WheelProfessor.com

The OEM’s vs Aftermarket Wheel Industry

I’ve watched this battle brewing for over 20 years. Now it’s getting serious. The OEM’s (original equipment manufacturer, i.e. GM, Ford, Chrysler) want custom wheels or as they say “styled wheels” to be sold for new vehicles only by them. I figure since they can’t make a profit on their own, they want the profit the Aftermarket is making. Don’t confuse the OEM’s with the auto dealers. I believe the dealers like the situation just the way it is. The dealer buys custom wheels from a distributor and puts them on new cars then adds some profit. The dealer’s happy because he made a profit, the customers happy because he had a huge selection of styles, finishes and sizes and didn’t pay an arm and a leg. The only one that’s not happy is the OEM’s. As it is, custom wheels are still affordable. Buy them from a dealer, who got them from the OEM, and the prices will be “Whoa Nelly”. Ever have to buy a replacement plastic hub cap from you local car dealer? You’d think they were made of 24kt. gold. Now imagine what a replacement 20” chrome alloy wheel would cost. Also consider the limited selection of styles and sizes they could offer. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have a question about wheels or rims for your custom hot rod or daily driver? Leave a comment and the Professor will answer.

The TQ Rod Wheel was designed and introduced in 2000 by Larry Anderson. Anderson is a 40 year veteran of the wheel industry and a Hot Rodder. In the late 90’s, Anderson decided to recreate the favorite car of his youth, a 1954 Olds Super 88.

Being a wheel designer, he wasn’t satisfied with the choices that were available from the wheel industry. It seemed that there was a lack of individualism in the Hot Rod field, and that everyone ran the same two or three styles. So Anderson designed the TQ and started selling Hot Rod wheels.

In January of 2007, Anderson retired and sold his Hot Rod wheel business to HRH Classic Alloys. He now spends most of his time working on his own Rods and doing a little consulting to the wheel industry. Along with the TQ, HRH offers a wide variety of wheels and tires for Rods and Customs. Call them at 800.372.5133 or check out their website at TWE-Inc.com. Also check out Anderson’s Blog at wheelprofessor.com.

Article written by Tom Madigan April 2006

Tom Madigan has been an automotive writer for over 40 years. He was a feature editor for Popular Hot Rodding magazine for many years and has written several books including Boss: The Bill Stroppe Story and The Loner: the Story of a Drag Racer. Tom recently wrote the book Edelbrock: Made in the USA.

Larry Anderson, the Wheel Professor, believes in quality of product no matter what the decade.

In the old days, many of the pioneers who manufactured high performance equipment for hot rods and race cars were themselves racers and enthusiasts. Over the years, big business took over, the bottom line became the definitive goal and most of the small shop operators gave in to progress. The one on one approach between supplier and racer was lost. Marketing, bulk sales, wholesale distribution took priority over any personal relationship. The manufacturer became a nameless figure and direct contact with the customer was long forgotten. Today mass marketing, warehouse capacity and sales figures dominant the performance industry as product demand forces more emphasis on quantity and less on quality. Read the rest of this entry »

Since this is the last of a series of TECH Stuff added to the advertisement for the TQ, SLT and RT5 wheels, I decided to take the opportunity to put in a plug for the wheels and the company that offers them. They are great wheels. They are manufactured to the highest quality standards, tested to meet the SAE J2530 Aftermarket Wheel specification, and designed to offer the best sizes, fitments and styling for Hot Rods, Customs and Muscle Cars. I’m a bit partial because I designed and created them. I retired in January of 2007. Read the rest of this entry »

The original equipment wheels that the factory puts on cars and trucks are designed and tested for use on a specific vehicle.  The wheels that the aftermarket offers are designed and tested to fit a wide range of vehicles.  The range of those vehicles is determined primarily by the load rating or weight of the vehicles.  Both OEM and Aftermarket wheels are designed and tested to a standard and to a maximum load carrying capacity. In TECH Stuff 3, wheel standards, testing procedures, marking requirements and load ratings were discussed.  Using a wheel that was designed, tested and manufactured for a different vehicle carries some risks.  Modifying a wheel to fit a different vehicle than originally intended, carries even larger risks. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing the wheels you want to run on your Rod involves a few things to think about.  Style, finish and size are the main considerations, but before you make those choices, there are a few things to mull over. Read the rest of this entry »

Using Nitrogen to inflate tires instead of plain old air or oxygen is not a new phenomenon, but it sure is getting some attention lately.  I did some research on the subject and decided I was missing the boat.  I’m one of the 85% of Americans that don’t regularly check the inflation pressure in my tires (I wonder who took that survey).  Based on my research, I should be using Nitrogen.  I learned that Nitrogen is all around us and we take in Nitrogen in every breath of air we breathe in. Read the rest of this entry »

Plus Sizing is a fairly recent trend (I think it started in the late 80’s or early 90’s). Well when I say recent, I mean compared to the 50’s and 60’s when I was getting into cars and making them street cool. The basic idea of Plus Sizing is to replace the stock wheel size with a larger diameter wheel and still maintain the same original tire and wheel combination diameter. Back in the early days, up to and including the 70’s, the only thing that happened when you put larger diameter tires on your rod, was the speedometer read slower than you were actually going. That only worked when you said ”but Dad, the speedometer said I was only going 50”. Read the rest of this entry »

There are several different types of finishes available for Aftermarket Wheels.  Most wheel companies offer a warranty on the finish.  In most cases, painted wheels have a 1 year warranty.  Most chrome wheels have a 2 year warranty, and in some cases a 3 year warranty.  Polished aluminum wheels are only warranteed until you take them out of the box.  In any event, the buyer has the responsibility to properly maintain the wheels.  There are a lot of folks out there that pay a lot of money for custom wheels then only clean them when they send the car through the car wash once in awhile.  It takes time and elbow grease to keep custom wheels clean and to protect the finish.  I’ve seen chrome wheels that customers wanted to return because they were pitted or rusting so bad that they look like the car was parked on the bottom of Lake Michigan for the winter.  If you don’t maintain your wheels, don’t expect the manufacturer to take them back and give you a new set. Read the rest of this entry »