Apr 18th 2025
Are ESR Wheels really worth it?
This is our Worth It series, where we cut through the hype, and hate, to see if a product is worth your hard-earned money.
Today’s topic is ESR Wheels–known in the past for offering bargain-priced cast aluminum replica wheels at insane prices. ESR has repositioned itself in the market by now offering flow-formed wheels; these boast lighter weight, higher strength, and even more ‘original’ designs (though it’s hard to make something completely new in 2025).
Audi S3 with ESR RF2
So, are they still just ‘cheap reps’, or have they genuinely stepped up? We’re taking a deep dive into their history, from the days of ESR being criticized as a copycat brand to what they’ve evolved into. This will include their engineering, performance, cost/value ratio, and most importantly, ‘Are they worth it?’.
We pulled info from ESR themselves for official information, as well as reviews from enthusiasts who’ve owned ESR products for boots-on-the-ground reviews. This isn’t the end-all-be-all on ESR Wheels, but rather it’s our balanced, research-driven take.
Quick link
The history of ESR Wheels
‘Old’ ESR
What we’re going to refer to as ‘old ESR’ was a brand that made cast wheels. These were redolent of wheels from well-known brands like BBS, Work, and Volk Racing. Some might even say they looked too similar… “”REPS!””.
To be fair, there’s nothing inherently wrong with cast wheels or wheels that resemble other wheels (how many ways can you really make a wheel?). We’re not going to get into the reps vs real wheel topic–we already made a whole video on it.
The big draw of ESR at this time was the cost. You could pick up a set for around $800. This appealed to stance car guys or budget-minded owners who wanted the look without the premium price tag of ‘real’ wheels.
Is ESR’s rebranding more than just… marketing?
In recent years there was a shift to what we’re calling ‘new ESR’. This was marked by the release of new flow-formed wheels dubbed their RF-series, followed by their APX line.
S2000 on ESR RF11
Wheels made with flow-formed technology boast improved strength-to-weight ratios. The brand now markets these as a street+performance solution. Naturally, these are going to cost a bit more, but are priced competitively against other wheels like Work or Forgestar. And yes, they still offer their bread ‘n butter cast wheels, although even the cheapest sets cost over $1K these days (thanks inflation!).
With these new product lines, ESR looks to shake the replica brand stigma. While some of the new wheels draw inspiration from other popular designs, they’re increasingly marketing original styles and better manufacturing processes. They’ve effectively repositioned themselves in the mid-tier or premium-entry-level categories, alongside the likes of Enkei, AodHan, and similar brands.
ESR Forged wheels
We haven't touched on it yet, but ESR also has a line of multi-piece forged wheels. These wheels are 100% made in the USA, in their warehouse in Brea, CA. 2P and 3P wheels have great strength, but otherwise aren’t the best for track use because of their weight.
PSA: If you want hardcore track wheels, you should really be looking at RFP1s.
3P wheels are, however, great for the show scene. @esrforged has its own brand with its own social media presence, but because of its proximity to the OG brand, it should help alleviate the rep wheel stigma over enough time.
How do ESR wheels perform?
Their flow-formed wheels typically perform somewhere in the middle of the pack, but some, like the APX-line, stand out. These can be super, super light; as in, lighter than comparable Gram Lights. ESR doesn’t push this too much but it’s a huge thing to know, especially if your car will be seeing track duty.
High-end wheel brands have certifications. Does ESR? Yup, they’re JWL and VIA certified which helps to mitigate concerns of structural integrity, however, real-world durability depends on the specific and how it’s used. They have not sought TÜV approval, but this isn’t a huge deal considering TÜV is mostly connected with the Euro. This shouldn’t be a huge negative.
GRC on ESR AP6
Feedback from customers has generally been positive. Those who switched from older cast to newer flow-formed wheels often praise the noticeable weight reduction and build quality. Some remain skeptical about how well these wheels will hold up if used aggressively on track. But, as of now, this is still just speculation.
Yes, you can find cases of broken ESR wheels. Any wheel, or anything at all, has a breaking point. Keep this in mind when browsing forums.
On the contrary, there are a lot of users who have tested for autocross, circuit racing, and other motorsports, claiming that these hold up great to occasional track use–hitting track curbs and stuff like that.
All in all, they’re still not forged. Continuous heat cycling and curb riding can do a number on flow-formed wheels. More serious track junkies will usually opt for something like Rays or BBS. If you do use these on track, keep an eye on them for cracks or other damage, just like any other wheel.
Who are ESR wheels for?
If they don’t make wheels for track junkies, then who? They stay true to their roots by focusing on value-minded enthusiasts. If you want an affordable cast or flow-formed wheel, ESR’s got you covered. These wheels can be found on stance cars, weekend warriors, and daily drivers. You may not win any car shows with cast ESRs, but they’re offered in a variety of finishes and aggressive specs, so they can absolutely give you the stance look.
If you’re moderately interested in performance but can’t drop 3-4K on a set of fully forged monoblock wheels, ESR’s APX-line offers a decent compromise; these are an excellent bang-for-buck proposition.
Here’s how we score ESR wheels
We’re going to score both cast and flow-formed product lines of ESR, this will be from a scale of 1-10 for various categories (10 being the best).
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ESR wheel score |
||
|
Cast: CR, CS, SR + more |
Flow-formed: APX & RF |
|
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Build quality |
7 |
8 |
|
Performance & functionality |
6 |
8 |
|
Cost vs benefit |
9 |
9 |
|
Aesthetics |
7 |
7 |
|
Brand reputation |
6 |
4 |
|
Ownership experience |
7 |
8 |
|
Total |
7 |
7.3 |
We give their cast wheels a 7/10
They're a solid mid-range option that is still very affordable. They are lighter than your stock wheels, so you’ll gain performance, but still not as much as a higher quality cast wheel, like say an Enkei PF06. Now, the set of Enkies will set you back another 200 bucks–nothing to sneeze at–which is why the cost vs benefit is a 9/10.
There aren’t a ton of finish options, but that’s okay because the specs are very good, ranging from 17” to 20” diameters with aggressive offset. For Aesthetics, they get a 7/10.
We give their flow-formed wheels a 7.3/10
We went with a lower score for brand rep and here’s why: if you’re getting cast for your daily, you could probably care less if someone calls your wheels reps. Now, if you paid a bit more for flow-formed wheels, you’ll probably care a bit more, especially if they’re one of the more original designs. If brand reputation doesn’t matter to you, then these would score an overall 8/10.
Aesthetics get the same score (7/10) as these come in similar specs and finish options.
Where they make up ground is in build quality, performance, and ownership experience. To the last point, people who owned cast wheels and upgraded are almost always happy they did so. Some models are lighter than comparable Gram Lights, but still can’t touch the all-mighty RFP1–performance gets an 8/10 (and that’s against other flow-formed wheels).
Wrap up
ESR stands as a solid mid-tier option, especially if budget is a priority. If want a different look from OEM wheels, their cast lines are great. These are excellent for a first set of wheels, something for a drift car, or just a fresh look that doesn’t break the bank.
If you have the cash, you should consider the APX or RF lines, even if they won’t see track use. The engineering and design work that goes into these is well worth the extra $200-400. With these, you can also go for a more original design, although, beware, people will call them ‘reps’ just because of the logo on ‘em.
If you’re looking for a set of ESRs, we got ‘em. We can bundle them with tires and ship them straight to your door–no tire shop needed!