Close

  • HRE wheel finish quality issues? New wheels chipping

      • HRE wheel finish quality issues? New wheels chipping

        Published on 07-18-2019 06:22 PM
        8 Comments Comments
        HRE is one of the biggest names in the aftermarket wheel game. Over the past few years though we have seen the prices increase yet quality and customer service issues have popped up. For the premium HRE charges you expect the best of the best.


        You do not expect your wheel finish on your brand new wheels to start chipping off:




        Notice black flakes just falling off onto the ground from the wheel:


        This is what the owner had to say:

        My Satin Black HRE R101 LW which I presume are the creme de la creme of HRE's has a terrible finish. One of the spokes has chunks coming off which is leading me to believe that Wheels Boutique sold me refinished wheels which were done poorly or that the HRE finish itself sucks. The rest of the wheels have several tiny chips all over them.. I can understand the tiny chips from daily driving but the black finish actually flaking off in chunks?
        We will see how HRE addresses this but it seems these days your money is spent better elsewhere considering the wheel quality you get per dollar.

        This article was originally published in forum thread: HRE wheel finish quality issues? New wheels chipping started by Sticky View original post
        Comments 8 Comments
        1. ///M3THOD's Avatar
          ///M3THOD - 07-18-2019, 06:39 PM
          Might be a little early to say that money is spent better else where, IMO. Do we have the full story here? Lots of factors could have played a part here.

          Ive owned 6 sets of HRE's and they were far an beyond the best built and finished wheels I ever bought. You definitely pay a premium, but considering how long they've been around and the number of issues that you hear about that go unresolved, I still think they are the benchmark.
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 07-18-2019, 06:42 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by ///M3THOD Click here to enlarge
          Might be a little early to say that money is spent better else where, IMO.
          Nah, I mean that based on their pricing alone.
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 07-18-2019, 06:44 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by ///M3THOD Click here to enlarge
          Ive owned 6 sets of HRE's and they were far an beyond the best built and finished wheels I ever bought. You definitely pay a premium, but considering how long they've been around and the number of issues that you hear about that go unresolved, I still think they are the benchmark.
          I like my set of HRE C90's and I bought them because they emphasized performance and lightweight construction along with great looks for a good price. A hard combo to beat. That was almost 10 years ago though.

          They seem to be more about looks than performance now.

          I just think they may be too bloated and not really the choice for the little guy. I'm sure they have some great rims still.
        1. F16HTON's Avatar
          F16HTON - 07-18-2019, 07:20 PM
          I saw a thread about this on Rennlist. The guy who posted it was not very kind to those who replied.
        1. maxnix's Avatar
          maxnix - 07-18-2019, 08:48 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by ///M3THOD Click here to enlarge
          Might be a little early to say that money is spent better else where, IMO. Do we have the full story here? Lots of factors could have played a part here.

          Ive owned 6 sets of HRE's and they were far an beyond the best built and finished wheels I ever bought.
          One wonders if you have ever had forged wheels from BBS, OZ Racing, Rays Engineering or Forgeline?

          I have seen HRE come apart on the track. I would never own a set nor would I run them even on the street if they were given to me.

          From what I have seen, the title should read:

          HRE is one of the most overhyped names in the aftermarket wheel game.

          No one I have spoken with the last 15 years has said they would buy them again.
        1. nbrigdan's Avatar
          nbrigdan - 07-19-2019, 01:27 AM
          If I was going for forged wheels at this price point I'd probably go Forgeline anyways, seems like they're really tested/proven on the track, I don't exactly see HREs on GT2/3 cars.
        1. Sticky's Avatar
          Sticky - 07-29-2019, 02:20 PM
          Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by nbrigdan Click here to enlarge
          If I was going for forged wheels at this price point I'd probably go Forgeline anyways, seems like they're really tested/proven on the track, I don't exactly see HREs on GT2/3 cars.
          You make a great point. It seems Forgeline is the true choice for racing while HRE (no offense, I own a set) is more for the posers.
        1. F16HTON's Avatar
          F16HTON - 07-29-2019, 09:36 PM
          FWIW the wheels are virtually identical. Only real difference is the marketing behind the two companies. Forgeline was founded by the children of Dayton Wire Wheel Company.

          I have own both brands and would have no issues buying either/or in the future.