6 Cars That Look Good With Tri-Spoke Wheels

Back in the '80s and '90s auto manufacturers thought tri-spoke wheels were all futuristic and cool. Now that we're in the future, we can safely say most tri-spoke wheels suck. But there are a few cars where they aren't so bad
6 Cars That Look Good With Tri-Spoke Wheels

I know that, in the headline, I said cars that look ‘good’ with tri-spoke wheels, but even now, with this article on the interwebz for all to see, I’m still not sure good is the proper word to use here. Cars that look better, perhaps? It’s something of a conundrum, because some people really like tri-spoke wheels while most people hate on them; generally I’m in that second group.

This irony is not lost on me since I recently bought a Mustang GT that came with factory-installed tri-spoke wheels. Technically, I suppose, they have six spokes, but since the spokes are paired up into three groups, I call it a tri-spoke win. Or a fail. In any case they’re ugly, just like tri-spoke wheels on most other cars. I’m forced to say most, because every so often I see a car riding on Advan Racing tri-spokes, and I’m suddenly forced to question everything I’ve ever doubted in my entire life. There are a few aftermarket tri-spoke wheel options, but if you’re going to actually choose tri-spokes, these are the only ones I’d have.

Honda S2000 wearing the aforementioned Advan Racing tri-spokes. Purrdy.
Honda S2000 wearing the aforementioned Advan Racing tri-spokes. Purrdy.

This all prompted me to take a second look at tri-spokes, especially since I’ve decided to live with them on the Mustang and instead use the money saved for a crazy weekend holiday in Las Vegas. And you know what? I still think most are pretty ugly, but I did find a few cars with factory-installed tri-spokes that look pretty good. I suspect traditional five-spoke rims would still be an improvement in most cases, but if it came down to either a new set of wheels or an epic weekend in Vegas, I could live with these rides as-is.

First-generation Saab 900

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tri-spokes generally appeal to those with a slightly different viewpoint on design. Since we’re talking about Saabs here I’m legally required to use the term quirky so yes, I find the classic 900’s quirky, acquired-taste styling to be a great fit for its tri-spoke wheels. I know other wheels might look better, but the improvements wouldn’t make up for the lost character and overall appeal that is unique to the Saab 900.

1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

Photo Credit: Marcie Cipriani / T5 Design
Photo Credit: Marcie Cipriani / T5 Design

Ford used a range of tri-spokes on Mustangs through the years, and they were all crap. Curiously, somebody at Ford decided to shoot some of their better crap tri-spokes with some black paint, then install them on the extremely limited-production 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra R.

To my eyes, at least, the paint worked, so much so that I elected to refinish my own 1995 Mustang GT wheels in the same fashion. Maybe it’s just that black wheels always look good on a red car, but whatever the reason, these black tri-spokes aren’t so bad. And since I don’t have to buy new wheels now, I can afford to get arrested during my Vegas weekend. I can’t wait.

Range Rover Classic

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

I don’t know exactly when the first-generation Range Rover got its tri-spokes, but for reasons I can’t entirely explain, they just seem to look good. Perhaps it’s the thickness of the spokes that give the wheel an almost solid look. It might also be because, like the Cobra R, these wheels are painted. I tend to think it’s just the blockish, functional appearance of the Range Rover being a good fit for the rather blockish, functional wheels.

Mitsubishi 3000GT

6 Cars That Look Good With Tri-Spoke Wheels

Tri-spoke wheels were offered on a Mitsubishi 3000GT? In the later years when sales were falling off, someone at Mitsubishi apparently thought a set of tri-spokes would help turn things around. We all know how that story ends, but surprisingly enough the 3000’s triple-toed feet aren’t unattractive. I actually like them better than the base five stars or seven-spoke wheels, but only because those wheels look positively bargain basement.

1989-1992 Ford Probe

6 Cars That Look Good With Tri-Spoke Wheels

When the Ford Probe debuted in 1989 it was all curvy and futuristic, so it made complete sense for Ford to offer it with wheels that also had something of a futuristic flavour. I’ve seen many first-generation Probes with five-stars and lace wheels, and they look amazing. But the tri-spokes aren’t so bad either, especially on silver or white GT models. It’s a definitive 1980s look for a 1980s car.

Dodge Viper R/T-10

6 Cars That Look Good With Tri-Spoke Wheels

My first experience with tri-spokes took place in 1989, when as a wee lad I saw the Dodge Viper concept car at the Detroit International Auto Show. Like most wee lads of the time, I thought the car was futuristic and awesome and the wheels made it even awesomer (quoted directly from my youthful self). Yes the five-star rims that came out on the GTS coupe in 1996 look better, but the tri-spokes are part of the original Viper’s style and shock value. Given a choice, I’d absolutely keep them.

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Comments

Knightophonix

second gen Probe three spokes weren’t bad either

04/23/2016 - 07:33 |
28 | 2

Actually, I’ve seen older Mazda Family Runabouts (like 323 or 626) with this exact style of three spokes and Starlets came with them from the factory.

04/23/2016 - 08:06 |
0 | 0

I was actually wondering why this car wasn’t on the list. I always thought the 3 point wheels really suited the Probe

10/11/2016 - 13:46 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

This Will work too

04/23/2016 - 07:35 |
62 | 8
Sam Lawler

That S2000 is ugly af in my opinion

04/23/2016 - 07:38 |
22 | 6

Which S2000?

04/23/2016 - 07:58 |
0 | 0
Aiman Rahman

Tri spoke wheels are pretty cool. Especially the Viper R/T’s ones.

04/23/2016 - 07:46 |
0 | 0
Pooft Lee

I think its just extremely difficult to design a 3 spoke wheel. The spokes are separated by more than 90 degrees, and don’t really flow into each other naturally. Whether they look good is hugely dependent on the car too. 90% of the time its just visually upsetting. Occasionally someone figures it all out

04/23/2016 - 08:10 |
142 | 4

My honorable mentions

04/23/2016 - 08:13 |
158 | 4
BünnyRöcket Entertainment

In reply to by Pooft Lee

The angle to be exact is 120 degrees

04/23/2016 - 08:29 |
2 | 2

OMG that is friggin gorgeous

04/23/2016 - 13:53 |
0 | 0
Dominic Angelico

Might I suggest these wheels?

04/23/2016 - 08:22 |
302 | 4

damn do these look good or what

04/23/2016 - 08:44 |
6 | 0

STRAYAAA!!!!

04/23/2016 - 10:12 |
30 | 0

Lol now look at em in the new model

04/23/2016 - 11:06 |
58 | 0

why must you lie? ;) every P plater and his fully sick shitbox VX is running these.

04/24/2016 - 00:35 |
38 | 4
TexasCarSpotter

We all know this should have been on there.

04/23/2016 - 08:30 |
4 | 2

Oh. Hell. No.

04/23/2016 - 16:29 |
4 | 0

I was waiting for this whole setup right here to rear its butt ugly head in the comments. I just refuse to believe that there was at one point, a meeting in some Ford Corporate Head Office in Michigan somewhere, at which a group of people all voted “yes” to this entire thing shown in this picture.

04/26/2016 - 04:11 |
2 | 0
Albanian car guy

this doesn’t look bad either

04/23/2016 - 08:43 |
28 | 14
Left Light Blinker Fluid (The Supra Maniac)

Civic EK9 anyone? Preferably red… :P

04/23/2016 - 08:48 |
0 | 0

They look better on ef imo

04/23/2016 - 12:37 |
0 | 0
Raregliscor1

Can I go out on a limb and say the R34 Skyline looks good on tri spokes too

04/23/2016 - 08:49 |
0 | 0