OEM plus wheel customizing and upgrading

One trend that has gained significant popularity in the euro tuner scene over the years is the art of installing OEM wheels on to a vehicle that originated from a different automobile manufacturer. This trend is largely misunderstood by people outside of the euro scene which usually results in them scratching their heads or ridiculing those that do it. The idea here is to achieve exclusivity and get away from conformity, but above all, it is about looking good. This is achieved by installing wheels from a vehicle of a different brand which is usually more expensive or of a higher class than the one it is going on to.

Let us start with the easier and more socially acceptable swaps that are being done. Due to the fact that Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini all reside under the same VAG umbrella, the wheel bolt patterns are, for the most part, the same. Nobody is going to put Lamborghini wheels on a Bentley and vice versa but the same is not so for Volkswagen and Audi. Audi wheels have been installed on Volkswagens for years now and the frequency of these swaps have increased more recently as Volkswagen has changed their bolt patterns to a more traditional Audi bolt pattern. Swapping Bentley wheels on to Audis and Volkswagen is widely popular right now and is always a sure bet for nice fresh look. Swapping Lamborghini wheels on Audis and Volkswagens tends to be a little more difficult due to Lamborghini wheel availability and width sizes but the trend is definitely picking up steam. These four vehicle brand predominantly use the bolt pattern 5x112 (5 refers to the number of wheel bolts mounting the wheel to the hub and 112 refers to the spacing of the bolt holes in millimeters.). When the bolt patterns are the same on the vehicle as they are on the wheel, the swap is made that much easier because wheel adapters are not needed.

Porsche wheels have getting installed on to Volkswagens and Audis over the years with the help of hub adapters. These swaps generally look very nice and are widely accepted due to the history that Volkswagen and Audi share together.

Mercedes wheel swaps have gained popularity in recent years due largely to the bolt patterns being the same on most Volkswagens and Audis. This wheel swap is one that is usually frowned upon by people outside of the Euro scene. They usually can’t understand why these two brands would be associated and mismatched in this way but here are some reasons that will help identify why this is performed. For starters Mercedes wheels always have a very clean OEM look to them. They are also German which keeps them relevant in this context. No wheel adapters are needed as the bolt patterns are the same although hub centering rings are required in most cases. For the most part Mercedes wheels just look really good on Volkswagens and Audis. If the owner of the vehicle is bold enough to attempt it, they probably know what they are doing thus the final product usually looks outstanding.

When it comes to the Euro car scene, being the first to do something different is what tuners strive for. There are however other swaps out there that are far more extreme but then again that is usually what the owner trying to achieve. BMW, Land Rover, Jeep, Corvette and many other wheels that were never meant to be on certain vehicles do get called into action from time to time. (as can be seen in the attached gallery). As the years go by the euro tuner scene modifications and styles will keep progressing and changing. Only time will tell what new wheel trends await in the future.
More Pics to come, Stay tuned !