Wheel brand
RAYS
RAYS is a Japanese wheel manufacturer founded in 1973 in Osaka, regarded worldwide as a benchmark for lightweight forged wheels and JDM culture. Its flagship brand, Volk Racing…
Encyclopedia profile
History, reputation and uses
RAYS (Rays Co., Ltd., Rays Engineering division) was founded in 1973 in Higashiosaka, in Japan's Osaka Prefecture, at a time when Japanese motorsport needed higher-performance wheels than imported offerings could provide. From the outset, the company concentrated its design and manufacturing on Japanese soil, a distinction it has maintained ever since. Its emblematic brand, Volk Racing, became the spearhead of the one-piece forged wheel: in 1991, after several attempts, RAYS wheels in one-piece forged magnesium equipped the first Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1996, Volk Racing launched the TE37, a one-piece forged aluminum wheel whose six-spoke design would become one of the most copied in automotive history. RAYS built its reputation on metallurgy: its forging presses, including the RM8000 machine ranked among the most powerful in Japan, apply up to 10,000 tons of force to achieve a grain structure and density that casting and flow-forming cannot match. The group manages a range of brands spanning several segments: Volk Racing (high-end forged sport), Gram Lights (lightweight cast, track-oriented at a contained price), 57 Motor Sport, Homura and Versus (luxury/concave styling for sedans and SUVs), Daytona and Garcia (kei cars and utility vehicles), among others. Manufacturing relies on two main families of processes, forging and casting, with the forging process comprising hot die forging, RAYS' exclusive RM forging, cold flow-forming, heat treatment, machining, shot peening and surface finishing. RAYS supplies the factory teams of Nissan, Honda, Toyota and Mazda, has equipped Formula 1 (Williams) and remains a player betting on engineering, lightness and racing heritage rather than volume. Its wheels comply with the Japanese JWL and VIA standards, a recognized mark of strength on the market.
Recommended use: RAYS covers a broad spectrum of uses thanks to its various brands. The forged Volk Racing models (TE37, CE28N, ZE40) target sports cars and performance vehicles in demanding street use, on the track, in time attack and drift, where reducing unsprung mass is paramount. The cast Gram Lights models (57DR, 57CR) target the track enthusiast, autocross and amateur motorsport competitor who wants a robust wheel at a reasonable price. The Homura and Versus lines are aimed at premium sedans and SUVs seeking a luxurious concave style. RAYS primarily serves the aftermarket and tuning markets, but also the original equipment fitment of certain Japanese sports models.
Technologies and manufacturing: RAYS uses two main methods: forging and casting. Volk Racing forging hot-presses a 6061 aluminum billet (or magnesium for racing) under very high-capacity forging presses, including the RM8000 of approximately 10,000 tons, complemented by an exclusive RM process and cold flow-forming of the rim. The result is an oriented grain structure offering a higher strength-to-weight ratio than casting. This is followed by heat treatment, CNC machining, shot peening and surface finishing. Technical details include high-speed valves, an anti-slip bead knurling derived from F1 and machined logos. Gram Lights wheels are cast in RAYS alloy and certified JWL + R Spec. All production complies with the Japanese JWL and VIA standards.
Key takeaways
- RAYS indique une fondation en 1973 et une structure de groupe développée autour de la performance.
- La marque met en avant la précision Made in Japan et des procédés de finition spécifiques.
- Volk Racing est considérée comme la ligne forgée emblématique du groupe.
Strengths
- Authentic racing heritage (Le Mans, F1, drift, time attack) and recognized forging expertise
- Very high-pressure forging (RM8000 press, 10,000 tons) with the best strength-to-weight ratio
- Lightness that reduces unsprung mass and improves handling, braking and acceleration
- 100% designed and manufactured in Japan, JWL/VIA standards and meticulous finishes
- A tiered range from the accessible cast Gram Lights to the exclusive forged Volk Racing, with numerous JDM fitments
Points to check
- High price on the forged Volk Racing models, often at the top of the aftermarket segment
- Strong presence of replicas and counterfeits of the TE37 and other designs to verify before purchase
- Availability of sizes, offsets and bolt patterns sometimes limited, with variable supply lead times
- Lineup historically oriented toward Japanese fitments (5x114.3, 5x100): verify compatibility outside JDM applications
- Polished or bright finishes require more maintenance against the salt and calcium of Quebec winters
Models & families
RAYS wheel models
A-LAP is a RAYS wheel family to be documented according to the sizes, bolt patterns, offsets, and finishes available in the official catalog. It should be linked to the site's vehicle, dimension, and usage filters.
View the model profile Daytona multi-piècesDaytona is a RAYS wheel family to be documented according to the sizes, bolt patterns, offsets, and finishes available in the official catalog. It should be linked to the site's vehicle, dimension, and usage filters.
View the model profile DAYTONA M9 forgée JDMDAYTONA M9 is a key product family to connect to the RAYS wheels catalog once dimensions and stock are available.
View the model profile Gram Lights 57CR flow formedThe 57CR is the more competition-oriented version of Gram Lights' 57 series, designed with tighter tolerances and a more aggressive pursuit of weight reduction than the 57DR, while remaining an affordable cast wheel. Its sporty design and track orientation make it popular in time attack, autocross, and amateur racing, disciplines where Gram Lights is very widespread among accessible budgets. Like the 57DR, it is cast in RAYS alloy and certified JWL + R Spec, making it a reliable track wheel that is easy to replace in case of contact. It is aimed at the amateur driver who prioritizes performance-to-price value over the absolute minimum weight of a forged Volk Racing wheel. In Quebec, it is an excellent candidate as a dedicated summer track set; confirm bolt pattern, offset, center bore, load rating, and brake clearance according to the vehicle, and keep in mind the sensitivity of light finishes to salt should the wheel ever be driven out of season.
