These days you have to be extremely careful when shopping for car wheels. There are hundreds of brands in the market, each promising car owners that their wheels are the best.
Before buying a particular wheel, it’s a good idea to do some digging into the brand. Our focus in this piece will be on Niche Wheels.
Who is Niche?
Niche Road Wheels is a company that specializes in the manufacture of unique rim designs. Their aftermarket wheels are famous for looking good and having an affordable price tag.
According to Niche, they don’t just make wheels for cars. They listen to what car owners want and then create designs that appeal to different people.
This company makes wheels that can fit most car brands. Whether you own a sports car, an SUV, or a truck, you can get a set of nice-looking wheels from Niche.
From Niche, you can get wheels in different sizes and designs. Their rims also come in 5,6, and 8-lug configurations.
It’s crucial to identify your lug design and pattern when shopping for Niche wheels. Because Niche makes wheels for all sizes, you can up or downsize depending on your preferences.
It’s worth mentioning that there are particular wheel series from Niche that are more popular in the market.
Examples include Milan, Methos, Sector, and Staccato. At the end of this review, if you decide to go with Niche wheels, focus more on these wheel series.
Key Highlights of Niche Wheels
Before breaking down the good, the bad, and the ugly of Niche wheels, we must familiarize you with this brand and what they offer. If you look at Niche wheels, there is no doubt that they look good.
But when it comes to getting new wheels for your ride, you need to consider more than aesthetics. Let’s look at the characteristics of Niche wheels to determine if it’s as good as it looks.
• It Features Cast and Forged Constructions
Not many people can differentiate between cast and forged wheels. Forged wheels are manufactured from one large piece of metal that is melted and exposed to high pressure.
This process then forges a particular design on the wheel. On the other hand, cast wheels are manufactured by melting aluminum, which is poured into a mold to create a solid piece.
Forged wheels tend to be better than cast wheels because of the process they go through. They are stronger, more durable, and have better corrosion resistance.
As a car owner, you may prefer forged wheels overcast or vice versa. Everyone has their reasons. Well, you can get both at Niche Wheels. That’s one of the perks of dealing with such a wheel company.
• Their Wheels are Customized and Personalized
Are you a car owner that appreciates elegance and uniqueness? Well, Niche wheels should be your go-to brand. This company is keen on wheel personalization and customization.
They have plenty of impressive designs that can complement the look of your car. A quick search on Niche wheels should reveal a set of designs that will blow your mind.
• Niche Wheels are Available in Different Types
Niche wheels ensure you will never run out of options by bringing you different types of wheels. As you shop for wheels from this brand, you can choose from the forged, SUV, racing, and sport series.
Each series is built to offer performance in the category it falls under. This wide availability ensures that interested car owners can find a set of unique and special wheels.
Are Niche Wheels High Quality?
Now that we know who Niche wheels are, and the types of products they make. It’s time we dig a little deeper. And starting is a quality check.
Niche wheels are super affordable. If you have some experience with wheels, you will know that quality wheels often have a higher price tag. Does that mean Niche wheels are of low quality because they aren’t expensive?
From the experiences of different car owners, Niche wheels are of standard quality. They look good, so you will get value for money if you care about aesthetics. These wheels also don’t bend easily.
A complaint that we found to be common is how the finish starts to peel after several years. That is expected because these wheels aren’t made to last forever.
If you drive in the snow or mud, your Niche wheels finish should peel off in a year or two. The level of care and maintenance you offer these wheels will determine how long the finish will last.
These wheels have also been in the spotlight for being very sensitive to strong cleaners. If you buy Niche wheels, stick to standard wheel cleaners. No matter how dirty they stain, keep off strong cleaners that may remove the finish.
From the above, we can conclude that Niche wheels are of decent quality. Even though the finish starts to peel after a while, this wheel won’t bend easily, not unless you hit the potholes with a lot of might.
Also, if you take care of your Niche wheels, they should serve you for longer.
Are Niche Wheels Light?
You have to know that all forged wheels will be lighter than factory wheels. So, if you swap your stock wheels with Niche wheels, you will notice a significant decrease in weight. Having less weight to manage, Niche wheels will go way faster.
If you are a speed enthusiast, switching to Niche wheels can help you realize a significant boost in speed and overall car performance.
Remember, you can only utilize this benefit of Niche wheels when you buy forged ones. If you buy cast wheels, they will be heavy as the stock wheels that came with the car. You wouldn’t have made a significant change other than the design.
Are There Any Drawbacks of Niche Wheels?
Overall, Niche has retained an excellent reputation for its brand. However, certain complaints have been launched against this company. First is Niche’s poor customer service.
Some customers have received excellent customer service from Niche. Others can’t say the same. There is a complaint that was posted on Lotus Talk.
A client returned the wheel because it had an issue. Niche claimed they would fix the problem and return the wheel in two weeks.
Five weeks later, they were taking the customer in circles. The client kept calling and inquiring, and they told him that the wheel was in transit.
A famous brand such as Niche shouldn’t be engaging in such. As a client, you may be reluctant towards buying their wheels because you too can be subjected to the same. Anyway, if you are buying Niche wheels, we advise you to purchase them through a recognized dealer.
These dealers communicate directly with Niche, and if they sell you a damaged wheel, it will be easier to have it fixed. But without a dealer, you may struggle a lot in getting your wheels repaired.
The other issue with the Niche wheels is the peeling finish. These wheels are super sensitive to cleaning products. The finish can peel off if you introduce a strong cleaner.
If you often drive around in mud or dirt, your wheels will need to be cleaned regularly. If you are tempted to use a strong cleaner, you could be wiping off the peels of the finish after a few months.
If you get Niche wheels, prepare to be extra careful or paint the wheels every year. Fortunately, these days you can have wheels powder coated and get a more durable finish.
Besides the peeling and the bad customer service, Niche Wheels don’t have many negative complaints. If Niche could work on these two issues, it would be the best wheel company in the market.
What are the Pros of Niche Wheels?
Despite the above complaints, Niche makes excellent wheels. Here are some of the benefits of Niche Wheels;
1. They Look Amazing
There is no denying the fact that these wheels are beautiful. Whichever series or type you go with, Niche will not disappoint you. Their wheels look better not just in the picture but also in real life. You will have heads turning wherever you go.
2. Their Prices are Pocket Friendly
Niche wheels look good and don’t cost an arm or a leg. This type of wheel won’t drain your pockets but will serve you well. If you are on a budget and looking for a decent-quality wheel, do not hesitate to choose Niche.
3. Niche is a Reputable Brand
This is a brand recognized amongst car owners from all over the country. Niche has been around for a while now, and they have established a good name for their brand. Their wheels look great, the quality is standard, and they have dealers all over.
4. They Have Dealers All Over the Country
If you want to have someone you can run to when the wheels start misbehaving, buy them from a recognized dealer. Fortunately, there are Niche dealers all over the country.
Locate one and drive to their shop. That will ensure you always get quality customer service. At times, the customer reps may not be very professional.
5. There are Many Designs to Choose From
Niche has got tons of designs for car owners to choose from. With this brand, you are assured of buying a wheel with a unique design.