Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA
SEMA: Clear wheels steal the show
For all the crazy rides on display at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, it seems every year a pair of rims manages to attract the most attention. A few years ago it was the arrival of 30-inch rims. Last year it was the $1,000,000 rims from Asanti. This year all we've heard about are these clear wheels that we just have to go check out, so check them out we did before the show closed last night. The D'Vinci Forgiato Radurra wheels are made from polycarbonate and are totally transparent where one would expect to see spokes. The wheel on display featured 1.5-inch think polycarbonate, while the set installed on the Mercedes-Benz CLS had 2-inch thick polycarobonate. Each wheel costs $2,000, which is a bargain compared to the $250k you need to cough up roll on just one Asanti rim. You'll need the extra dough, though, to keep these clear wheels clean of brake dust.
Bunch more pics after the jump.
PHOTO GALLERY:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
1TLRMS 8:17AM (11/03/2006)
Can't wait to see what some red hot brake rotors and/or brake dust can do to its 520F/267C melting point.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate
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me 8:26AM (11/03/2006)
Not to mention the complete lack of airflow that helps get those rotors red-hot even faster.
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UK-KID 8:30AM (11/03/2006)
Very much doubt anyone with those Wheels on their vehicle will be doing the kind of driving that would heat up the rotors to anywhere near 150c let alone 267c
Most Mercs BMWs & Caddilacs ive seen with 20 or more Inch Wheels are usually Cruising around slowly so everybody can get a good Look at them.
Friend of mine had 22 inch Anteras on his X5 in NY and his normal style of hard Driving Cracked all 4 Rims within 6 Months and Destroyed the Tyres Twice (Thats 8 22inch Rims and 8 Tyres in approx 7 Months if you do hard Driving)
After that he changed his driving style to Cruising and all was fine.
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Hamud 8:35AM (11/03/2006)
Not talking about the lack of ventilation using these wheels, the temperature would be even higher than it is now.
The look is really interesting though.
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Hamud 8:38AM (11/03/2006)
#2. Sorry for posting the same you said, didn't see your post...
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Frankenstein Black 8:45AM (11/03/2006)
These Rims are ALL SHOW and NO GO!!
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Anthem 9:03AM (11/03/2006)
Though I can understand how some peoples aesthestic would be satisfied by a set a clear, spokeless rims, for me the spokes MAKE the wheel. This is like a donut without a hole, a rose without petals, a pen without ink, a... let's see... A WHEEL WITHOUT SPOKES!
Sorry, but this just ain't workin' for me... I guess the older I get the less crap I can tolerate.
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daddy salvi 6:49PM (4/02/2008)
thats cauz you are so boke you cant afford them ... face it they are beautiful plus i drive a benz you probably a piece of junk if not maybe yu dont even have a car..
daddy salvi 6:50PM (4/02/2008)
thats cauz you are so broke you cant afford them ... face it they are beautiful plus i drive a benz you probably a piece of junk if not maybe yu dont even have a car..
Sue Esponte 9:26AM (11/03/2006)
I actually like donuts without holes...more jelly.
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joey 9:26AM (11/03/2006)
This is one of the main reasons why I didnt attend this year. Last year some company, wouldnt surprise me if it was this one, had alligator skin wheels.
I asked the person at the booth about brake dust and general cleaning. He explained that people that buy these wheels dont use their cars (ie they sit on a turntable)
Im not sure if its the whole industry but last years sema was not about performance at all. Seems as if everyone wants a station wagon (dodge magnum) and the largest wheels they can put on it.
All in all money is money and it will keep the aftermarket industry going. This type of aftermarket is not for me.
First strippers get clear heels now cars get clear wheels?
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DriftPunch 9:35AM (11/03/2006)
I predict big sales to:
- Morons
- Brake component manufacturers
- Suspension component manufacturers
- Wonder Woman
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thesawzall 9:35AM (11/03/2006)
On a motorbike, I'd think a crosswind could be disasterous.
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Kent 9:41AM (11/03/2006)
Clear seems like a shortcut. I prefer NO hub. Pioneered by Billy Lane, and taken to the extreme by this guy... http://emresaglam.com/blog/haber.php?id=183
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Alex Nunez 9:57AM (11/03/2006)
#11, LOL to "Wonder Woman!"
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jeffinToronto 11:05AM (11/03/2006)
The story doesn't mention any specs about weight (mass). It is a solid 2" thick which to me means MORE weight. This would affect performance and gyroscopic forces that don't want to be turned. Not the best characteristics in a wheel. Looks good in a show but not the real world.
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CJ 11:08AM (11/03/2006)
Seems like it's much cooler on a bike (and maybe more practical)
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ohmy 11:54AM (11/03/2006)
Guys, the concerns about the ventilation are valid, but I'm sure if this catches on, eventually they can make them strong enough to makes some holes thru them...
As far as the weight concern though, I think this clear stuff would be lighter than metal, but thats just a guess...
In any case, I am actually a big fan of the way this looks, especially on the bike. If they get the ventilation and weight issues resolved I would buy these (once the prices become reasonable)...
BTW, the wonder woman comment was great...
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Will 11:58AM (11/03/2006)
Wow, it is anti-bling Bling!
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Sean Flanagan 12:00PM (11/03/2006)
jeffin,
After a quick calculation based on the density of the lightest polycarbonates (1200 kg/m^3), assuming a 22" diameter,
The clear wheel center alone weighs approx. 33 pounds.
I don't know how much the rim would weigh, but I can only assume that the wheel assembly will be over 40 lbs. Compared to the spinner/floater competition, that's actually kind of light.
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