Free shipping in Quebec when you buy 4 tires or 4 wheels - see conditions See conditions 1870 rue Cunard, Laval, QC 450-256-1685

Wheel brand

Center Line

Center Line is an American aluminum wheel brand founded in 1970 in California by engineer Ray Lipper. A cornerstone of hot rod, muscle car and drag culture, the brand built its reputation on some of the lightest, strongest wheels on the market.

PerformanceForgéHiver / OEMCanadien
Country of originÉtats-Unis
RegionAmérique du Nord
Founded1970s
GroupCenter Line Wheels
Positioningvalue street
StatusActive

Encyclopedia profile

History, reputation and uses

Center Line Wheels was born in 1970 in Southern California, founded by Ray Lipper, an engineer and wheel designer inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2002. During the golden age of American hot rodding and drag racing, Lipper applied advanced aluminum manufacturing processes to the wheel and quickly built Center Line's reputation: wheels that ranked among the lightest and strongest on the market. The brand is credited with developing one of the first rotary forging processes applied to the wheel, and with producing the first modular aftermarket wheels for Harley-Davidson. Its wheels equipped street cars as well as the drag strips of Southern California, and the brand supplied wheels for the Spirit of America land speed record car. The Auto Drag design was among its first landmark products; the Convo Pro, a directional wheel with fanned-out spokes, became its signature and one of the most recognizable American performance wheel designs, in production for decades. On the construction side, Center Line has historically relied on aluminum (one-piece wheels and later forged/assembled two-piece models), along with steel versions for the restoration of vintage vehicles. Lipper's original company ceased operations, but the brand's heritage was acquired and its classic designs put back into production under license (notably through the Wheel Pros family, now Hoonigan), with the positioning shifting toward faithful restoration, restomod and the collector market. Today, the catalog blends modernized reissues ("2.0" series) and faithful reproductions of the great classics. For the Quebec enthusiast, the appeal lies in the authenticity of period American style and the availability of sizes and bolt patterns suited to muscle cars, pickups and hot rods, rather than in a lineup of contemporary mainstream wheels.

Recommended use: Center Line is aimed first and foremost at muscle cars, hot rods, high-performance street cars and American restoration or restomod projects, as well as certain pickups and drag applications. The directional models (Convo Pro, Auto Drag) target period aesthetics and the reduction of unsprung mass for the street and the straight strip; the steel versions suit pre-war vehicles. These are aftermarket wheels, not OEM original equipment. In Quebec, they are chosen above all for an authentic look on a project rather than as a versatile everyday wheel: validate the bolt pattern, offset and center bore, and plan for a separate set of steel winter wheels if the vehicle is driven in winter.

Technologies and manufacturing: Center Line built its reputation on light, strong aluminum, with one-piece wheels originally and later two-piece constructions (rim and center assembled together). The brand is credited with an early development of rotary forging applied to the wheel, a guarantee of rigidity and weight savings compared with conventional casting. Historical finishes include polished, brushed, satin black and satin black with machined details aluminum, plus chrome versions and steel wheels for restoration. The modern reissues ("2.0" series) revisit these designs by re-engineering them. As with any aftermarket wheel, verify the applicable certifications and the load rating according to the intended use (street, drag, pickup).

Key takeaways

  • Designs pleins et légers typiques de l’époque drag.
  • Bonne image nostalgia racing.

Strengths

  • Iconic period American style, ideal for muscle cars and hot rods
  • Credible drag and performance heritage since 1970
  • Light aluminum construction, recognizable directional spokes
  • Pioneer of rotary forging and modular Harley-Davidson wheels
  • Classics (Convo Pro, Auto Drag) still produced under license

Points to check

  • Original company closed; production handled under license (continuity to be confirmed)
  • Lineup oriented toward vintage/restomod, few contemporary mainstream wheels
  • Availability of sizes and bolt patterns varies depending on the reissues
  • Strongly stylized directional look that does not suit every vehicle
  • Polished/chrome finishes sensitive to salt and calcium in Quebec winters

Models & families

Center Line wheel models

Filtered catalogue
Auto Drag flow formed

The Auto Drag is among the very first landmark designs from Center Line and remains the brand's emblematic muscle car wheel, reissued as a "2.0" version. A drag-inspired five-spoke design, it prioritizes light weight and a clean look to reduce unsprung mass, which appealed to the straight-line racing world very early on. Made from aluminum, it is aimed at muscle cars, hot rods, and drag/street applications, in polished or satin black finishes. It's an aftermarket wheel, chosen for its period authenticity and functional look rather than for off-road use. For Quebec fitment, verify the bolt pattern, offset, and center bore as well as brake clearance, particularly on the wide configurations intended for rear-wheel drive, and take the load rating into account depending on the vehicle.

