2024 Kansei Wheels Review: Are They Good Or Are They Reps?
In the sea of new wheel brands popping up each year, it can be very hard to tell who makes quality wheels and who is just selling cheap rebranded knock offs.
Kansei is a wheel company that popped up out of nowhere and has been making a pretty big splash in the wheel industry.
In this post, I’m going to go over Kansei wheels, who they are, what wheels they offer and if they are any good.
Who Are Kansei Wheels?
Based in California, Kansei have only been around for a couple of years but have been making a big impact with their wheels.
Their focus is on making strong, lightweight wheels that offer good performance and clear big brakes for a low price.
While they don’t focus on flashy designs and bright colors, their designs are simple and clean and offer a classic look with a modern twist.
Unlike most new wheel companies who jump straight to making replica wheels and knock off designs, Kansei actually make unique wheels designs for all their wheels, despite the fact that the wheel market is very saturated and it’s hard to come up with something new.
Personally, I really like this, and I feel it says a lot about Kansei as a business. So they get a big thumbs up from me on this point.
How Are Kansei Wheels Made?
All of Kansei’s current wheel options are cast flow formed wheels.
Flow forming is a method of combining casting with elements of forging. How it works is the center of the wheel is cast with excess material around the outside.
The cast center is then spun at high speeds while heat is applied, and rollers apply pressure to stretch out the excess material and make the barrel of the wheel.
This process creates a wheel that is inbetween cast and forged in terms of weight and strength – it is lighter and stronger than a cast wheel but not as light or strong as a forged wheel. However, this process is significantly cheaper than producing a forged wheel.
Many other reputable wheel companies use this method to make their wheels including BBS and Enkei. Kansei wheels are actually very comparable to Enkei wheels in terms of quality, weight and price overall.
Kansei wheels also have a couple of unique features including deep pocketing in between the PCD holes in order to reduce weight , and the fact that all their designs are specifically made to clear big brakes, making them perfect for performance cars and track use.
Kansei Wheel Options
Kansei currently offer 7 different wheel designs.
KNP
Diameters: 17-19”
Widths: 8.5-10.5”
PCDs: 5X100, 5X112, 5X114.3, 5X120
The KNP was Kansei’s first wheel and features a simple yet classic 5 spoke design with stepped lip.
Designed for performance, these wheels are durable yet relatively lightweight weighing only around 22-26 lb (10-12 kg) depending on the size. That’s not bad for a cast wheel that is still strong enough to handle track use.
These are available in three finishes including Hyper Silver With Machined Lip, Gloss Gunmetal and Textured Bronze.
Whether you are looking for simple yet good looking street wheels or durable track wheels, these are a great choice and suit many different cars.
GET KANSEI KNP WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Corsa
Diameters: 18”
Widths: 9-10.5”
PCDs: 5X100, 5X114.3, 5X120
The Corsa wheels are a mesh faced design reminiscent of BBS wheels but containing a step lip.
These are only available in 18” but do come in a selection of widths and a number of PCDs.
Similar to the KNP wheels, they are designed to clear big brakes and be durable enough for both street and track use while still being relatively lightweight.
These are another classic wheel design that will look great on almost any car and are available in either Gloss Gunmetal or Textured Bronze finishes.
GET KANSEI CORSA WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Tandem
Diameters: 17-19”
Widths: 8.5-10.5”
PCDs: 5X100, 5X112, 5X114.3, 5X120
The Tandem wheels are designed to be a “homage” to the classic Skyline GTR wheel and feature a concave 6 spoke face. However, unlike the Skyline wheels, these available in a number of different sizes and finishes that the original wheel never was.
This makes them incredibly popular with Skyline and JDM fans, and these wheels look great on a range of different cars from Toyotas to BMWs.
Available in a wide range of sizes, widths and PCDs, these wheels are a great choice for almost any car and will offer a unique look.
