Most of this list is based on a balance of rarity and popularity. Now just because a wheel is old-school and rare, doesn't mean it's sought after by enthusiast. It's interesting to see that most of this list is made up of 14" SSR wheels from the '80s typically made for small RWD Datsun and Toyotas. The few wheels from the '90s are those that were made popular by the Honda explosion in the very early '90s. Ugly, striking, unusual, atypical, over-priced, whatever you want to call it, here are 20 of the coolest old-school wheels ever released.
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing Yayoi 04
Techno Racing Yayoi
The Techno Racing Yayoi wheels are also called, "Sakura," which means Cherry Blossom because of its design. These also happen to be the only Techno Racing wheel available in pink.
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing Tomcat Speed 06B
Techno Racing Tomcat Speed
For some reason, looking at this wheel always reminded us of the U.S. Navy's Grumman F-14 Tomcat fighter plane.
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing Phantom 09
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing Phantom 08
Techno Racing Phantom
The only reason these are cooler than the Star Sharks is because of rarity. It is an extremely hard wheel to find in the three-piece version.
| Best Old School Wheels Devil Shadow Spoke 10
Devil Shadow Spoke
Don't you want the Devil's shadow on your car? 'Nuff said!
| Best Old School Wheels RS Watanabe Eight Spoke 13
| Best Old School Wheels RS Watanabe Eight Spoke 14
RS Watanabe 8-Spoke
A classic wheel that never gets old.
| Best Old School Wheels RS TRD Tosco 16
| Best Old School Wheels RS TRD Tosco 15
TRD Tosco
These dartboard-looking wheels were so popular you'll see them on not only Toyotas but Datsuns as well.
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing Star Shark 18
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing Star Shark 19
Techno Racing Star Shark
It's Shark Week!!
| Best Old School Wheels Takechi Project Hart 21
| Best Old School Wheels Takechi Project Hart 20
Takechi Project Hart
The Takechi Project Harts are possibly the first ancestral racing harts.
| Best Old School Wheels Mugen NR10R 22
| Best Old School Wheels Mugen NR10R 23
Mugen NR10R
Here is another dartboard-looking wheel much like the TRD Tosco. We think these look more like street sewer caps though. The Honda boys love their Mugen and this is the most expensive wheel for them with a cost close to $4,000 in used condition. Yes, $4,000 used condition wheels.
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing TRV 25
| Best Old School Wheels Techno Racing TRV 24
Techno Racing TRV
Although it's nearly impossible to find in a 3-piece, these are the company's most common wheel.
| Best Old School Wheels SSR EX C Neo 50
SSR EX-C Neo
Out of the entire EX-C line, the Neo was the first and the most popular. While the mesh, fins, and defis had the same center caps, the Neos had an even more complex cap with an extra top piece.
| Best Old School Wheels Techno SSR Super Mesh 27
| Best Old School Wheels Techno SSR Super Mesh 26
SSR Super Mesh
Taking the SSR EX-C mesh to another level, the Super Mesh brought in more and longer spokes that utilized an electron-locking center cap.
| Best Old School Wheels SSR Longchamp XR 4 31
SSR Longchamp XR-4
It's easy to find SSR Longchamps since so many were sold. But it's impossible to find a set with a clean, original brushed face finish.
| Best Old School Wheels SSR EX C Neo 28
| Best Old School Wheels SSR EX C Neo 29
SSR EX-C Mesh
After the success of the SSR Formula Mesh, Reverse Mesh, and Full Reverse Mesh, the EX-C Mesh brought in high-technology with the electronic center cap.
| Best Old School Wheels Work Equip 02 32
Work Equip 02
Rumor is Work discontinued the Work 02 and kept Equip 01 and Equip 03 because the Equip 02 was too expensive to manufacture.
| Best Old School Wheels Impul Hoshino G5 33
Impul Hoshino G5
Impul is a company that strictly modifies Nissans. However, the G5 is so popular you'll find them on not just Datsuns but numerous Toyotas too. The wheel was named after a famous Japanese racer for Impul named Hoshino.
| Best Old School Wheels Hayashi Street 33
| Best Old School Wheels Hayashi Street 35
Hayashi Street
Still available, these wheels have stood the test of time.
| Best Old School Wheels SSR Formula Mesh 36
| Best Old School Wheels SSR Formula Mesh 37
SSR Formula Mesh
This is by far SSR's most popular wheel. You've probably seen it in sizes ranging from 13" to 17" and on cars from the '70s to the late '90s.
| Best Old School Wheels Panasport G7 G5C2 38
| Best Old School Wheels Panasport G7 G5C2 39
Panasport G7-G5C2
These wheels are perfect on anything RWD from the Mid '90s such as the FC RX-7, S13 240SX, JZA70 Supra, or Z32 300ZX.
| Best Old School Wheels Speed Star MK I 39
Speed Star MK-I
You can still get the full line of SSR MK series I, II, and III because they are so popular that SSR wouldn't dare discontinue them forever.