Custom Car Rims

[Crozz]

Harlow, I am new to this forum so nice to meet all of yah.

 

I was reading some Car magazines at Popular Bookshop the other day. The Foreign Magazines have advertisments for Custom-made Car rims. The local magazines only have dealers and imported rims. I've a few questions I hope you guys out there can enlighten me.

 

1st: Any of you know if the LTA/ Traffic Police have sum regulations on the design and type of rims that Cars in Singapore can use? As far as I can see, the LTA website has a pretty general ruling about it. Thats all.

 

2nd: I've researched abit into rim manufacturing and customization. Its quite interesting. Besides the Big names and branded stuff out there. There seems to be no local dealers dealing in making custom rims locally. Although, its a nich business. Do you think Singaporeans are ready for the Custom era? Is there a market for Custom Sports/ Show Rims locally?

 

3rd: Do any of you know any local companies/ Car shops doing such custom rim business here in Singapore? Can recommend me?

 

Much Apprieciate for you expert knowledge and views on the subject. Cheers

[Terenc3]

Hor.. Double Posting! Haha..

[Sony]

1) no regulation from what I know with regard to design of rim but there is something with the size of rim upgrade.

 

2) unless the design is really unique, otherwise, there's just too many nice rim design already, so it might be cheaper to import it than to custom make them.

 

3) not that I know of due to the reason above. maybe you can try asking stamford but it's not cheap.

[Sony]

Seems like you don't have much constructive post from your history of posting.

[Crozz]

Many thanks for your input, this is a personal research project of mine. With the F1 coming, I was wondering if Sg would be going towards the customization vehicle direction. I'm not really getting much data from other forums that I posted in. It will be hard for me to write my report with nobody giving me their comments. I may have to do carpark street surveys soons to get my data. Cheers again.

[Joetan23]

definitely there is a market but may not be big unless the price does not defer much from standard rims...there are many stanadard body kit for cars but pple still like to customise their kit to make their car unique from others..same for rims..would u like to have a set of rims that is 1 and only with a little price to pay or something that is common to most cars? If common to most cars, most ppl would stay with stock..unless upgrade in size..

[Shinichi21]

not gonna work, even with cheap taiwan rims, most singaporean dont bother to change.

no one even uses like top brand like HRE, IForged, DPE, DCR, Agio, etc etc.

most singaporean wont even know wat all these names are.

i think custom will be even worse, furthermore if its forged wheels.

the cost will be sky high, if singaporean cant even afford cheap taiwan rims, they

certainly wont be getting a custom one.

 

another thing is most singaporean are afraid of big rims, 19" and above can be considered

few. wats the point of making custom rims if its only 15" rims?? small and ugly. they simply dont have the purchasing power.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Shinichi21

[Crozz]

I am assuming that the target market would be those owners who are car proud and more well off. I am not expecting the everyday man with 15 inch rims for cars like matrix or china cars to get customs. Targeted market would be those who own european and american brands, WRX, Evo and Typ-R Cars. These are the target market that can afford the rims and are willing to pay. You are correct to say it is a small nich market. I was surveying the rims market and noticed everything is very standard straight spoke designs. The variety here all looks very "straight" style. Not much "curved", "plated" or "covered" style here in Sg. (These terms were lifted off a US Custom Rims Site)

Thanks for your feebacks and comments. I am a rims industry noob so maybe some of my comments are very naive. I was thinking of headed to Autralia end of this year to interview a famous custom rim designer and get his comments. Anyway, I'm glad to see this thread has some response. I hope that others who read this can post their views also. Cheers

[Azrielsc]

Its very true that not everyone can and will import Designer/Custom rims. Ordering a set is fine, getting shipped over here is one. Having the only set in Singapore is fine and dandy till you break/curb/lose a rim or couple... Replacement will take ages to come in.

 

I had to wait for 3mths for my set of rims to come in and shipping was a killer. If I have to get a replacement, I'll probably commit harikiri...

 

Just my opinion! Cheers! :)

[Qpik]

Out of yr 3qnts, I can only answer no. 2.

 

I've seen customization of rims before on TV. Apparently, it is quite common in States. But, whether it will take off plus is the market big enuff for the company to recover the initial costs of investing in a CNC machine unlike States where they can customise for all type of vehicles. The setup that I saw on TV is like a mini-factory. Can we afford it or not shd this materialize in Spore?

[Otsego]

is it possible to do Widebody Kit here?

[Fatpenguin]

If it's a simple fender add-on, it should be easy...

[Shinichi21]

wrx, evo? lol. they wont buy.

european cars like merc n bmw maybe. they can afford it but.....

most singaporean that drive these cars also staying stock, they just dont bother with it.

they dont understand how cool rims like HRE, IForged, etc.they dont understand what rims

fashion is all about, they dont know wats the advantages of forged rims.

its different than like in indonesia, if u see cars like merc and bmw, most will be pimped

already, certainly they will change rims, they even buy rims like HRE.

 

so u see, the problem with singaporean. most cant afford it and those that can afford it

also wont buy. its hard if u want to make it a business. sg is the wrong market.

dont even think about custom rims, even off the shelf high end rims also they wont buy.

[Spherex]

u not singaporean?

[Sony]

Not really...

 

there's still people that know what is forged rim and is willing to bring it in from as far as US...

 

 

There's also people who would buy 2pcs forged rim that cost 4k over....

 

 

Pls don't make sweeping remark...

 

 

and frankly, it's not about fashion. It's about the benefit of such rims rather than the design. A good rim will not only look nice (which is secondary) but the structure should be well-built and some, to a certain extent, will "suck" air in and cool off the brake as well.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Sony

[Wilb]

First of all, Most SE give sports rims, although is ulu ulu brand.

 

Then again, sports rims are impractical to most Singaporean. They just use their vehicle as a mode of transport. They got more important things to bother rather than caring about their rims.

 

Many BMWs in Singapore with BBS rims.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Wilb

[Wilb]

 

 

Edited May 23, 2007 by Wilb

[Wilb]

1) no regulation from what I know with regard to design of rim but there is something with the size of rim upgrade.

 

2) unless the design is really unique, otherwise, there's just too many nice rim design already, so it might be cheaper to import it than to custom make them.

 

3) not that I know of due to the reason above. maybe you can try asking stamford but it's not cheap.

 

Yes, there are many rim designs in Singapore.

 

TS can try flipping through local magazine like hotstuff or call some dealers.

Think they have catalogue for some rims for merchants.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Wilb