The first aftermarket wheels EVER - everything you need to know about Weds Wheels

Meta: They might not be the first JDM classics that come to mind, but don’t sleep on Weds Wheels. Here you’ll learn everything you need to know about Weds.

The first aftermarket wheels EVER - everything you need to know about Weds Wheels

What are the first wheels you think of when you think about JDM wheels? The ultra-light TE37? The race-inspired Meister S1 3P? These wheels are great, but what if we told you there’s another JDM wheel brand that tends to fly under the radar? In fact, they might even make wheels that are lighter, stronger, and perhaps cooler than those big names that jump into your head; they are one of the biggest brands in Japan and today we’re gonna tell you all about them. *Weds Wheels enters*

Weds Wheels, the underdog?

Weds as a brand, in our opinion, makes some of the coolest wheels on the market, yet hasn’t achieved as much market penetration in the US… yet. In Japan, their wheels are some of the most popular, and that’s for good reason.

Before we get into the history of Weds, be sure to add your ride to our Fitment Gallery, if you haven’t already. Also, check out our Youtube channel to catch exclusive content. 

Okay, now back to Weds…

The backstory

Weds was founded in 1965 in Osaka, Japan. They were originally a parts production and distribution systems designer for Nissan. Things were going smoothly and in November of ‘73 they acquired the wheel division of Nippon Sealant Company. At this time they also rebranded to Weds Company LTD and changed location to Tokyo.

Fun fact: Weds stands for World Elster Distribution System. You might be wondering what this means, well, we have no idea either… but it’s a cool bit of trivia.

Did they make the first 3P wheel?

Fast forward to 1977 and Weds manufactured their first three-piece wheel. This part is contentious as SSR and Weds (and also BBS), claim to have made it first. From what we can find, SSR was technically first with the Mark-1, however, Weds made the first wheel that resembled the 3P wheels that we have today. Who actually did it first is anyone's guess.

Just a few years later Weds launched WedsSport, which is the primary focus of what you’re talking about today. WedsSports started a new chapter in Wed’s history as it marked the start of their involvement in motorsport. This would turn out to be pivotal in the company’s growth and success going forward.

Involvement in motorsport

Weds jumped head-on into Motorsport, developing wheels for the GT300 and Gt500, as well as time attack, circuit racing, JGTC, drifting, and rally racing. They partnered up with many teams, some of which they continue to partner with to present-day. They formed a long-term partnership with Team Bandoh, becoming team WedsSport-Bandoh, who were a contender in the Japanese Super GT Series - these are some very serious race cars, only a few steps under F1. Currently, Bandoh Racing campaigns a Toyota 86 in GT300 and a Lexus LC500 in the GT500. After their involvement in motorsport, Weds grew and grew, and grew, adopting the ‘race on Sunday, sell on Monday’ model. In 1997, they became a publicly traded company. This is huge for any company, but especially impressive for something as niche as a wheel brand.

At this time Weds also integrated into other categories: automotive retail, mobile phone sales, industrial machinery sales, heck… even a welfare facility for the elderly. But notably, in 2006, they founded Superstar Company Limited, entering the 3P wheel market for modern vehicles. This is where the Weds Wheels you know came from, Weds Kranze, Leon Hardiritt, and Lodio Drive. As time went on, Weds continued to grow, acquiring other companies and expanding not only in the aftermarket category but also OE. They started making OEM wheels for a lot of the Japanese automakers. Today, they are a behemoth of a company, making everything from super-light aftermarket wheels to factory wheels for your favorite JDM car, plus everything in between.

They make something for everyone

Weds makes a ton of wheels across a bunch of different lineups. Here in the States, they have a smaller presence, so we get the Kranze, Maverick, Leon Hardirritt, and WedsSport lines, but in Japan, they have a bunch more options. They make wheels to serve various purposes such as daily drivers, off-roading, and everything in between.

Since we’re in the States, and you probably are too if you’re reading this (shout out to our international audience), we’re gonna focus on the wheels that are available here.

Weds Wheels offerings

Jumping headfirst into the cool stuff, those multi-piece wheels you wanna know about. This is an overview of some of their top wheel lines:

The OG’s - Kranze & Leon Hardirritt

we all know these from the vintage wheels, the LXZ, Vishnu, and the Ordon. Weds knew they were classics, that’s why they relaunched a lot of them. There are baller wheels so expect to shell out some serious dough - but they’re forged 3P wheels so what do you expect? These run about 1K per wheel. This isn’t too bad for 3P wheels, all things considered.

But they also make newer stuff under these OG lines. We’re into the Maricive, which is like a Vishunu part II. The Zildawn is funky, but cool. The Bazreia V2, as you can probably guess, is the modern version of the Bazreia, how can you not like these? Rumor has it that the LKZ might be making a comeback.

Maverick

These are a more budget-conscious, 2P line that is still really cool, but slot in way lower in price compared with their 3P counterparts. These will run you right around $2000-2500 for a set of 18’s, which really isn’t too much considering it's a forged 2P wheel. One standout is the 709M, a super retro-looking mesh. The 905S is a wide split 5-spoke design. Finally, the 1613M is a hyper-mesh design for all you BBS RS lovers looking for a JDM equivalent.

WedsSport

This line is what this whole article is about. WedsSport is one of our top brands and that’s for a good reason. These are some lightweight, budget-friendly wheels that look and perform great. Weds uses a manufacturing technique called ‘Designed Die Press Forging’. This involves heating a billet cylinder to 480 degrees Celsius, then compressing it with a 9,000-ton press. After, the wheel is extruded using a spinning operation. This makes for a product that’s strong and light but doesn’t carry the cost of a fully forged wheel. As a result, the flow-formed models hit the market at around $1900, while the forged models, like the TC105X, run about $2400. This might sound expensive, but you’re paying for years of racing design and development.

Not saying they’re all show, but no go. The TC105X is one of the lightest on the market. Yes, lighter than RPF1’s, and comparable to TE37’s, but about half the cost. If you’re serious about going fast, WedsSports might be the best option.

Are Weds the right wheels for you?

If you’re in Japan, absolutely, they have a ton of options so there’s certainly something for you. Otherwise, probably, they make a cool product that looks and performs awesome - and most people sleep on ‘em (at least in North America). However, the exact model that would be perfect for your build might be a Japan exclusive. However, the lack of market penetration could also be seen as a positive. You have an opportunity to rock some wheels that haven’t been completely played out.

While it’s not the main selling point, we should mention that they produce some unique colors. BLC or ‘blue light chrome’ is a black chrome wheel with blue windows. Weds is the only manufacturer to do this finish, and it looks fantastic. They have a ton of other exclusive finishes to complement their unique style.

Overall, Weds Wheels checks all the boxes: lightweight, durable, available in a range of specs, and comes in a variety of unique finishes. If you need a new set of wheels, look no further than our shop - we got all the timeless JDM brands!

Thousands of options HERE