Of all the upgrades available to a car model, new wheels give back the most for the least effort. Swap the simplified wheels from the box for accurately rendered rims with proper tyres and the model immediately gains the stance and the credibility of the real car. The range covers rally machines, circuit cars and road classics, mostly in 1:24 and, for single-seaters, in 1:20. You can buy complete sets, replacement tyres on their own, or deep-tread wet-weather variants. Choosing between them is the subject below.
Wheels in a basic kit are a compromise. Spokes are thickened to suit the mould, the tread is shallow, and the rim often does not match the particular version of the car. Separate wheel sets solve all three. You get finely rendered spokes, correct dimensions and a pattern specific to one era or one competition, and for racing subjects, variants to suit different surfaces.
Real cars changed rims from season to season, which is why sets usually name a specific car, event or year. On rally machines, watch the difference between tarmac and gravel specification: the width and the tyre tread are not the same.
The overwhelming majority of sets are aimed at 1:24 and 1:25 car model kits, and for single-seaters you will also find wheels in 1:20 car model kits territory. The name of a set normally states which kit it is intended for, which is how you know it will fit without surgery.
Complete sets hold rims and tyres, usually including a spare. Tyres on their own are useful when you want to keep the original rims, and deep-tread wet sets give a rainy-race diorama exactly the right atmosphere.
Resin rims sand and drill easily and take cyanoacrylate well, so they are forgiving if a hub needs opening out. Turned metal rims arrive with a finish you cannot brush on, and only need masking during the final clear coat. Rubber tyres want degreasing before anything is painted on the sidewall, otherwise lettering refuses to key. Whatever the material, dry-fit all four corners on the chassis before you commit: ride height and stance are far easier to correct before the glue goes on than after.
The full overview of upgrades is in accessories for car and formula models.
