2024 HRE Wheels Review: Are They Really That Good and Are They Worth It?
If you have been involved with cars at all you will have no doubt heard about HRE.
HRE is one of the most famous wheel companies in the world and is considered one of the top American wheel manufacturers.
They make some stunning wheels that command some very high prices, and will even make you a fully custom TUV approved set of wheels.
But how good are their wheels really? Are they worth the giant price tags?
In this post, I will go over HRE in detail and what makes them so good.
The History of HRE
HRE was originally founded in 1978 by Gene Howell, and started as the USA distributor for Hayashi Racing wheels, a Japanese wheel company.
Soon enough they began making their own wheels, with a focus on making wheels for amateur racing teams and autocross series.
HRE was actually one of the first American companies to make multi piece wheels, and they have been making all kinds of innovative wheels ever since.
In 1993 Glen decided to sell HRE and it was purchased by the current owners, who appointed Alan Peltier as lead engineer in 1999.
They eventually switched from focusing on amateur racing and began making high end wheels.
In 2009 Alan was promoted as president and eventually became CEO, a position he still holds today.
Alan’s goal has been to make HRE the most respected and innovative wheel companies in the world, which has lead them to make all kinds of wheels from being the manufacturer of Davin spinners in the early 2000s, to making the first 3D printed titanium wheels in a partnership with GE Additive.
In 2006 HRE introduced their forged monoblock wheels, which were quite rare at the time. In 2009 they partnered with Dymag Carbon to make carbon fiber barrelled wheels.
Despite moving away from focusing on motorsports, they are still very active in many forms of racing and never sacrificed performance with their wheels.
Several top tier motorsports drivers have used HRE wheels including Formula D champion Vaughn Gittin Jr in 2010 and Monster Tajima in 2011, who set the pikes peak record on HRE wheels.
HRE has also made some OEM wheels for some very special cars including the Gumpert Apollo, Saleen S7, Tesla and more.
In 2012 they launched their Flow Form wheel line, which allowed people with smaller budgets to afford a set of their wheels without lowering the quality.
HRE also been involved in a wide range of projects including being featured in a commercial on a Ferrari F40 as well as being the wheels used on several cars in the Fast and Furious film series.
HRE still make all their forged wheels in Vista California where they also offer wheel refinishing and servicing and distribute all their products from, as well as Akrapovič car exhausts.
How HRE Rims Are Made
HRE take great pride in making some of the highest quality wheels on the planet.
All HRE wheels are designed using FEA analysis to make them as strong of a structure as possible. This is the same system that BBS and other top tier wheel brands use to design their wheels.
The wheels are then tested once they are made to confirm the FEA analysis and ensure they are sufficiently strong, light and durable.
HRE also do a lot of 3D image testing and use real cars for measurements to ensure proper fitments. They have a large database where they store all of the car fitment data which allows them to design wheels for specific car models and ensure they will fit perfect.
HRE specialize in making custom forged wheels. They will make wheels to suit your sizing and finish requirements and will even make a completely custom wheel design that is TUV approved, which can cost up to $50,000 for a set.
FlowForm
HRE’s FlowForm wheels are made using flow forming.
The wheel centers are cast from raw bar of A356.2 aluminium alloy, chosen for its strength and casting properties.
The metal is melted and poured into the mold, with the face at the bottom to create stronger spokes.
The wheel is then removed from the mold and quenched in water for additional strength.
General measurements are taken to confirm the sizing, and the wheel is then preheated to prepare for flow forming.
For the flow forming, the wheel is put on a mandrel and spun at high speed while heat is applied, and rollers apply pressure to form the barrel shape.
The wheel is then quenched again to ensure the mechanical properties are maintained and to minimize any distortion.
The wheel is then heat treated to further refine the aluminium structure and lock in the strength.
After heat treating, all wheels are then x-rayed to ensure there are no cracks or inconsistencies which would cause weakness.
The wheel is then put on a lathe to refine the wheels shape, and a mill drills out the lug holes, hub bore and valve stem hole.
A quality control check is now done to check all the holes and ensure they are perfectly round.
All the surfaces are then machined and the wheels are ready for cleaning and finishing.
Before the final finishing process, the balance and runout is checked to ensure they meet all tolerances. They are also leak tested to ensure they will hold air when the tire is mounted.
Once all the tests are passed, the wheels are cleaned and prepared for the final finish.
First a standard black powder coat base is now applied, then a clear powder coat on top, on top of which the final finish is applied.
Before being shipped, the wheels go through a finish quality control check including size, offset, center bore, PCD and another runout test.
Here is a good video from HRE showing how the FlowForm wheels are made:
Forged
HRE don’t keep any forged wheels in stock as they are all custom. The only thing that’s kept in stock are the forging blanks from which the wheels are made.
HRE’s forged wheel start as Aerospace-grade 6061-T6 forging blanks which are lathed and milled to suit the required specs of the wheel being produced.
HRE have special cell machines which take the wheel blanks and cuts them to the desired shape of the wheel. These cells run 24/7 and can do large batches of wheels at once.
Once the wheel has been cut, they are hand trimmed to remove all sharp edges and the roundness and runout is checked to ensure they are within the required tolerances.
The wheels are then put through the finishing process where they apply the desired finish to the wheel, whether that’s brushed, polished or otherwise. The final finishing is done by hand and can take from 2-8 hours per wheel, depending on the finish.
