With a logo showing a star wearing shades and a rizento cut, Hiro Engineering has always been a symbol for hardcore shakotan style.  Originating in 1975, and with kenmeri Skylines fit with their body parts ruling my dreams, I imagined that wheels had always been a part of their product line.   That’s why I was surprised to find, on the back of an Auto Maximum Tuning catalog printed in the companies tenth year (July of 1985), this preview advertisement for the first Hiro Engineering wheel.

My translation reads…

“A dream to decorate the strongest crew (Muteki Gundan?) in history – Hiro Aluminum Wheel – Release scheduled for June.”

It’s a bit unclear to me which June they are referring to, but given that the magazine is a July issue, I’m inclined to think that they are looking forward to June 1986, putting this ad eleven months ahead of the wheel.

Given that fact… we can excuse the fact that the R30 Skyline pictured is wearing ANOTHER COMPANY’S wheels.

Yes, take a good look… the car pictured is wearing a full assembly of Hiro body parts, but is not wearing Hiro shoes. Instead it sports a set of black Heroes Racing iSpeed DD.  Heroes Racing… Hiro Engineering.  Don’t let a name that looks similar fool you.  These are two unrelated brands.

Unrelated brands… but as asymmetrical split three spoke aero wheels, the two wheels do actually have some commonalities. Still, it seems a little surprising that Hiro was so desperate to advertise the new wheel that they did it before they could even get one on a car.

At this point the new wheel didn’t even have a name… the ad refers to it as simply “The Wheel.”

However, five months later in a Holiday Auto catalog, Hiro had these issues sorted. Now named the  V-1, Hiro’s The Wheel, was ready for consumption.

They were even pictured on a car as they should be: in this case a 430 Cedric that was again clad in all that Hiro was best known for until that point: wildly aggressive FRP aero add-ons.  With white-walled Radial T/A’s and an abundance of chrome trim, the car shows a “yankee” style you might expect from an Osaka based tuner.

Whether or not that look suits your taste, Hiro is probably worthy of being called one of the most interesting and influential Japanese car stylists of the eighties.

“We did not want to end hopes and dreams felt for the car in the world of imagination.”

As the ad indicates, Speed Star did the manufacturing work, using three-piece construction and including their magnetic locking centre caps to really put an exclamation on the fact that the product was were ultra-high end, and true to the aesthetic style of Hiro Engineering.  This was no boy-racer wheel with the soft white or bright pastel colouring that was so trendy at the time.

“It’s appearance is that of a boxer who won the big title. Like a trained a sculpted muscle, it is shows function and beauty. This boxer, with nine wings rotating, is a sharp and precise corkscrew that erupts, cutting the air and stirring the wind before deftly evading.  With lightweight, and aerodynamic effects that add brake cooling, it produces sharp and stable footwork. Extravagant function & beauty,  sharp footwork that propels it across the earth, the nickname ‘Street Fighter’ is well suited.”

Just as the company’s body parts did, Hiro wheels had a style that was generally a bit over the top.  And like those aero parts, the V-1 as well, was designed to harness the power of air to improve vehicle performance.  With unique left-sided and right-sided wheels, curved spokes pulled air outwards from inside the wheel well when the vehicle was in motion, cooling the brakes and helping to provide aerodynamic stability.

It’s a concept that was at play in motorsports at the time, and thus was a philosophy fitting for an aero-tuner to undertake.

JMW AD-SCX an unique looking wheel that is definitely a rare find. Calling this pair rough would be generous. The old caps are well rusted through, lips oxidized and faces chipped. Even still a worthy share! Sizes in a common 14x6J 4H/114.3 +10 and with a 16,800 yen price tag I imagine they will be floating around for a while. Check them out here.

A ultra rare wheel from Yokohama, the Advan Super Forging. Few examples of these have popped up in the last few years so we are excited to share this one with you. Not the most aesthetically unique wheel but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in illusiveness. One size only 13×5.5J 4H/114.3 +20 can be seen here.

