The lowdown on rare JDM wheels from the past: Proper wheels are arguably the most important modification for any car. Whether you’re an avid road racer and want the ultimate in forged strength and weight savings or a hard-parking owner of a show car who’s looking for the most aggressive lip and offset, you know that proper wheels are of utmost importance. If you want, check out this nice Wheel Fitment Guide that covers all the basics and things you might not have considered.

Here’s a quick collection of some of the best and rarest JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) wheels from the early days. These iconic vintage wheels that have remained popular from their introduction all the way to the present.

While a lot of people might have the impression that used JDM wheels are much cheaper in Japan than elsewhere, I don't think that is necessarily true when it comes to the original vintage wheels. Unlike some of later wheels which have not aged well, the old school models continue to be popular and they will only grow more valuable as the years go on. The classic car scene in Japan is booming and strong demand for these wheels has kept prices relatively high. There are still a lot of nice wheels to be found, but don't expect to walk into your nearest Up Garage and come across a set of flawless RS Watanabes on sale for dirt cheap.

RS Watanabe

How could I not start things off with the RS Watanabe? There is nothing that even comes close to these in popularity for vintage Japanese cars. There are many different variations on the original eight-spoke design, but I will save those details for a later post. It's not just the classic car guys that love Watanabes, I have seen them on nearly every type of Japanese car you can think of, and plenty of foreign cars as well. Whether you have an S30Z, an AE86, or a Mazda Roadster, there is nothing that these wheels don't look good on. I even see minivans and kei cars with RS Watanabes when I go to the grocery store. Heck I recently bought a set of Watanabes for a car that I don't even own yet! That's the appeal that they have.

Check out the eight other classic JDM wheels HERE