Enkei vs. TSW Reputation
 

So what’s the forum’s collective opinion of Enkei wheels versus TSW?

Specifically, I am considering:
- Enkei PF01 (http://www.enkei.com/pf01.shtml#)
- TSW Nurburgring (http://www.tsw.com/alloy_wheels_Nurburgring.php)

They are close in weight, price, and there seem to be suitable fitments for the FR-S. How’s the quality / durability? They would see both street and Solo2 use.

Edit: What is your opinion of each company's reputation? A good buy or will I regret picking one rather than the other?

The TSW look bigger because of the spokes reaching the rim. I think they'll look better.
I never understood if TSW is owned but the Italian company MAK or not.

If you go on the MAK italian website you see the TSW wheels:
http://www.makwheels.it/IMP0000000117.asp

If you switch to english they disappear.

Through our company I can get a very good discount on Mak wheels, what's the price in the US or Canada?

Enkei

...or some Work CR Kai

Matt bronze TSWs on wr blue mica BRZ :drool:

Already got a new Ring sticker in bronze; just need the BRZ now.:D

Personally, I like the look of the Enkei PF01 compared to the TSWs.

The TSWs look a little too busy for me.

Thanks for the posts guys.

Rather than style, I'm more interested in your opinions of the companies' reputation, eg. "Any Enkei is better than TSW" or "Enkei is junk" (although preferably with a little more detailed explanation than that ;)).

If I choose one of those brands over the other, will I regret it in the next few years?

I've never heard a bad thing about Enkei wheels, ever. I've personally had 2 sets of Enkeis and loved both.

A few years back, I bought a car that had some Rota Slipstreams on it. The tires and wheels were bought about a month before I bought the car if I remember right. Seller had receipt for wheels/tires as well as tons of other stuff. Shortly after buying the car, I started losing air in one of the rear tires. Turns out the barrel had a crack. I bought 1 new Rota, had the tire swapped, and then traded my Rotas for a set of older Enkeis.

A few days after putting the Enkeis on the car, I was driving through a construction area and the truck in front of me clipped a pylon and kicked the sandbag out into the only lane. I had no choice but to hit the sandbag. It actually damaged my front bumper a little and caused the front of my Civic to go air-born! I thought for sure that I'd seriously damaged something, and I figured my wheel would have been it. Nope! The Enkeis were solid. No visible cracks, no loss of air pressure for the next 6 months I owned the wheels, no balance issues... This was on 35 series tires, too.

With that said, I've also never heard anything bad about TSW wheels. I've got no 1st hand experience with them, though.

I much prefer Enkei wheels to TSW wheels. I have them on my NSX (PF01's) and on my Supra (RP03's). When I bought my M3 Convertible, it had TSW Snetterton's on it, and I replaced them.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...eNSX22/033.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/IMG_0119.jpg

http://www.f1talks.pl/wp-content/upl...nkei_wheel.jpg

/thread

I have no experience with TSW, but I wouldn't have any reservations with Enkei. They make outstanding wheels. I've had them on three of my track cars over the years and never had any problems. They are very high quality. As pictured above, they've supplied wheels at the top level of motorsports, most notably McLaren F1. They also seem to hold their value pretty well. When I've sold mine, I've always gotten a nice chunk of change back out of them. In my opinion, they seem to be in a very sweet spot for the average enthusiast with regards to value for the price. They are wildly popular on many platforms for track and autoX use, ranging from Miata, to Evo, STI, S2000, 350Z...I even had a set on my C5 Z06.

ps I work in the aftermarket industry, but have no affiliation with Enkei.

I think I've had about 3 sets of Enkei RPF1s on different cars (plus lots of Rotas, some BBSs, one set of OZs) and the Enkeis are still my favorite rims bar none. Lighter and stronger than anything out there in the same price range, and as good as (if not better than) anything at almost any price.

Given that the PF01s are part of Enkei's 'Racing' series and are M.A.T formed like the RPF1s are, I would not hesitate to recommend them!

As Madfast noted, Enkei is one of only a few wheel companies to compete at the highest level of motorsports. Them and Rays (with Williams) are the only Japanese companies that have produced F1 wheels, off the top of my head.

I approve of Enkeis.

They're great.

I'm more than likely about to order a set of the Enkei Raijin. When I showed my roommate, his reply goes: ewww, enkei. be careful, they're really soft.

I wanted to do this: :slap: because he's clueless when it comes to wheels. He has no idea the wheels on his car right now are Enkei's. And they're solid as can be.

Personally, I think TSW has fallen off the grid, big time. They are more like Blackberry and Enkei is android or ios.

in summary: get the enkei's.

TSW are pretty sturdy but not really light.