View the model profile
Convo Pro coulée

The Convo Pro is Center Line's signature: a directional wheel with fanned-out spokes featuring a deep, curved design that has become one of the most recognizable American performance wheel designs. Built from aluminum (two-piece assembled versions on the modern variants), it combines light weight with an aggressive period look, with scallops and faux rivets around the inner edge. In production for decades and reissued as the "2.0" series, it equips muscle cars, high-performance street cars, and restomod projects, in sizes typically from 15 to 18 inches depending on the version, in polished or satin black. In Quebec, it's a strong-aesthetic choice for a project rather than a daily-driver wheel: since the wheel is directional, you need to order a matching left/right set, and validate the bolt pattern, offset, and center bore before purchase. For a vehicle driven in winter, plan on a dedicated set, as the polished finish holds up poorly against salt and calcium.

View the model profile
Hellcat style route

The Hellcat is one of Center Line's classic aluminum designs, sought after in vintage form by collectors and restorers. It is commonly found in compact sizes such as 15x7 or 16x8, with muscle car and pickup bolt patterns (for example 5x5, 5x5.5, or 6x5.5), in polished or chrome finishes. Its distinctive design makes it a period wheel for muscle cars, street projects, and certain light trucks, rather than a contemporary wheel. It's an aftermarket wheel, valued for the authenticity of its look. In Quebec, as with the other Center Line models, you need to carefully validate the bolt pattern, offset, and center bore, verify brake clearance on the small diameters, and keep in mind that the polished or chrome finishes require careful maintenance against winter road salt.

View the model profile
Retro Series flow formed

The Retro Series groups together Center Line's designs aimed at classic and restoration use, faithful to the hot rod and muscle car spirit of the 1970s-1980s. Made from aluminum (and available in steel on certain classic-vehicle applications), this series targets restomod and restoration enthusiasts seeking an authentic period look rather than a contemporary wheel. The sizes and bolt patterns cover classic North American configurations, in traditional finishes such as polished or satin black. It's an aftermarket offering, to be chosen according to the project and its target style. In Quebec, the appeal lies in visual consistency with a period vehicle; validate the bolt pattern, offset, and center bore, and plan on a separate set of wheels if the vehicle, often a summer project, were exceptionally to be driven in salty winter conditions.

View the model profile
Scorpion coulée

The Scorpion is a Center Line aluminum model, offered in a polished finish and available in truck- and SUV-oriented dimensions, for example 17x9.5 with a 6x5.5 bolt pattern. Its design and sizes make it better suited to pickups, 4x4s, and muscle street applications than to small cars, while keeping the brand's American aesthetic. It's an aftermarket wheel, chosen for its style and perceived ruggedness. The design's popularity has even led to officially licensed scale reproductions (RC wheels). For a Quebec buyer, validate the bolt pattern and offset according to the target truck, verify the center bore (and the use of centering rings if needed), brake clearance, a load rating suited to a heavy vehicle, and TPMS compatibility. The polished finish requires regular maintenance in salty winter conditions.

View the model profile
Street Series style route

The Street Series refers to Center Line designs conceived for road and muscle street use, combining the brand's signature aesthetic with dimensions suited to on-road driving. Built from aluminum, it is aimed at muscle cars, performance cars, and street vehicles looking for an assertive American look without exclusively targeting the drag strip. The usual finishes include polished, brushed, and satin black, sometimes with machined details. It's an aftermarket range, to be selected according to the desired look and vehicle compatibility. For a Quebec buyer, validate the bolt pattern, offset, center bore, and brake clearance, verify the load rating and TPMS compatibility, and keep in mind that a second dedicated winter wheel set protects the finish from salt and calcium.

View the model profile

Technical

What to confirm for a compatible wheel

fitment

Point technique à valider selon le véhicule, l'usage, la dimension et les recommandations du fabricant.

entraxe

Le bolt pattern doit correspondre exactement au moyeu du véhicule. Une approximation rend la roue incompatible.

offset

Le déport détermine la position de la roue vers l'intérieur ou l'extérieur et influence le dégagement des ailes et des freins.

alésage central

Le center bore doit être compatible avec le moyeu ou corrigé avec des bagues de centrage adaptées.

indice de charge

La jante doit supporter la charge du véhicule, surtout pour VUS, camionnettes, remorques et usages commerciaux.

TPMS

Point technique à valider selon le véhicule, l'usage, la dimension et les recommandations du fabricant.

Call