Another brand that is hardly seen is this wheel from Clime Racing. A wide slant lip and interesting face make this a very cool kyusha shoe. Sets can be had relatively cheap but a no quick find. This pair is sized in 14x6J 4H/114.3 +13 and can be seen here.

Hayashi is best known for their models like the Street, Yayoi, and Techno line up, but this is nothing like those. The Hayashi Toripola is at best an ultra rare find. It’s a simple tri-spoke design exclusively for FWD. You better believe if I had an ef honda these would be on there in a heartbeat. 14x6J 4H/100 +40 check them out here.

Race purpose! Yep these Work Ralliart Mirage wheels are basically useless unless you’ve done some serious retrofitting, but damn they look cool. Surprisingly we’ve seen more examples of these come through the auctions than we’d ever have thought. If you’re looking for some killer garage art check these out here.

Finally we have a wheel with an identity crisis. The Ueda Super Eight RS by SSR, surprisingly not branded by RS Watanabe. Already the rarest of the 8 banana-spoke configurations, this pair is in NOS Condition! Multi drilled for 4/5 hole PCD’s in 17×9 +34, we could see this going on a variety of 90’s classics. Take a look here.

4 luggers rejoice on this weeks Weekly Wheel Roundup!

Weds Albino Racing aero dish is a wheel that doesn’t pop up often. The aero-inspired saucer style is no doubt iconic when thinking of kyusha wheels, and Weds does it right. Between this color option and white/gold, we’d be hard pressed to pick a preference. This single is sized in 15×6.5J 4H/114.3 +20. Check out the listing here.

Next up another aero style wheel.. the Heroes Racing Super iSpeed! This turbine look-a-like wheel has one of the coolest features and adjustable PCD. No need for dual drilling here, simply flip the lug bearing around and move these from your Nissan to Honda… then back again to your Toyota. Versatility at its best. Listed here in 15×6.5J 4H/ 100-114.3 +20.

The funky four-spooke River Side R-104 is an ultra-rare find at best. Available in black and gold and a variety of sizes. This particular seller has two pair available in both 7J and 7.5J. Hopefully someone get their hands on both pairs and keep these rarities in the family. Sizes are 13x7J +0 / 13×7.5 unknown 4H/114.3. Check them out here and here.

SSR Star Mesh is an early design from Speed Star Racing that we love. These are some of the cleanest samples we’ve come across and look like they haven’t even been mounted. Hidden away in some garage waiting to roll. Complete with centercaps, this pair in 13×7.5J 4H/114.3 with a mystery offset likely in single digits, can be seen here.

The Mugen CF-48 is a wild circuit board looking wheel one can’t help but like. Sets can be found without too much hassle, but the trick usually becomes not breaking the bank to find examples complete with bolt-on aero covers. What makes this set stand out is not only does it have the covers, but the covers are made of carbon fiber. Upon inspection they seem to be a legitimate piece with appropriate patina and wear. Maybe bespoke or extremely limited producution… either way we hope the Mugen experts out there can shed some light on these for us! Check out this complete set here.

Finally an oddball from Kic Ltd. produced buy none other than the kyusha colab king, Speed Star. The model is SWC-R, which stands for Sport Wheel Collection and errr… Racing? This wheel available in white, silver, and red is a very-rare find especially with center caps. This particular set’s faces have faded from red to a bright highlighter orange. FF fitment of 14x6J +38 dual drilled in both 4H/100-114.3 and listed here.

Alright on to part 5 and going strong! This week we have some rarities from Speed Star Racing, August Japan, Hoshino Impul, Super Star Racing, and Hayashi. Check them out below!

Here we have the Challenge Defi 757 Mesh from Speed Star. This ultra-rare model is very hard to come across let alone in this sort of condition. The lesser known mesh is often overshadowed by its sister wheel the Defi Fin, but make no mistake this model might be even more of a special find. Its two-toned face and high quality finish, combined with its rarity, make this one of our favorite mesh! Specs are 15x6J 4H/100 +40 listed here.

