Wheel companies know gawking at big, shiny things is human nature. Thus, eons ago, was born the 17-inch rim. After radical mutations and massive doses of Chromium Growth Hormone, the size of rims is now bounded only by tire companies' willingness to wrap them in rubber. Lexani, for example, has a 42-inch rim that's been sitting naked in front of the company's SEMA booth for at least two years now. With any luck, it shall remain so. While I was staring at it, again dumbstruck, Hip-Hop Minstrels, The Pack walked up and instantly fell in love (with the rim, not me). Another company, dubbed GH (stands for Good Health) created rims that look like barbell weights. GH gives $2k out of every $15k rim purchase — you heard that right — to charity for children's health programs. The super-pricey rims impart a prison bling feeling to me though, and makes me wonder when orange jumpsuits are going to come into fashion. Somebody else had a roulette wheel themed rim with Louis Vuitton leather in the center area, which is probably 100% authentic and officially licensed. (LV Fakes page)
Sema, accessories, rims, top
Rimdiculousness: SEMA Chrome
11:45 AM on Fri Nov 2 2007
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30 comments











Comments
I don't know about orange jumpsuits, but I recently saw a Fresh Prince episode wherein Will dons a prison jump-suit to offend Uncle Phil's Bourgeois friends.And offended they were!
Ah yes I too hate wheel bearings and other various suspension parts. Although on the other hand there is no better way to show how a suspension works then driving behind and next to some box Chevy with 24s and watching the whole wheel unit flex to every extreme under normal driving.
Chrome is fine, I guess, if that's what you like. I prefer nicely balanced and complementing color and the use of black, white and the flat versions of both. That includes wheels. But ultimately, it is a matter of taste and those who don't agree with me are just wrong. I can live with that.
I will NEVER get the donk, box or bubble phenomenon...My head a splode looking at the pics.
I wonder what would happen to the supercharged Impala (the one that looks like Mad Max's psychedelic nightmare) if you punched it off the line? I think that it would instantly twist into a shiny chrome & purple flake pretzel.
First.... The Girls were... um.... luscious... But please somebody save those Impalas from being humiliated any further, and that Riviera.... how can anyone do such a thing to that?
I fell in love too. With picture six. I bet she's really smart and nice...and she HAS to know a lot about cars...right? Right?
How would those barbell wheels look on my 07 Mustang GT conv?
One answer: Classy
Ugh, this is just too redonkulous to behold.
At first, as much as I wasn't a fan of the donk craze, I at least gave it credit for fixing up some unloved 70s/80s American cars that otherwise would just fade away. But now it's just getting sad.
The girl with the Riviera gets my vote. The others loom like moderately successful post-op transsexuals.
Big wheels are just the latest fad. Back when I was in high school (groan), it was amber lights in the wheel wells. I had a friend who owned a souped up '50 Ford flathead with tri-power. It was jacked up so much, it was difficult to see over the hood. He painted the front wheel wells white and put amber lights up there. It was so cool...
@Rust-MyEnemy: That should be look but they probably loom also
How long before we start seeing custom low-volume tire manufacturers to put tires on rediculous rims that high-volume manufacturers won't bother with? Then in addition to spending $15k on a set of rims, rappers can also spend $15k on a pair of tires, and Unique Autosports will have even MORE work to do!
Lets see how PC I can make this:
The photograph of the two uniquely dressed African American gentlemen regarding the 42" rim with obvious interest made me laugh out loud at work.
I got a box of rubber bands and some black spray paint. I'm pretty sure I can come up with a suitable tire for that 42". i.e. the tire will be as useless as the rim.
I did see something funny a couple of weeks ago - a guy had stuck a chrome 20" on the side of his car - obviously quite proud of his relatively small big wheels.
I like brightwork, but these are so wrong. Anytime I see an older car (heaven help if it's a classic), dropped, on 20" wheels, I die a little inside.
Also, my libido may be broken, but those booth babes look really unappealing.
it's so sad that it has become un-american to exercise even the slightest amount of restraint. far too few people want a car that will sneak up on you with its wondrousness. the point is just to be as ridiculous as possible. the only consolation being that things like this tend to part people with more money than brains with said money. thus evening things out a bit.
mayhaps i start a wheel company of my own...
@Seth L: Yes, your libido is broken for sure. I have to wait about 30 seconds before I can walk to the water cooler.
I like the lower end treatment of the brunette with the Riv. Didn't see much else I liked but that's about par for the course. Some clown pulled up next to me at the gas station in an early 70's 442 turned into one of these abortions. I hope to god it was a clone but I know in my heart they ruined a classic to make that abomination. I threw up in my mouth a little.
For god's sake, do that shit to a 1979 Pontiac Parisienne and leave the good cars alone.
Are you simulcasting Riv Girl on fleshbot?
I'm surprised the term "Rimshot" has not been used yet by Los Jalopniks yet!
SEMA; Where your wallet and taste part ways.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Ferrari pioneer the first 16" rim/low profile (for it's time) tire to clear bigger brake calipers? Around '78 for the 308 I believe. Then Corvette and some others started running 16's, and eventually 17's for brake clearance. 16" and 17" wheels became trendy aftermarket items and the sizes only grew from there.
Hate to blame Ferrari for starting this uber-tastelessness, but in a way, 78 308 = first Donk.
This section of the show must have been in the Pimp n Hoe area. And loaded with H2's...
@harumph: Amen to that.
"mayhaps i start a wheel company of my own..." I could use a job...
amazing proof of the complete lack of taste of jalopnik commentors. those girls both look like they delivered their second child last night.
@squablow: I tend to disagree, making bigger rims work with your design to accommodate bigger (better) brakes on a sports car is hardly the same thing as striving to prove that you are an asshat with too much disposable income by stuffing huge rims under an old car that hasn't got room for them, and leaving the stock brake parts out for all to see in their puny (now) overworked glory. Besides the Ferrari used the low profile tires natural handling advantages through proper chassis tuning. Say the words "suspension upgrade" to a donker and he'll talk about getting the axle away from the body. Handling is an alien concept to these people.
That Louis Vuitton roulette wheel rim is EXACTLY what I need to set my Stutz Blackhawk apart from the crowd.
Man, I like the quarters!A throw back to penny loafers? Quarter rims? And if you talk about your "quarter rims" people would be taking it serious-like until they actually saw them. Roulette is pretty cool too. But why stop here? Dartboard. Bull's eye. Eyeball. Golfball, basketball. Mirrors. Old 45s (they were records, kids) of your four favorite songs.
I was wondering how big the rims had to get before the front and rear ones rubbed against each other. You heard it here first. The next trend will be penny farthings. 40" on the front, 10" on the back. Sexy!
they'd look fitting on monster trucks.
at mph07 project khan or something had £1 mil wheels
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