[Deemo]

I am looking to order winters for my 3.6l 2011.

I will likely get the tire/rims from Tirerack and wanted to see some pics of the Sport Edition series on an Outback before ordering.

I don't know if Iam all that keen on the styling of the A7's they recommend from their blog.

Sport Edition A7 Silver Painted

 

[Jake2c]

Taste of course is in the eye of the beholder. To me they look a bit on the fancy side if you are going to use them for winter. I thinking about getting winter tires also and making the decision between getting their own rims and put up with the low tire pressure light but make it easier to change them out, or putting them on the stock rims. If I get them I will expect they will be pretty trashed most of the time with road salt etc . . . If I get them, I will get (probably not too pretty) working rims as they will get trashed anyway. But that is an individual call.

 

[John E Davies]

Did you see that last tab that says "Photos on Vehicle"?

BTW: the 17 inch A7 wheel weighs 25 pounds.

The 17 inch SE 17 wheel weighs 20 pounds. I know which one I would buy....

Sport Edition SE-17 Silver Painted

BTW I am a big fan of Sport Edition wheels - they are durable (keep them waxed inside and out) and hold up well, and are very affordable. A simple five spoke design is very easy to keep clean in the winter.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Deemo]

John
Thanks for the feedback.
I am kind of leaning to the F11's but no weight listed right now.
Sport Edition F11 Silver Painted

 

[mike552]

I see that those Sport Edition wheels are cast, which is normal for aftermarket wheels in this price range. My second question would be if they are "low pressure," or "high pressure" cast. If they are high pressure, I would stay far away from them, especially in the 5-spoke configuration. Yes, easy to clean, but they would be a disaster in terms of structural integrity. (Imagine sliding into a curb, and the wheel hits the curb at the point where there is no spoke... it would bend like butter.)

If it were me, I would go with a quality low-pressure cast wheel with an even pattern all around, or of course a OE forged wheel. This would obviously be the strongest.

 

[John E Davies]

John
Thanks for the feedback.
I am kind of leaning to the F11's but no weight listed right now.
Sport Edition F11 Silver Painted

You are leaning toward a good choice. I have the 16 inch F7 wheels on my '07 XT for warm weather use - they are identical to the F11 except that they have a slight ridge along the center line of each spoke.

Sport Edition F7 Silver Painted

More pics here: Index of /images_web/Outback

I can't comment on how the wheels are forged, but I expect it is by the cheapest method possible since the price is so low. I wouldn't worry about sliding into a curb sideways - that will ruin any wheel, no matter how strong. And it will most likely pretzel the suspension on that corner of the car. I've had no issues with rim bending in the seven years I have been running Sport Editions on three cars, but I haven't pushed them into a curb either. I also have had zero problems with the finish, but I am anal about keeping them cleaned and waxed on both sides.

Are you dead set on 17s? I don't know if 16s will clear your calipers, but they are a better choice for winter, and the wheels and tires are both cheaper.

You could call about the F11 weight - but I expect they are reasonably light. My 16 inch F7s are 18 pounds.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[mike552]

YI wouldn't worry about sliding into a curb sideways - that will ruin any wheel, no matter how strong.

With all due respect, it sounds like your shooting from the hip. Not a good way to spend $500+ dollars.

Here is more info on the allow wheel manufacturing process. Worth a read:
Alloy wheel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Again, if I were the OP and I were shopping for after-market wheels, I'd buy LOW PRESSURE CAST. Period. To me, it's easily worth the extra dollars per wheel.

 

[RocCityOutback]

I bought the sport edition A7 in black last fall and used them in a winter setup. I liked the style, wasn't willing to pay any more for a winter setup. I can't comment on the manufacturing process, they seem to be well made.

 

[MadScotsMan]

It's not an OB, but....

These are Sport A7s, I think....

 

[mike552]

These are Sport A7s, I think....

Yes, the SE A7's are identical in design to the ASA JH-3's. I used to run these (ASA's) as winter wheels on my old G35 coupe. Excellent wheels. They took a beating here in Boston and kept perfectly true after 3 seasons.

As I understand it, Sport Edition has taken over production of the JH-3, so no matter which brand you buy (ASA or SE), it will be made in the SE factory. This would make me feel much better about buying the SE branded A7's.

As for the other SE-made wheels, I'd still want to know how they are made as they could use a different casting machine within the factory, but based on the fact that ASA has associated themselves with the brand, I am warming up to Sport Edition wheels...

 

[MadScotsMan]

I live four miles from any pavement and these wheels take a beating with no vibrations and are straight and true. I really like them and they are part of my future "muddy road worthy" plans. They are wicked easy to clean and the only issues I've had is the clear coat coming off the plastic center caps.

 

[John E Davies]

With all due respect, it sounds like your shooting from the hip. Not a good way to spend $500+ dollars.

Well, with all due respect, having owned three sets of Sport Editions with ZERO issues, I don't think I'm shooting from the hip at all.

These wheels are cheap, look good, are reasonably light, hold up very well if you keep them waxed, and if you slide your car into a curb, then just buy another wheel for $90..... it's about the same cost as getting a $300 wheel rebuilt.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[mike552]

Well, with all due respect, having owned three sets of Sport Editions with ZERO issues, I don't think I'm shooting from the hip at all.

These wheels are cheap, look good, are reasonably light, hold up very well if you keep them waxed, and if you slide your car into a curb, then just buy another wheel for $90..... it's about the same cost as getting a $300 wheel rebuilt.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

That works in theory, but try getting a replacement wheel for a set of wheels purchased a few years ago. Styles and technologies are always changing, and companies are always going out of business.

Your logic holds true only for OEM wheels, with few exceptions.

Also, I think you said yourself in an earlier post that you do not use your wheels in winter weather, so "having owned three sets" doesn't apply much to this conversation, does it?

 

[John E Davies]

Also, I think you said yourself in an earlier post that you do not use your wheels in winter weather, so "having owned three sets" doesn't apply much to this conversation, does it?

Two of my sets are for winter use. The city and the WA DOT use plenty of caustic deicer, and the wheels are holding up fine.

Let's just stop this now, OK? We obviously are sitting on opposite sides of a very large fence.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[mike552]

Two of my sets are for winter use. The city and the WA DOT use plenty of caustic deicer, and the wheels are holding up fine.

Let's just stop this now, OK? We obviously are sitting on opposite sides of a very large fence.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I didn't know there was a "fence," as you put it. Everything I've said raises valid concerns.

I have brought up valid points on the manufacturing processes of aftermarket wheels as well as replacement support for aftermarket wheels. These are two important subjects when it comes to wheel shopping.

I am sorry if you interpreted my statements as combative, but I will speak my mind if I have something to contribute to the subject.

Have a good day.

 

[OBnube]

I had these Sport Editions on my "11. I wanted the A7's but they were on backorder 6-8 weeks early last year. They are lighter than stock, easy to clean and the price is right.

 

[kmssgoten]

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Whee...lse&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Brand

Should go for these babies lol! Jk good choice on rims though post pics when you get them