If you want strong and light wheels Enkei, ATS, OZ and Rays/Volk are THE choices.

i'd go with enkei's.. just because i have a set on my 95 GT-Four and i love 'em. :) enkei's reputation in the performance segment is high up there with the big boys in performance... TSW's not so much.

Thanks for all the input folks! :thumbsup:

Looks like Enkei has a lot more fans.

I have had Enkei's previously and i think they are good value and light weight rims

I'm having this internal debate myself. I really like the TSW Nurburgrings but TSW has traditionally been a "bling" rim. Enkei racing rims are excellent and trustworthy.

Now with the Rotary Forging process used in the Nurburgring and Interlagos, TSW is joining the ranks of the better companies. But they still have their "Too Soft Wheels" stigma.

I just can't decide since both the TSW Nurburgring and Enkei PF01 are the same weight. The TSW will look better on the car, IMO. But I have more confidence in the Enkei. So I'm at a loss.

the enkei Raijin is not that light. looks great, but not very light. also, even though it is made with MAT process, it is made in Thailand i believe. that's why its cheaper and part of the "Tuning Series" and not the "Racing Series" which are made in Japan. just food for thought. if none of that bothers you then go for it!

Weight on a street car means nothing to me. When I checked, they were about a pound or 2 lighter than OEM. But thanks! :)

Enkei's are used by numerous manufactureres as OEM wheels. I think should speak volumes about a company.

Personally, I like the looks of the PF01's way better than the TSW's.

Enkei gets my vote.

Love Enkie quality. I have a brand new set of their racing series wheels waxed and ready for my 86.

My vote is the TSW for the Nurburgring over the Raiijin. The TSW is rotary forged and I think will live longer in real life use. The Enkei wheel is a tuner wheel and I believe will be slightly less stout. (this is not based on empirical data of use by me, rather the rotary forging process of TSW and the MAT technology of the Enkei). If Enkei's wheel were rotary forged I'd be inclined to go that direction...

Rotary forged is not the same as a fully forged monoblock wheel.

This

I vote for Enkei due to the level of motorsport in which you see them in

Both TSW Nurburgrings and Enkei PF01s are made using a spun-cast/flow-formed process. They're also within 1lb of each other in 18x8" size.

Buy the one you think looks better.

Been a fan of Enkei since the Zoku came out... way back when.

I hate to sound closed-minded but there are only a few wheel companies I trust. BBS, OZ, Enkei, and Rays because they are proven in top-level racing. Enkei tends to be the best value for weight. I was considering getting the PF01's myself.

BTW, does anyone know who makes the OEM wheels for this car?

I'm not sure, but if I had to guess it would be Enkei. Don't they do most of Toyota/Scion's OEM stuff? I'm pretty sure they did for Subaru too, unless people went with a BBS option. No source to back it up though. Might be stamped on one of the wheels if an owner wants to take a look.

Just a quick poll for you guys... choice between a few enkeis.
1) imola http://www.enkei.com/performance.shtml (halfway down)
2) raijin http://www.enkei.com/raijin.shtml
3) fujin http://www.enkei.com/fujin.shtml
4) pf01

We have Toyota's CAPTIN plant in Vancouver area (Delta) that does a lot of stock Toyota alloy wheels. Enkei is only used for factory option wheels maybe? But these are Subaru wheels, so that doesn't really apply I guess...

Personally, I'd go with #3. I really don't like the design of the PF01 or Raijin, and the Fujin is somewhere around 3 pounds per wheel lighter than Imola, while only being about 1 pound heavier than the super light PF01s.

I agree with you the Fujins look so good. do you think they will fit? (18s)

I really don't know off the top of my head. Tirerack's configurator does NOT include the Fujins in 18" on their list of wheels. Oddly enough, it does include the other 3 on your list. Perhaps this warrants a phone call to tirerack and talk to one of the guys there, as I'm really not a wheels information guru.

Personally, I'm planning on researching more into Kosei K4Rs. I really don't care much about going up to 18", they look pretty freakin' good to me (9 spokes compared to the Fujin's 7), and they're the lightest on Tirerack's list by quite a bit (14 pounds!). If it turns out they're crap, back to the drawing board, but I must say their low price makes them look even more tempting..

a phone call will be made here soon. must know! and wow bro a 14 pound reduction? thats gnarly! I'm going with the fujins because they look clean and simple and I don't like the whole "busy" look at all... oh yeah and the price :thumbsup:

Enkei no question about it. MAT technology kicks ass.

To clarify, if I remember correctly, the stock wheels are 20.1 pounds each, and the Koseis are 14.0, which means a total weight savings of 28.4 lbs.

20.1 - 14.0 = 6.1
6.1 * 4 = 24.4

But considering that better tires will likely be heavier, that can get whittled down a bit. But the end result should be very good. I'm looking forward to the WedsSports I ordered at 14.85lbs.