The August Japan March Mag has been a really illusive wheel before this year. Three or four sets have popped up over the last 6 months however, which is quite interesting. This set here looks to be a great candidate for a quick refinish and set up on your early 80’s ride. Sized in 15x6J +13 / 15×6.5 +7 4H/114.3. The real trick would be to find the matching centercaps. Check out the listing here.

The Hoshino Impul RS might not be the rarest wheel out there but it does have a certain appeal. This is a special set in that it’s available in NOS condition with all original hardware, caps and boxes. Models can be found in one piece and multi-piece examples. This set is modestly sized in 16x7J +31 / 16x8J +38 5H/114.3 listing can be seen here.

Super Star SSR I seen here is a wild design that isn’t seen frequently, but when they do pop up they almost always sell quick. This pair has quite a few bids and will no doubt pull a worthy price. Sized at 14×7 4H/114.3 +0 the listing can be seen here.

Next up the a special set of Hayashi Racing Street Mag.  Although made in Italy by Campagnolo, these retain JWL/VIA certification.   See the listing here.  Size is an incredibly average 14x6J 4H/114.3 +15. The Street is a timeless design that is taken a step further in this magnesium built wheel. A special centercap came with these specific wheels that can still be found, although not cheap. Keep a keen eye out for these among the ton of standard streets out there!

Lastly The McLaren International MS-1, another Speed Star wheel! This mega-cool pair has been floating around the auctions for quite some time; no surprise as the price is up to 90,000yen for the pair. Specs are 17×9.5 5H/114.3 +30 complete with fined caps and all. The auction can be seen here.

We’ve made it to part 4! While the watch list is always full of different wheels, it’s no easy task to narrow down to only 6 examples a week. That being said check out this weeks picks that made the cut!

Number one is a prime example of the Yamako Silverstar Lupus aka the Silverstar II. Made by Enkei, this minty example comes in a very flattering light gold and silver. This set in 14x6J 4H/114.3 +18, sold at auction for 20,500 yen. Not a bad deal for such a clean set.

Next up is a very cool set of Takechi Project Racing Hart D/Spec Superlative Dish. This rally inspired design doesn’t show up too often, and what makes this particular set even less common is its dual-drilled 5H/4H pattern. Specs are as follows 16x7J 4H-5H/114.3 +35/+48. Quite the setup! This set sold for 45,710 yen.

One of my personal favorites is the Pasco Fame Bilbo. This pair in 5H is plain cool, with a distinctive period design, deep slant lips, aged patina, what more could you ask for?! Sized at 14×7.5J 5H/114.3 +4, this pair of Bilbo’s is available here starting at 25,000yen.

Plugging away we’ve got a rare model from RS Watanabe, the Falcon Mesh. A seriously neat take on a mesh wheel from the company best known for their 8-spoke wheels. Check out this pair modestly sized in 14×6.5J 4H/114.3 unkown offset here. Starting at 19,800yen these might be worth picking up!

Hasemi Sport makes another appearance this week, only this time it’s the S5 Model, again made by SSR.The S5 came in a ton of sizing options with the magnetic locking center cap as well as examples with a standard screw on cap. Although these can still be seen pretty regularly, what makes these stick out is their wild factory specs – 15×9.5J 4H/114.3 -39!! Available on yahoo bidding is set to start at a substantial 120,000yen for the PAIR. Check out the listing here.

To finish up this week we have a very rare mesh model known as the Wood Bell Pole Position. This is an often overlooked vintage wheel that usually doesn’t command a ton of money when and if they do come up for sale. This pair is well sized in 15×7.5J 4H/114.3 +1 and can be seen here.

