OE+ Wheels

Encyclopedia profile

History, reputation and uses

OE Wheels, operating under the corporate name OE Wheel Distributors, LLC, was founded in 2001 in Sarasota, Florida. The company started modestly as a reseller of reconditioned original-equipment wheels, sourcing wheels from salvage yards and from dealerships (dealership take-offs). Over the years, it has grown into one of the largest independent wheel distributors in North America, with a 12-acre campus and more than 100,000 square feet of warehouse and office space, complemented by a distribution center in Dallas, Texas, and a presence on the West Coast. The heart of its offering is the REPLICA wheel: OE Wheels reproduces the original-equipment (OEM) designs of 25 vehicle manufacturer brands and hundreds of models, from the Corvette to the Jeep, as well as American trucks and SUVs. The company does not cast the wheels itself: it designs its products and has them manufactured by third-party, ISO 9001-certified factories, several of which also produce wheels for major names in the OEM industry. Each model is tested to strictly meet the requirements of the North American SAE J2530 standard, a guarantee of structural strength and safety. The range covers classic casting (cast) and, on certain sport models, flow-formed construction (flow-forming), which makes the wheel lighter and stronger than a standard cast wheel. OE Wheels also oversees the sister brands 4PLAY (truck/SUV style) and DEFIANT. The brand's reputation rests on massive availability (more than 100,000 wheels in stock), the precision of OEM fitment, a wide palette of finishes (silver, hyper silver, gloss machined black, PVD chrome, satin graphite), and a lifetime structural warranty accompanied by a one-year warranty on the finish. With more than two million transactions, the company posts a high satisfaction rate and positions itself as an economical and reliable replacement solution, as opposed to the high-priced dealership wheel.

Recommended use: OE Wheels targets replacement first and foremost: a damaged wheel, a missing set, or the need for a second set of mags at a reasonable price. Since the designs faithfully reproduce the original equipment, these wheels suit owners who want to preserve their vehicle's factory look (sedans, SUVs, trucks, Corvette, Jeep, and especially American domestic brands) without paying the price of a dealership part. The OEM fitment (bolt pattern, offset, center bore) makes for a direct installation. In Quebec, it is also an attractive option for mounting a second set of wheels dedicated to winter and protecting the summer set from salt and calcium. Versatile road use; the brand is not geared toward racing or competition.

Technologies and manufacturing: OE Wheels does not manufacture in-house: it designs its models and has them produced by third-party, ISO 9001-certified factories, several of which also supply OEM programs. Two processes dominate. Gravity casting (gravity cast) serves the majority of the replicas: economical and faithful to the original design. Flow-forming (flow-formed / flow-forming), offered on sport models such as certain Corvette wheels, stretches and densifies the wheel barrel under rollers to produce a part that is lighter and stronger than a classic casting. All models are tested to meet the North American SAE J2530 standard (impact, radial fatigue, and cornering fatigue resistance). Varied finishes (silver, hyper silver, machined black, PVD chrome, graphite) are chosen for durability and corrosion resistance. Lifetime structural warranty, one-year warranty on the finish.