View the model profile Gram Lights 57DR forgée JDMThe 57DR is one of the flagship models from Gram Lights, RAYS's cast brand geared toward amateur motorsport. Built as a one-piece cast wheel in RAYS alloy and certified JWL + R Spec, it carries a six-spoke design in the spirit of the TE37, but with a more concave profile and a higher weight than a forged wheel (around 10.5 kg depending on size). Offered mainly in 17 and 18 inches in common widths, it is designed to take the abuse of track, drift, and time attack while remaining affordable. It is a credible entry point into the RAYS world for those who want a rugged track wheel without the price of a forged one. In Quebec, its price-to-strength ratio makes it a good choice for a summer track set; verify bolt pattern, offset, center bore, load rating, and brake clearance, and preferably avoid winter salt on the light finishes. A 57DR-X variant exists for SUV and light-truck fitments (6x139.7).
View the model profile Gram Lights 57FXZ forgée JDMGram Lights 57FXZ is an important family to link to the RAYS wheel catalog when dimensions and stock are available.
View the model profile HOMURA 2x7 forgée JDMHOMURA 2x7 is a key product family to connect to the RAYS wheels catalog once dimensions and stock are available.
View the model profile Homura 2x9 multi-piècesThe Homura 2x9 belongs to the RAYS luxury lineup, the opposite of Volk Racing's racing ethos. It is a one-piece cast wheel with a nine-spoke crossed mesh design, intended for sedans and larger-bodied SUVs, with a concave hub that gives it a high-end character. Its thin-spoke silhouette plays on facets and finish, showcased by Japanese build quality. Certified JWL + R Spec, it is designed to support the significant weight of these vehicles while remaining relatively light for its size. Offered in large diameters with refined finishes (gloss black with machined accent, plated silver), it aims for elegance and presence rather than the track. In Quebec, its light finishes and worked rim lip require regular maintenance against salt and calcium, which may justify a second set for winter; verify bolt pattern, offset, center bore, load rating, TPMS compatibility, and brake clearance, particularly on heavy SUVs.
View the model profile Versus flow formedVersus is a RAYS wheel family to be documented according to the sizes, bolt patterns, offsets, and finishes available in the official catalog. It should be linked to the site's vehicle, dimension, and usage filters.
View the model profile VERSUS VV21S forgée JDMVERSUS VV21S is a key product family to connect to the RAYS wheels catalog once dimensions and stock are available.
View the model profile VOLK 21A forgée JDMVOLK 21A is a key product family to connect to the RAYS wheels catalog once dimensions and stock are available.
View the model profile VOLK NE24 forgée JDMVOLK NE24 is a key product family to connect to the RAYS wheels catalog once dimensions and stock are available.
View the model profile Volk Racing CE28N flow formedThe CE28N is the lightest wheel in the Volk Racing lineup, a one-piece forged wheel designed for pure competition. Introduced in 1999, its "CE" stands for Competition Expert and the "28" refers to the 2.8 kg weight of the entry-level 14x5-inch version. Its distinctive design with ten thin spokes (eight spokes in 16 inches) prioritizes maximum material removal to lower unsprung weight, benefiting acceleration, braking, and handling. It is a wheel of choice for time attack, autocross, track, and amateur racing on lightweight sport cars. Its forged construction makes it exceptionally rigid for its weight, but its thin spokes and light finishes require care. In Quebec, it is suited to summer or track use: avoid exposure to salt and confirm bolt pattern, offset, center bore, load rating, TPMS compatibility, and brake clearance, especially on wide setups with aggressive offsets.
View the model profile Volk Racing TE37 forgée JDMThe TE37 is the most iconic wheel of Volk Racing and of the entire JDM world. Launched in 1996, it is a one-piece forged aluminum six-spoke wheel: the "TE" stands for Touring Evolution and the "37" recalls the original target weight of 3.7 kg in 15 inches. Its clean, no-frills design has become a genre benchmark and one of the most copied in history, which makes verifying authenticity before purchase essential. Forged under very high pressure, it is both extremely light and very strong, ideal for sport street driving, track, time attack, and drift, where every kilogram of unsprung weight counts. The lineup has expanded over nearly 30 years (Super Lap, Ultra, Saga, Vintage, etc.), covering many diameters and fitments. In Quebec, its appeal is mainly for summer or track use: protect the finish from winter road salt and verify bolt pattern (often 5x114.3 or 5x100), offset, center bore, load rating, TPMS compatibility, and brake clearance before mounting.
View the model profile Volk Racing ZE40 multi-piècesThe ZE40 is a one-piece forged Volk Racing wheel with a modern ten-spoke design, engineered to combine lightness, rigidity, and concave aesthetics. Each of its spokes receives a worked finish that also helps remove mass, and the wheel is offered in several concavity profiles depending on the chosen width and offset, which broadens fitment possibilities. The hub adopts an overhang design for rigidity and style, with details such as high-speed valves, machined logos, and an anti-slip bead seat boss inherited from F1. Forged like other Volk Racing wheels, it targets sport cars and performance sedans for dynamic street and track use, with a more contemporary look than the TE37. In Quebec, it is above all a three-season wheel geared toward summer performance: validate bolt pattern, offset, center bore, load rating, TPMS compatibility, and brake clearance, and set aside a dedicated winter set to limit salt-related corrosion.
View the model profileTechnical
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.