Kicking things off this week is a very cool design from arguably Japan’s most popular wheel brand… Speed Star Racing. Seen under a few different names like the Speeder Aero Development, Speedster Fin, and just Development Fin. As a lonely single, sized at 15×6.5J 4H / 114.3 +20 this would make an awesome display / collectors piece for a starting bid of only 4,000 yen! Check it out here.

Following that is another SSR product in collaboration with famed tuner Hasemi Sport. This uncommon model is the S5-2 in a very period correct and staggered 17x8J +31 / 17x9J +37 5H / 114.3. This wheel, like the Hasemi PROT-GT, comes with a red and blue center cap. Unfortunately this set is only pictured with the red (more like fuschia) cap. Check out the listing here.

Next is an iconic kyusha wheel in a pretty uncommon 5 bolt pattern. The Devil Japan Shadow Spoke came in a variety of sizes, and I love how they slightly altered the design for the 5 lug option! The hunt for 5H 3-piece version continues. This minty fresh single in 14×6.5J 5H / 114.3 +9 can be seen here.

AC Courreges via Yamako, has some of the most wild designs out there, and the ACG does not disappoint. Its recognizable pink and powder blue color scheme with flying hearts make this one of the most adorable wheels ever. This super rare wheel is featured in a palm sized 10x4J +40. Check out the full listing here if you think you have what it takes to pull off this look. [edit: this set sold for 49,000円]

Next we have a very cool design that doesn’t always come to mind when thinking of vintage wheels. The Fanica Road Hunter (Migu) Mig Cross. This aggressive set measures in at a staggered 13x7J +3 and 13x8J -11 4H / 110. Unfortunately no center caps are pictured. Take a look at the full listing here.

Lastly a pair that has been taunting me for a few weeks. The SSR Aim is a quirky tri-spoke model that is very seldom seen. This pair is listed in 13×6.5J 4H/ 114.3 +5 and needs a little love to be brought back to life. Not pulling the trigger on these has been quite the challenge. Challenge your own self-control by checking out the listing here as we wrap up part 3 of the WWR!

Time for the second installment of our Weekly Wheel Roundup and luckily the finds did not disappoint! Let jump right into it – Enjoy!

Bell Racing making another appearance only this time in the extremely rare BRA-104 model. This 4 piece set was sized at 13x6J 4H / 114.3 +15 and sold on yahoo auctions for only 15,500 yen. Not bad for such a hard to find set!

Next up is the Work Spirit 33, another extremely rare wheel. This set looked to be in great shape, featuring a cool red and polished finish, and even came complete with caps! Sizing was 14x7J 4H / 114.3, and I say was, because this set sold for a respectable 52,809 yen.

Enkei has such a wide variety of wheel models that few really stand out, but one that is certainly unique is the Enkei AP Rolling. A simple dish style with inset accent lines and an octagonal center bore really defines the AP Rolling. [edit: This set, in the most average size of all (14x6J 4H / 114.3 +15) went through auction a couple of times with a starting price of 23,990円, but never got any action.]

There is something incredibly compelling about tri-spoke wheels that you either seem to love or hate. You better believe we love these tri-spoke FJ Liebe Turbos. This particular pair in 13x7J 4H / 114.3 +0, has slightly different markings on the face than other examples we’ve seen before.  Instead of seeing “FJ LIEBE” see only “LIEBE”. Everything else looks identical though, including that awesome slant lip. Only one day left on the auction we will be keeping an eye on these to see where the hammer falls on the price. Check them out here. [edit: this pair sold for 6,000円]

Check out these rare Super Star SS-01 in 14x6J 4H / 114.3 +18! This set, complete with centercaps, definitely has seen its fair share of corrosion. But it looks like some lucky buyer was able to see past the surface and snag this set for only 19,800 yen.  At that price… do you refinish? Or maybe run as is??

To finish up this week we have a collaboration from well-known Work, and not so well-known Lesco. The listing features both a pair of Hayashi Techno TRV and a pair of the very rare Lesco Pulse 1.  Size seems to be 14×6.5J 4H/ 114.3 unknown offset. Recently listed here. [edit: this set sold for 50,000円]

Let’s see what pops up next week!