GET THE KNP TANDEM WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Tandem 15”
Diameters: 15”
Widths: 7-8”
PCDs: 4X100, 4X114.3,
The Tandem 15” is a special edition of the Tandem wheel designed for smaller cars with a 4 stud PCD such as the Mazda Miata and BMW E30.
These wheels feature a similar spoke design of the normal Tandems but also combine a stepped like, giving them an old school deep dished look.
Due to their smaller size, these wheels are extremely light weighing only anout 14 lb (6kgs), making these a fantastic option for cars used for autocross or track days.
Roku
Diameters: 18”
Widths: 9-10.5”
PCDs: 5X114.3, 5X120
The Roku wheels are a similar design to the Tandem 15” wheels featuring a thin 6 spoke face and stepped lip. However, the spokes on these are flatter and more square, and these wheels are made in 18” for larger cars with 5 stud PCDs.
These wheels are perfect for 90s JDM cars that want a more classic look and are available in Real Chrome as well as Matte Grey Face with Machined Lip and full Gloss Black finishes.
GET KANSEI ROKU WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Neo
Diameters: 18”
Widths: 9-10.5”
PCDs: 5X114.3, 5X120
The Neo wheels are the latest design from Kansei and feature a bold twin flared 6 spoke face design with a large concave, especially popular with the drifting and VIP circles.
These wheels are offered in a number of widths and a large range of offsets, with three distinct finishes including Real Chrome, Satin Gunmetal and Gloss White.
GET KANSEI NEO WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Astro
Diameters: 18-19”
Widths: 8.5-10.5”
PCDs: 5×100, 5×112, 5X114.3, 5X120
Another new concave face design, the Astro wheels feature a twin 5 spoke star design inspired by a number of 90s wheels.
These wheels come in a wide range of sizes and PCDs making them suitable for almost any 5 stud vehicle. They are available in in Hyper Silver, Satin Gunmetal and Gloss White finishes.
Like all Kansei wheels these are made to be durable and relatively light as well as clear big brakes, making them suitable for both street and track use.
GET KANSEI ASTRO WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Are There Any Downsides to Kansei Wheels?
Honestly, I haven’t been able to find any.
Kansei are really doing their best to make decent quality wheels that are light and durable for a decent price, and everything I have been able to find about them has been positive.
Conclusion – Should You Buy Kansei Wheels?
Short answer – yes. From everything I have seen Kansei are doing a fantastic job producing unique, quality wheels at affordable prices.
They are taking an open and honest approach about how they design and make their wheels, and aren’t trying to trick you into thinking that they are something they are not, like some other brands do *cough* AodHan *cough*. There are also no fake bolts or blatant BBS RS rip-offs to be found in their lineup, which is another plus point as far as I’m concerned.
Overall, I’ve been very impressed with everything I have found about Kansei so far. They are definitely one of the best wheel brands to pop up in recent years, and I wouldn’t hesitate to put a set of their wheels on my car and happily recommend them as a good wheel option. In fact, I might actually get some in the future.
GET KANSEI WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
FAQ About Kansei Wheels
Are Kansei Wheels Reps?
No, Kansei wheels are not reps. They do not produce a single rep wheel in their entire lineup. All their designs are unique and designed for them.
Are Kansei tandems forged?
No, Kansei Tandems are not forged. They are made using a process called “flow forming” which involves a cast center being spun at high speeds and heated while pressure is applied to form the barrel. This is somewhat similar to forging, but is not the same and forged wheels are stronger, lighter and much more expensive.
Is Kansei Wheels Japanese?
No, Kansei wheels are not Japanese. Kansei is an American company based in California.
Are Kansei Wheels JDM?
While Kansei wheels are ot made in Japan, they are designed to fit many JDM cars and are very popular among JDM car enthusiasts.
Where Is Kansei From?
Kansei in based in California, USA.
How Much Do Kansei Wheels Weigh?
Most Kansei wheels weight between 22-26 lb (10-12 kg) depending on the size. This is pretty respectable for cast flow formed wheels, and are similar to other flow formed wheels like Enkei.
GET KANSEI WHEELS FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
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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