Here are the two prototypes on for comparison. Previous polls have been very close, and this is our FINAL POLL before moving on to production. It is your last chance to voice your opinion on our future R15 style reproduction wheel. Closed center like original? Or do you like the modern open center?


Closed

Open

 

CLOSED CENTER, just like the original R15's !!

Looking good !!! Cant wait to get a set !!

 

Modern Open looks a lot better with the 18" wheel.

 

Personally I think open looks better with that size wheel. Gives it more detail and gets my vote. I think the demand will be more for the closed though because of originality

 

ORIGINAL. By far.

 

I got an idea, let's make a retro product, and then try to make it look modern. Sounds kinda stupid doesn't it?


Cover the lugs. Easier to keep clean, cleaner esthetic in general.

 

Closed

 

I vote covered lugs.. The originals are just so classic...

 

Closed. -but in my opinion, there is entirely too much wheel to be an 18". They look HUGE!!!!!!!!!! Not a fan.

 

I was looking at them again, and I agree !!
I think they looked better in the 17 inch size !!

 

Yep 17 in. is plenty. I think these at 18in are starting to look a lil goofy.

 

Any idea on pricing?

 

Open (A) for the 18, there is just too much flat aluminum to cover up the lugnuts. For the 17, I like B. With consideration for the kind of brake options available, that were not readily available in the 90's, I have some concern about the placement of the valve stem.... ?

 

yea, that valvestem placement could be a huge problem if it is located where it looks to be?!?


hawks... you do know that you can actually create an actual POLL on this forum where people pick from choice A, choice B, choice C...etc... instead of having people post their vote in a reply message? then you can see how many people voted and for what choice. it is rather simple to do.

 

Closed

 

Open is the better looking wheel, but it's not really an R15.

Closed is true to the R15 and still looks good.

 

Closed

 

This is Hawk's we're talking about. All those years in veterinarian college, and rumors of seedy hotel rooms and bath tubs filled with ice are finally about to pay off. What I'm saying is it'd be a good time to get into the black market organ buy/sell/trade business. They don't have to be your limbs and organs.

 

Drew, as a fan of Hawk's, I do admit that their pricing is often high. That being said, the 17" Irocs, GTA's and Ronal R15's are all VERY competitively priced. I imagine these 18's, being larger and presumably in lower quantity would be more, but I don't know that I'd expect them to be overly high compared to market.

 

Now that you mention it I was only looking at the lugs..

I think the 16” wheels look plenty big on these cars and at least with 17” it’s not immediately noticeable but you get much better tire options..

dmccain said it right when he described 18” as “goofy”.

If you like giant rims, do what you want, but when I see Thirdgens with 18”-24”+ rims I just think the car looks cartoonish and goofy as well. It distract from the lines of the car.. 18” isn’t horrible, but it’s a step in the wrong direction IMO

 

Hi,
Really surprised to see this come up when we first done the 17 in repos everyone wanted 18 s now they look too big , but we always know there a re a ton of opinions out there just have to go with my gut I guess .
Thanks ,Bruce
www.hawksmotorsports.com

 

I know there’s a lot of people that want 18”-19” wheels.. They’re dead set on it.. Restomod guys like the bigger wheels, could look cool on a car that’s not as bone stock looking..

 

I'm officially going with closed but would like to state the open appears to not have as much lip as the closed version does which makes the center section look out of proportion compared to the closed version. It looks sort of like the wheel Detroit Speed has on the DSE-Z Camaro but just not as good looking.

 

With an 18in wheel on there it simply takes away from the lines of the car.

 

Both versions are great looking wheels especially for this body style, but the brake clearance issue would be a deal breaker for many people, that valve stem on the inside of the wheel spokes issue should be addressed....

 

Both style will clear a Baer pro plus 6 piston brake so no worries there sir

 

I think the majority of people out there DO prefer an 18". I just think they're too big. But I also think 16" is the perfect size for these cars, I just want more than a 245 tire, so I will happily pay out for those 17 gold Irocs when they come out! ....well....I just bought upholstery, so it'll probably be fall, but I'm definitely gettin a set!!!!!!!

 

I prefer the open center. The wheels do look large on the demo car, but perhaps because it’s a non gfx car. I think the 18” look would fit a gfx car better.

 

I don't see how the closed version could be called goofy after seeing moe dirt....

 

I’m definitely getting the 17” IROCs as well and storing my original rims.. I’m very glad the 88-90 wheel is being reproduced..

 

Covered style.

 

I like the closed center too, I don't hate the open but the closed looks clean. I think if it were an original design wheel there wouldn't be so much bias but trying to change a classic like the R15 you will get a lot of resistance.

I also agree with the 18" looking too big, that hawk almost looks like a donk.

