This subject may have come up before, so I apologize in advance if we're going over old territory. I have a 2006 xA. I want to run a plain steel rim, a little deeper than stock maybe, with a baby Moon hubcap (or other smooth chrome cap) and possibly chrome trim rings. Yes, I'm an old guy...I like classic rims, and that's what this combination is. Classic. Where can I get such a combination? I know stock rims won't work, but does anyone sell this? Can I order it powder coated in my color choice? Can I get it in a larger diameter than the stock 15", and slightly deeper without making the tires rub on the inside of the fender wells? Is anyone else running anything similar?

 

Well... you have some options. You can get the stock steel wheels widened, if you so desired, you have full control of the offsets and width to ensure that you don't have problems with rubbing.

If you didn't want to do that you can get trim rings that will fit the stock wheels. I currently have that on my car as my winter setup. It's inexpensive and will give you most of the look I think you're going for.

 

The stainless trim rings can be purchased at NAPA, and you can also get nice centercaps for the steelies as well

 

Diamond Racing wheels, they'll do any size/offset steelie you want.

http://www.diamondracingwheels.com/

 

But I've heard that the Diamond wheels aren't really strong enough for daily use (bend easily, etc...)

 

Oh, I've never heard any complaints, but only seen a few guys roll them. Probably cheaper to have the factory wheels widened anyway.

 

There are two manufactures that make steel smoohtie's with 4x100m PCD's both will need a spacer in front to clear the caliper. more pics here in post #94 http://www.clubxb.com/forums/f5/sid-s-xb-166-5.html when I think of the other company Ill post. Both brands were available at Les Schwab last time I checked, you have to go through there big book to find them.
http://www.alliedwheel.com/wheel.php?name=Smoothie

OK here is a shop that custom makes them
http://www.earlywheel.com/index.html

 

Yeah, I'm running an eBay chrome trim ring on my steelies and it's holding up well. The center caps, not so much. NAPA had them zinc coated so they were dull. I sanded off the zinc and polished it, then hit it with a few coats of clear for alloy wheels. The clear must have chipped, because after this last snow and salt one of the caps is rusting pretty bad. Now I'm thinking of getting them powdercoated or just chromed to match the lip. No corrosion on the lip or gorrila lugs yet.

Another tip, wash and then wax your steelies before adding the ring, makes them easier to clean and shine great.

 

Steve, how much do those smoothies run each? They look absofreakinlutely awsome man!
How much spacer needed to clear calipers? Thanks

 

last time I checked they were about 75-100 each and Sid's thread from ClubxB has the specs, he went with 25mm bolt-on's, but you might get away with 10mm hub centric's and longer studs. they are low offset to begin with so there gonna poke a little. His build thread has lots of good shots.