (This is where I purchased my 5Zigen RX6s.)

tirerack.com (Heard many good things about this site.)

For as much Ziti as you've dropped, I'd get a better quality rim for less $$$.

 

Yeah just got off the phone with my contact. The wheels are going back. They just sat there and told me that there are 4 more in san fransisco but they won't sell them to me and wouldn't give a reason.

And then they said they have the chrome ones too, in florida! For a mere $200 more i could get the chrome. As long as i shipped my three to Florida as replacements. Oh and they want me to pay for shipping mine down there, and those up here. I'm fed up. And theres a long story on why i can't just get my money back.... something about the check has to go to California to be authorized then 1 to 2 weeks later the check will go to the shop that this guy works at.?? I PAYED CASH PERSONALLY!! so i don't understand why they ould send a CHECK to the BUSINESS. I had to settle for a different wheel. Same price but they claim they actually have them in stock. We'll see early next week. I just wish i could start over and go somewhere else

 

Well at first it sounded like they were going to work with you and settle it up. Now it sounds like they're just jerking you around.

 

How did you pay for them? I always use my Amex when possible and if I have a problem call Amex.

 

I posted that a couple posts up but i payed cash. That was the only way i could pick them up. I work next to the AR warehouse in monroeville, but nowhere near the shop this guys works at. It was just way more convenient for me to pick them up, so i just payed cash. I never woulda thought this would happen. I have a receipt but like i said it doesn't do me much good right now.

 

its a shame those wheels look pretty hot

 

that sucks...

 

These are the ones i'm supposed to get as replacements, what do you all think? I'll have to wait until early next week to see if AR finally pulls through and doesn't bend me over again.

The closest thing to a pic of these on a tC is scionjon. Check his profile to see his. They are similar in design but his are a gunmetal color and not AR. Lucky him




Opinions please! Honest opinions

 

Looks like a clean design but I'm just not a fan of chrome. Not bad other than that though!

 

It's not chrome. It's just a deceiving picture. They are polished aluminum

 

For some reason, AR has the same pic for the chrome as they do for the aluminum ones

 

Ah... might still be too flashy for my own tastes, but it's not a bad wheel.

 

it is too flashy for me !! i do not like shiny wheels unless they are on trucks or something . Not modded imports

 

Well, here’s the update,…. My wheels came in from AR. WOOOOHOOO!!! Or not. I got the wheels home after I checked the bolt pattern and it looked ok. Well it turns out that I got ANOTHER set of used wheels. These ones have scratches and brake dust on them. And a few of them had scratches on the back side of the wheel were it toucheas the rotor. That's how i KNOW the have been on a car before.... well, that and the brake dust. I am sooooo ____ed. I hate American Racing!! I will never do business with them again and would advise others the same. I am going to write to the headquarters and show them some pics of the junk I got. Pics below, problem areas are circled in yellow.

AR!!!


Overviews:






Pics of scratches (Just a few of them):



This is almost like a big scuff mark:


Brake dust (Also just a just one of the places):

 

total Bullshyt...

 

Wow, that blows... they look nicer than the first image showed too... better than I thought they would.

They should just GIVE you a new set of wheels at this point.