Why do most Ferrari owners...

Because they like how it looks???

I've taken off the stock wheels from my 308 GT4, only because they were 14" wheels, which limited the tire choiced. I replaced them with stock 328 16" wheels.

Dom

 

Ferrari owners typically do not "rice out" their cars. No aftermarket wheels, stereo systems, power hop ups, etc. We like them as they come from the factory.

 

There's several reasons actually ...

(I run the OEM 14"s because I get tire support from Goodyear)

The original castings are, for the most part, cutting edge alloys for the perod in which they were produced.

The size, tire and wheel together is what was the baseline for original suspension design.
While many later cars are indeed "tunable" as to ride height, shock settings, etc. in a fixed system ANY change from the original will compromise performance, IMO unless VERY carefully thought thru and implemented.

Offset and diameter will effect handling in numerous ways..

Now I'm not implying a knowledgable tuner with track expertise might not improve on "stock" but IMO that chances of some kid down the street selling 22"s is going to do the same is slim to none.....and Slim just left the room...

Ferrari also is a unique bolt spacing on the older cars, so fitment is hard to find..I recently read the wire Borranis came in over a hundred different patterns for various models...

There's only a handful of wheel companies worldwide I'd trust in high performance applications, I have a low threshold od death..!!!!

 

Ferrari has actually had a few wheel Recalls (they are supplied by Vendors obviously they don't MAKE them themselves)....

I don't recall the model (TR maybe) but they had some that had leakage problems and had to be replaced....the point being that as OEM equipment they made good on it.

HTH

 

When I got my first ferrari, a 550, I was surprised that during a simple check with Ferrari France in Levallois they changed all the magnesium wheels for a brand new set of allow ones, free of charge, without telling me why they were doing it, repainting also some parts...

In fact I discovered few weeks latter that due to some "problems" with humidity on magnesium wheels they were not calling all customers having an 550 to change the wheels, but only doing it when a car was in the "official" ferrari garage in France, and then they were obliged to destroy the replaced magnesium wheels, even not allowing customers to keep them as an accessory (to make a table for example).

This is Ferrari!

 

I personally think it is just the culture of Ferrari owners to not modify their vehicles for the most, and particularly here on FChat. If you venture to other forums, you can find a lot of Ferraris that have been modified with wheels and that have been lowered, etc., but here, most owners like to keep their cars relatively stock. Also, maybe Ferrari attracts a older client than say Lamborghini or Porsche.

 

I like high quailty after market wheels (HRE) on newer Ferraris.

On classics like a 308 I would never ever put an aftermarket wheel on. Newer styles just dont work with an older cars shape.

 

Agreed, they always look worse -- usually too much wheel on too small a car (Ferraris were small until the 360.)

More generally, Ferraris are usually regarded as collectibles from the minute they leave the factory, so originality counts.

 

Because we like them.

 

There are a couple of factors at play here IMHO:
- the "look" of a Ferrari is established by the designers and the original wheels play a big role in this. Considering that most Ferrari's are by far the best looking cars of their contemporaries at any point in time, it would be difficult to find an aftermarket wheel that compliments the car as well as the original. Some have pulled this off, while far more have made their cars look worse.
- another factor is the relative performance gain that will come from a new wheel. Ferraris squeezes a lot out of every aspect of the car so when you try to "out do" them, you really have to work at it. This translates into money. To come up with a better design than the originals in many cases, will cost several thousand dollars.

From my vantage point I see more Ferraris with wheels taken from another Ferraris than any other marque (example a GT4 with QV wheels or 355 wheels on a 308). Again, IMHO, this is because the "family resemblance" is compelling (its an easy, very acceptable upgrade of the car's look), and also because there is nothing better than a Ferrari wheel on a Ferrari!

 

Since when do aftermarket wheels and "power hop ups" automatically equal rice? If they did, there would be quite a few Ferrari "ricers" on this site.

 

There you go, Wayne....'nuff said!

 

A tastefully designed aftermarket rim is a rare sight IMO.

Also, I think that modern rims look out of place on older cars.

 

This is why 16 year olds don't get Ferraris.

 

Man, some of you guys have no imagination. Wayne: throw those old fashioned Borrani's away already! Get with the times. Put on a set of 24 inch Dub's. You Ferrari guys are sooooooo last century.
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You can drive Off-Road with these 24" wheels LOL !

 

I think I need some "spinnas" on mine!

 

There are a bunch of threads showing aftermarket wheels on various Ferraris, for example http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230975&highlight=aftermarket+wheels

Most, especially the classics, look better with the originals. Hey, if they're good enough for PENTHOUSE...
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Exactly: end of story.