6 Cool Aftermarket Wheel Options of the Mk1 Audi TT

1. O.Z. Racing Ultraleggera

The wheels Audi installed on Mk1 TTs are tasteful, solid units—but they're not everyone's idea of rolling excitement. Not a problem, there are few aftermarkets more alive than the one for wheels, making it easy to shed some weight and add some flair to your ride—or keep an extra set of extra-sticky lightweight wheels/tires on hand for track days. Before we get started, let's clarify a few points. Point 1: Do not use wheel spacers or bolt pattern adapters. They aren't safe, they aren't allowed in competition, and manufacturers don't recommend them; the last thing you want to do is bolt an extra piece of metal between the road and your car and ask your brakes to pull it apart every time you step on the pedal. Point 2: Your TT is designed to run wheels that center on the hubs, most aftermarket wheels have oversize centerbores and require a centerbore adapter to fit them to your car's hub. Point 3: It's personal preference what size wheel you want to run so we aren't recommending sizes.

It's no surprise to see racing wheel standby O.Z. make our list. The more affordable cast cousin to O.Z. Racing's premium forged Superleggera line, O.Z.'s Ultraleggera wheels are just that: ultra light. In 17x7.5, Ultraleggeras weigh in at a scant 17 lbs (or 18.5 lbs in 18x8)—compare that to around 28 lbs each for the stock TT rims, or 29.5 for pricey OEM Audi RS4 18-inch wheels. The look is classic and they reportedly hold up well to less-than-ideal road conditions. And hey, it's not an Mk, but it's still nice to see O.Z. put the yellow TT above in their gallery.

2. Enkei RPF1

Want a wheel that's both lighter and cheaper than the O.Z.s? Enkei's RPF1 weighs 15.5 lbs in 17x8, and can be had for about 40 bucks cheaper a pop than the Italian O.Z.s. The closer-spaced dual-six spoke design isn't quite as contemporary as some of the other options on this list, but it's hard to beat the price-to-performance ratio offered by this Japanese-made wheel.

3. BBS LM

For those with deep pockets, it's hard to beat another storied racing brand: BBS. Available from 17- all the way up to 20-inch sizes, their classic racing wheel, the Forged Line LM, comes in one finish and one finish only: Brilliant Silver. This ten-into-twenty spoke design weighs around 21 lbs in a standard-width 18-inch size and is perfect for the single-minded enthusiast in you. If you want a similar design, in your choice of chic colors/finishes, for less than half of the price of the LMs, and can put up with an extra couple of pounds per corner, consider going with BBS's CH line.

4. Watanabe Cyclone

Need to be different at any cost? Watanabe's Cyclone forged magnesium wheels might be just the thing for you. Expensive, difficult to get outside of Japan, and with a style best described as 'an acquired taste', these wheels are just this side of unobtainium—the light side, seeing as they weigh at least a pound less than any other wheel on this list.

5. B-Forged

If you want something as exclusive as Watanabe but don't want scour the earth to find it, American company B-Forged offers wheels in a variety of up-to-the-minute styles available with different lip configurations that allow for that concave look. Aimed more at the show set than the racing world, the construction of the wheels is nevertheless exemplary, with forged centers and spun rims. Weight depends on configuration and so does price—though your looking at well over $1000 a corner for these puppies.

6. Enkei RSM9

If you aren't a fan of the dated design of the RPF1 Enkei's, a more eye-pleasing design option—there's just something about odd-number spoke counts—could be their RSM9 design. Weighing about a pound more than the RPF1, and retailing at between $50-$100 more depending on finish, beauty takes a toll, but prices are still less than half of popular forged options. Whichever option you choose, buyers of most of the wheels mentioned here report that they could immediately feel the difference in performance after changing from a stock rim, and the upgraded aesthetics are undeniable.