SEMA Show: Clear Wheels - Jalopnik Comments

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Triton — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 20:57:47 EST

aww man, i had this idea like a year ago, thought it would look sweet, unfortuantly i had neither the time or money to make anything of it other than a neat idea. cool to see it in real life tho, even if it is totally impractical

Triton

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Confusatron — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 12:19:05 EST

Yet another missed bling opportunity (blingportunity?) - why isn't there a TV screen behind the wheel?

Confusatron

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

bigusfickes — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:37:21 EST

doesn't wonder woman roll on these?

bigusfickes

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

damnElantra — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:19:31 EST

wow, ALON is nifty. maybe glass buble cars are not too far off

damnElantra

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

grzydj — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 11:44:44 EST

Sort of.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123012131

grzydj

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Awesomist — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 11:41:38 EST

You mean transparent aluminum? Like from Star Trek? Did we figure that one out yet?

Awesomist

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Papercutninja — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:51:43 EST

I'm in the camp of only practical "accessories" on cars, ie functional bodykits, engine parts etc etc. But what a cool invention/idea. Yes, it's impractical for any sort of outside use, but in a show car, it's a neat idea. I can't wait for some douche driving a tricked out CRX to get these and show off his rear drum brakes.

Papercutninja

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

grzydj — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:35:04 EST

I wonder what the thickness of the wheel is, it's hard to tell from the pictures. Certain blends of polycarbonate and other plastics can be made just as strong or stronger than aluminum. What you basically have is the material they make bullet proof windows out of. Even though these are basically show wheels, they wouldn't shatter if you hit a curb with them. The clearness of the material would last about a day, it scratches easily compared to glass. They'd be frosted over after a day or so of driving.

They'd actually be pretty strong, but very, very impractical.

Clear aluminum would be a better alternative.

grzydj

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Vintage Racer — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:26:37 EST

I don't know... it is lexan - you could probably mold little NACA ducts into them for brake cooling.... ;-)

Vintage Racer

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

nitty — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:14:46 EST

These will complement my clear heels quite nicely.

I guess brake cooling isn't much of a concern.

nitty

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

TwoUptons — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 08:51:17 EST

I'm looking forward to seeing three of these on a winged and primer-body-kitted 1992 Honda Accord automatic, showing off the tiny rusty drum brakes in the back, and with the fourth wheel completely different, with a cracked plastic spinner.

-Eric

TwoUptons

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Jakob — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 08:00:11 EST

Basically I don't like stuff for cars that are working against the principles of lightweight performance. And these rims seem totally impractical and is as stupid as to fill up your trunk with huge sub woofers and gadgets so you can't even have your groceries in there.

Jakob

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

damnElantra — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 02:01:58 EST

someones gona be really bumbed when they curb those... well there not dubs any more. so what? plates? crystal?

china?

damnElantra

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Awesomist — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:54:34 EST

Ah, SEMA. Stupidity is thy true name.

Awesomist

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Adam — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:28:51 EST

Ugh, all those screws make me nervous. Lexan loves to break from fatigue, and those wheels are not going to look good after a few months, maybe even just a few weeks.

Osmos wheels are hot, but totally impractical as far as I can see. Having said that, I'd still buy any vehicle incorporating them.

Adam

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

qfrog — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:57:17 EST

There are hubless wheel systems out there,http://www.osmoswheel.com/?lang=en but to incorporate such a marvel of design would take more than a few spare segments of hockey rink lexan and a drill press.

Any asshat oerating under the impression that polywhateverthefvck wheels are a good idea for a 2 ton vehicle deserves to embrace the impending disaster which they are about to encounter.

qfrog

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

Mr. Marcus — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:43:36 EST

@HDC, you're thinking about this all wrong. All they really need is wiper blades INSIDE the rim, duh... Or, wouldn't ceramic brakes fix the dust accumulation?

Mr. Marcus

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

detroit9000 — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:16:40 EST

Paid for by the National Association of Products Liability Lawyers.

detroit9000

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

HDC — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:15:16 EST

From the looks of them, you'll have to take the wheel off to get at the accumulated dust. Talk about a hassle.

Bout the only thing this would be good for is manufacturers displaying brake systems in show cars that never actually move under their own power.

HDC

SEMA Show: Clear Wheels

imoody — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:59:57 EST

How practical.

imoody