What’s up, guys? On today’s post, we’re diving into the most legendary automotive wheel brand in the world – RAYS Engineering.
Think of RAYS as the Elon Musk of the aftermarket performance wheel world — old, wise, and non-Japanese speaking, but absolutely dominating when it matters.
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and if that’s true, RAYS Engineering has been blushing for the last 15-20 years.
Every design they release gets copied, especially the iconic Volk TE37. RAYS Engineering is a brand you appreciate more as you move past the flashy, cheap wheels phase.
When you’re 16 with $300 to your name, you’re into colorful fake wheels, but once you have more cash, you start valuing quality.
RAYS is a parent company of other brands you might know. So, buckle up, and we’re going to learn everything about RAYS Engineering in under 1000 words without falling asleep.
Founded in Japan in 1973, RAYS Engineering is one of the pioneers in bringing forged wheels to the consumer market. They take immense pride in their exclusive forging process. Here’s a breakdown of the seven steps they use to forge their wheels:
- Hot Forging: They start with a billet and create the lines in the metal using a hot press.
- RM Forging: This unique process precisely shapes the wheel.
- Spin Open-Die Forging: Their powerful machine in Japan, one of the largest in the world, applies up to 10,000 tons of force while spinning to create the wheel’s shape and density.
- Heat Treatment: They rapidly heat and cool the wheel to form its high structural integrity.
- Machining: The wheel is precisely machined.
- Shot Blasting: This step smooths the surface.
- Surface Finishing: Finally, the wheel is finished to perfection.
If you’re not ready to drop at least $2,700 on a set of 17x9s, RAYS engineering also offers the more affordable Gram Lights.
These cast wheels are priced around $1,500 to $1,700 and are like Enkei RPF1s on steroids. Despite being cheaper, they don’t sacrifice integrity. Gram Lights feature innovative techniques similar to RAYS’ forged lines but at a lower price point.
RAYS Engineering adheres to JWL and Spec-1 compliance, and they even enforce their own strict industry regulations within their manufacturing process in Japan. All their products are made in Japan, ensuring top-notch quality.
No, this isn’t a sponsored post. RAYS wheels are expensive because of the extensive research and development that goes into them. They perform rigorous testing, including dynamic radial fatigue tests, rotary bending fatigue tests, and impact tests.
In short, they thoroughly check their wheels, which justifies the high price due to the immense R&D investment.
RAYS Engineering is known for its championship racing wheels and commercial products, maintaining exceptional quality.
Typically, this is where I might say something negative or start a debate, but RAYS Engineering is simply a fantastic wheel brand with a rich heritage. If you’re interested in RAYS wheels, whether it’s Volk or Gram Lights, let us know in the comments.
And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel Noah’s Garage. Until next time!