 

Closed, or don't call it an R15 wheel


First off, that is where a lot of aftermarket wheel makers put the valve stem. Second, that is not the actual wheel they would be selling, that is a Forgeline wheel that is multipiece forged, in the $1500 range, per wheel. The wheels they would be selling would be cast, and not likely to look exactly like that. Third, it's unlikely that anyone is going to be running 15"+ sized rotors to be running into the valve stem on an 18" wheel.


To the others, everyone saying it's "too big", it's only one inch bigger than the actual wheel, it is barely noticeable. Also tires for smaller diameter wheels are on the decline because there isn't as much a market for them whether you chose to believe or not. This is the future, bigger wheels. If you want to be able to have a wide selection of performance tires available, you need to step up to a larger diameter wheel. Look how many tires are available for 16" wheels, much less performance tires than that even. There are also a lot less 17" performance tires available than there used to be too

I think the wheel on Moe Dirt is the Perfect balance of wheel to tire to performance ratio. Still get the R17 look and feel with better tire selection, and (in the case of the Forgelines) a stronger and lighter wheel.

 

Appearance wise it's TWO inches. 1" more wheel. 1" less tire. ....as for tires, Hawk's is doing pretty well selling 17" GTA's, IROCS, F'Hawks and Z28's soon I think. They have a 17" F'hawk, they're about to have an 18" F'hawk. I don't think any of this is about tires. If you'd like to buy a wheel based strictly on tire selection, then I do agree with your logic regarding choices and the available selection, but I don't think it's driving most of our decisions.

 

Bruce, if you're leaning toward the open lug wheel then I would paint match one before you commit to production. I think the clover leaf center is going to be it's downfall.

 

As far as size, the wheels look huge on my phone but proportions are much improved on a larger screen.

18's with 35-series tires are not showcased well at a stock ride height. Just need to lower the car and it will look better. It's a good looking wheel. Just have to use your imagination a little more and visualize what could be.

 

It is for me I already have second production, German made, R15's

 

I have a set of the 17" reproductions now and love them. I also like the way 18s look and don't think they are too big.

I vote for closed centers to keep them looking more like a reproduction and not just another custom wheel.

Also, I'd like to point out the polished lip. I think that also takes away from the original look.

 

Closed.

 

Closed and i prefer the 18"

wheels are very subjective touchy subject i found on here just like other subjects
but when done right people will like it

i think angle of pic don't do wheel justice of the closed one and the stance as well
if on 35s def need to be lowered or run a taller tire not lowered

 

Closed. Otherwise, it is NOT a R15.

 

Open center

 

well after being in the tire business through the eighties I saw too many aluminum rims with bolt on caps so I say open! but could go with cap if Firehawk or Ronal emblems that would fit
so what size 18" tire would be appropriate? 285/35?

 

285 or 275 or 295 would be appropriate depending on the stretch you want or no stretch

To stay stock tire height 275/35/18

 

Open looks better as a wheel. Closed is more original. But for 18s. Much better options out there. No wheel should have a lip like that on a 3rd gen.

 

100%.

No matter what you do, they're gonna gripe.

Now, how come you don't offer the GTA wheels in silver, and 18"??????

lol

 

The problem is most people here aren't buyers. I already have a set of 17" GTAs and if I were going 18s, it wouldn't be with a Ronal R15 style rim. My guess is people in the market for an 18x10 aren't stressing period correctness or historical accuracy, and are more concerned about being able to bolt on more grip, center cap be damned.

 

I think it show's Bruce's commitment to this community that he goes to the trouble of having two prototypes done and gives the members a chance to voice their opinion. Several years ago, I talked to Kevin King and a few other guys I know at Year One and Jeff Leonard at Classic Industries, whom I also know. All agreed there was demand for the GTA wheel and said they were working on it. None of them has ever done anything.

I also sent an email to Bruce Hawkins, whom I'd never communicated with before. Bruce emailed me back, swore me to secrecy and told me he had a GTA wheel in the works. Less than 6 months later, he delivered. I'm not trying to say I had any influence on his doing it, just that he's consistently been the only one who actually listens to this community and risks his money developing parts for us.

And what does he get for his trouble? Grief, and more grief.

And hell, I'm one of the whiners. I ordered my GTA wheels at Christmas, but they were backordered, and backordered again. I want mine to be silver, and by the time the wheels came in, I'd found out what it was gonna take to get them powder coated in the color I want, and put the order on hold while I figure out what I'm gonna do.

I guess I'm just as bad as the guys whining about the size..

 

I think that lip is the coolest thing about that wheel.

 

I think it's interesting that you mention that (to Bruce's credit) he asks for opinions, yet in your same post, this is your response to someone actually offering their opinion. This is post 50, and I count a mere 4 people mention the 18" potentially being too big. Oh! -and you know what ELSE he get's???? -My money. -because I'm waiting on a set of his 88-90 17" Irocs when the gold is available!