Once this is done the wheels are then thoroughly cleaned by hand using deionized tanks and sonic rinsing to ensure there are no contaminants, and then get put into various solvents to help the powder coat adhere to the surfaces. They are then is sent for powder coating.
After finishing, the wheels are assembled and then inspected for quality control and every wheel gets photographed to ensure it has been assembled correctly and has no defects.
Here is a good video from HRE showing how they make the forged wheels at their facility:
Finishes
HRE offer a wide range of finishes on all of their wheels.
They have standard finish options for both the FlowForm and forged wheels, that include satin and gloss colors.
The FlowForm wheels are also available with up to 30 optional finishes besides the standard finishes.
The forged wheels can have practically any custom finish from satin or solid color to frosted, brushed and even two tone finishes. They can also have custom hardware. Some of these finishes are additional charged due to the extra work and costs involved, but you can practically get anything you desire with the forged wheels.
HRE also offer complete refinishing if you want to redo your wheels or order a custom finish on the Flow Form wheels, and they have their own sand blasting and acid tanks to strip the old finishes and then put the wheels through the finishing process.
Safety Certifications
HRE have practically all the wheel safety certifications you could want from a wheel company.
They have TUV Austria Certification, with many of their wheels having TUV and JWL approval, meaning they can be used in countries such as Germany and Austria that require this. That includes their FlowForm wheels.
Warranty
HRE offer a lifetime structural warranty and a 2 year finish warranty on their forged wheels and a lifetime structural warranty a 3 year finish warranty on the FlowForm wheels.
Where Are HRE Wheels Made?
All forged wheels are made at their facility in San Diego, California. The Flow Form wheels are made in either Japan or Taiwan, depending on the model.
HRE Wheel lines
HRE currently offer a large selection of wheels from FlowForm to custom forged multi-piece wheels. Here are the lines they currently offer:
FlowForm
Forged Monoblocks
520 Series
Series P1SC
Series P1
Series P2
Series R1
Series RC1
Series TR1
Vintage Series
Classic Series
Forged 2 Piece FMR
Series S1SC
Series S2H
Series S2
Series S1
Series HD1
Vintage Series
Classic Series
540 Series
Forged 3 Piece
Series S2H
Series S2
Series S1
Vintage Series
Classic Series
540 Series
Ringbrothers Edition
CRBN
The CBRN wheels feature carbon barrels and are the top of the line wheel series offered by HRE.
Series HX1
Conclusion – Are HRE Wheels Good?
Yes, HRE wheels are very good. HRE take great care to produce extremely high quality wheels that go through many quality control checks and are made of top quality materials. They have some of the latest technology and are constantly coming up with innovative designs and ways to make wheels, such as the 3D printed titanium wheels.
Are HRE Wheels Worth It?
Yes. Whether you are looking for a completely custom set of wheels or you are happy with an off-the-shelf set of flow formed wheels, HRE wheels are some of the best in the industry.
The high price tags come as a result of the intricate and detailed manufacturing processes HRE use to create some of the best wheels on the market. When you buy a set of their wheels, yes they may be expensive, but you can be sure you are getting a really good set of wheels.
GET HRE WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
FAQ About HRE Wheels
Why Are HRE Wheels So Expensive?
HRE wheels are so expensive because they are custom made forged wheels which are made from the best materials using the latest technology and detailed processes to ensure you get extremely high quality wheels. If they were any cheaper, they could not make them to be as good.
Are HRE Wheels Lightweight?
Some HRE wheels are lightweight, especially the FlowForm line. Some of the FlowForm wheels weigh as little as 16 lb (7.2 kg).
Are HRE Wheels On Actual Race Cars?
Yes, HRE wheels have been used on actual race cars including Monster Tajima’s Pikes Peak car in 2011 and Vaughn Gittin Jr’s drift car.
Do HRE Wheels Come With Lug Nuts?
No, HRE wheels don’t come with lug nuts, but you can buy lug nuts from HRE as an additional accessory.
Can HRE Wheels Be Repaired?
HRE wheels can be repaired depending on the damage. If the wheel is cracked, HRE won’t repair it. However, it may be possible to repair it if it is a minor bend.
How Heavy Are HRE Wheels?
The weight of HRE wheels will greatly depend on the model and size of the wheel. Some of the lightest HRE wheels weigh just 16 lb (7.2 kg).
How to Tell Fake HRE Wheels?
Fake HRE wheels will typically be cast and heavy, and if they are a fake of a multi-piece HRE wheel, the fake wheels will be 1-piece with fake bolts or rivets. Also, fakes usually don’t have the proper HRE logo or JWL/TUV markings on them, though some fakes might.
What Are HRE Wheels Made Of?
Forged HRE wheels are made of Aerograde 6061 T6 aluminium. FlowForm HRE wheels are made from A356.2 aluminium.
Where Is HRE Wheels Located?
HRE wheels are located in Vista, San Diego, California, USA.
Are HRE Wheels Real?
Yes, HRE wheels are real. HRE is one of the older wheel brands and have been making quality and unique wheels for decades including custom forged multi-piece wheels. HRE do not make any “fake” wheels.
Who Owns HRE Wheels?
Alan Peltier is the current CEO and President of HRE wheels.
Who Are HRE Wheels Competitors?
Competitors who make wheels similar to HRE include:
Cars owned: Mk2 Golf with 1.8T swap, BMW E28 with M30B35 swap, BMW E36 328I Mtech, BMW 750IL, Nissan 300ZX, Honda Civic EF
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