For lots of AE86 owners, non driving extracurricular activities involved wheel shopping.  4×114.3 hubs, and the ability to accept a wide variety of wheel diameters and widths made this a fun and relaxing activity.  AE86 owners who stepped into the modern hachiroku, the ZN6, struggle though to enjoy wheel shopping in the same way.

In comparison to 4X114.3 life (and basically every other PCD), 5X100 life is disheartening.  Yes there are some great modern lightweight wheels available for the car, but if you fancy the kyusha style and want to set your car apart from all the other catalog built cars out there, a quality used set of wheels is a fun choice.

As an aftermarket wheel bolt pattern, 5X100 didn’t really exist until the late eighties, but the sixteen inch diameter the ZN6 requires were gigantic for that era. Thinking old school, the mid-nineties is about the best we can hope for. There is lots of stuff out there for the car that is newer than that, but if you cared about those options then you probably wouldn’t be here.  As a new ZN6 owner, here are some of the wheels that I’ve had eyes open for in used wheel marketplaces.

#1 – Watanabe F8F Why buy Rota’s copy when the real ultimate Hachiroku wheel is out there? The F8F is fairly commonly available in 17 7J 40, but more aggressive widths and offsets are available in fifteen, sixteen and seventeen inch diameters. As a plus, fifteen inch diameters are known to clear Subaru 4 pot calipers. Real magnesium construction is available too, for significant dollars. Given Bunta’s certain approval, it’s likely worth it regardless.
#2 – Suzuka Longchamp XR-4Z Kai Built using SSR’s Semi Solid Forging techniques, the Lonchamp XR-4Z Kai came out in 1996 with sizing for bigger cars. Sixteen through eighteen inch diameters are available, with widths up to 10.5J. Sixteen and seventeen inch examples use a reverse mounted shell. The 18 uses a conventional stepped lip, but is much more rare. The XR-4Z Kai is not quite the classic Longchamp XR-4 from the early 80’s, but you can’t get any closer without resorting to modern knock off brands.
#3 SSR MK-IIR The classic MK-2 is comfortably at home on an AE86, and the modern MK-IIR should work equally well on the ZN6. 5X100 is a challenging find, and sixteen inch is the biggest diameter, but 8 and 9J widths are available in middle offsets. Black, red, blue, gold and silver are factory colours, which means that like the original MK-2, some extra flare comes standard.
#4 SSR EX-C Fin Look long and hard, but they are out there in sixteen and seventeen inch sizes and 5X100 bolt pattern. In fact, the whole EX-C line up can fit here, but the Fin is my personal favourite. It is also to the best of my knowledge, the only classic looking fin available in both 5X100 and 17″ diameter. Not surprisingly, this is the oldest wheel on this list. The EX-C line up came in 17″ as early as 1988.
#5 Work Equip 05 The Equip 05 is not quite the Equip 01, 02 or Excel, but it carries the same name and a classic look in sizes that fit the ZN6 well.  Diameters up to eighteen inch are available, as well as some really big widths. Exactly when these wheels started production is unknown,  but production dates from 1997 to 2005 have been observed. Finding a set in good condition is not a terribly challenging exercise.

SSR wheel company is almost certainly the most well known Kyusha wheel manufacturer. Launching in 1971 with the MK-I, SSR was a few years behind Enkei, but came with a whole other style and Japan’s first 3 piece wheel despite what other manufacturers would have you believe.

The MK-I/II and III which were SSR’s first three wheels, have certainly been the companies most popular. Forty years later, they are still in production, and are easy to find in almost any wheel marketplace. The F lineup of SSR wheels however, debuted 8 years later in 1979 and today are a much more challenging find. By 1985 they were gone. That makes them a great option for those who really want something different.

