The 20 Best Wheels Ever to See the Road

Getting the proper ratio of wheel-to-car is one of the top missions for a car designer. It can make or break the entire design. But once that sweet spot is found — what then? Do you just slap any old wheel on there and call it a day? Not a chance: rim design is almost as important as any other aspect of the car. The rims have to match the spirit of the design in theme, performance or character — or, preferably, all three at once. It should be no surprise, then, that some of the most iconic cars to ever hit the road have the most incredible sets of wheels to match.

2000 Spyker C8

Every other detail on the C8 is top notch, so it should be no surprise the aeronautical-inspired wheels are, too.

1998 BMW E39 M5

You can always pick an E39 M5 out of the crowd, simply from its wheels.

2017 Aventador S Roadster

Lamborghini may be the best in the game as far as modern wheel design is concerned.

2007 Subaru STI

The 2007 STI is easily the most attainable car here, but that doesn’t mean it can’t pull off gold wheels.

2016 BMW M4 GTS

On paper, two-tone alloys sound a little too Pimp My Ride, but the M4 GTS wears them tastefully.

1993 Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v Evoluzione II

Pulled straight from the rally car.

1986 Porsche 959

Hollow-spoked magnesium wheels were light-years ahead of their time.

2005 BMW Alpina B7

Pure class. Plain and simple.

1966 Ford GT40

Those gold center-lock wheels may be just as iconic as the car.

1968 “Bullit” Ford Mustang 390 GT

San Fransisco tested, Steve McQueen approved.

1967 Ferrari 330 P4

The 330 P4 is one of the most gorgeous cars ever built; it had to be given shoes worthy of that design.

2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

A bold car design needs a bold wheel design to match.

1963 Aston Martin DB5

Maybe the best example of spoked center-locked wheels, ever.

1966 Porsche 911S

A “best wheels” roundup wouldn’t be complete without a Fuchs mention.

1971 Lamborghini Miura SV

You might be noticing a pattern here. Center-locking wheels — they’re pretty great.

1985 BMW E30 M3

The basket-weave wheels that made the car famous — or is that the other way around?

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

For a car that had 617 horsepower and weighed 3,850 pounds, the SLR was going to need fans to cool off the brakes.

1980 SAAB 900 Turbo

A level of cool only Saab could manage.

2007 Lamborghini Reventon

The Spyker has old-school aviation covered; the Reventon is definitely decidedly new-school.

1998 Ford Crown Victoria (Steelies)

Simple. Utilitarian. Almost always accompanied by red and blue lights.

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