Of the six wheels, the F5 is the most common of the bunch, but the F2, F3 and F4 are Ultra-rare, and the F6 is something that we’ve never seen in anything but catalogs and advertisements… the above, from a 1980 SSR Catalog. Like the MK-I/II/III, all wheels in the F line up use SSR’s 3-piece sandwich type construction.

	SSR F1 The F1 is a simple dish type wheel, but is the only wheel in this line up to feature more than just an alpha numeric name. Often it goes simply by “F1” but some documents list it as “F1 Star Dish.” It features larger and more numerous oval cut outs on 15″ wheels (twelve vs ten). Construction uses 6, 8 or 10 shell bolts depending on diameter and width/offset. Thirteen and fourteen inch diameters are available in 5.5J to 10J widths. Thirteen inch however is 4H only, while 14 inch in four or five hole PCD’s from 110-120mm. Remarkably, the F1 and the F5 are the only wheels in this series available in 15″ diameters: 6J-10J width.
	SSR F2 Often mistaken for the Work Equip Silhouette, the F2 has slightly wider/stubbier spokes and no outer ribbing between spokes. In this line up, the F2 and the F3 both share the same sizing options: 13 and 14″ diameters only. 5.5J to 10J widths in both diameters. PCD is four hole only from 110 to 120mm.
	SSR F3 The F3 is incredibly similar to the SSR MK-3, but the F3 is indeed a different wheel. Compared side be side, the center PCD area is a little smaller on the F3. Most obvious though is that on the F3, two of the wheel shell bolts are centred on smaller secondary spokes. On the MK3, two bolts are centred on the larger primary spokes. Also note, most catalogs and advertisements make reference to an SA22 specific size for this wheel: 13 6J +19, although it does share other sizing options with the SSR F2.
	SSR F4 The F4 is a for spoke design, very similar in to the Bridgestone Stage 1 / TR-3. The shell style and assembly however, is all SSR. Either 6 or 8 shell bolts can be observed, and unlike the F1, F2 and F3, an 11J width is available in fourteen inch sizing. Four hole PCD only of course – from 110-120mm.
	SSR F5 Whoa is us… the five spoke wheel is the most common wheel in this series. That is largely because it is identical to the Star 5 which got a head start on the F series lineup, launching in 1976. Being five hole only however, the F5 is not available in 13″ sizes, and due to design constraints, is only available in 5×114.3 PCD in fourteen icy diameter. Fifteen icy diameters are available in 110 to 130mm PCD. Fourteen inch widths are 5.5J to 8J. Fifteen is from 6J to 11J.
	SSR F6 The F6 is the rarest by far, and having never seen a real set, I have given it the ranking of unobtainable. Available in 13″ only, all wheels should have 6 bolt shell construction. 5.5J to 10J widths with 4X114.3 and 4X120mm PCD only.

I have always been a huge fan of SSR’s old school wheels. For months after I got my MK-3’s, I didn’t consider getting anything but SSR’s. At the time, I knew about some of the more rare classic Japanese wheels; Devil Japan Shadow Spokes, Hayashi Techno and Yayoi, TRD Tosco, Work Equips, etc, but I really didn’t have a desire to look deeper into the rare wheel market to find something truly unique and rare.

About 2 months ago, while browsing YAJ, I came across an SSR I had never seen before. A single 4 spoke, with the familiar oval “SpeedStar” logo on the end of one of the spokes and a decently large dent in the lip. Without hesitation I bid on the wheel, and watched the days count down to the end of the auction. With no other bids, I won the auction and waited for my package to show up on my doorstep.

When my wheel finally showed up I was amazed when I pulled it out of the box. It was far lighter than any other wheel I had ever held in my hands. I looked for clues as to what model this wheel was, but found nothing. I took pictures of it and posted it online in hopes of finding someone with information on the wheel. It took another month before I found out from @prkbkr on Instagram that the wheel is a Speed Star F.4. Without a doubt, this has supercharged my search for the rarest, raddest and oldest wheels out there.