The History Of WORK Wheels
Jan 19th 2024
Do you want the TikTok kids to stop bullying you for having reps? Then WORK Wheels are what you need. WORK is one of the most sought after wheel brands in the world, building some of the finest wheels on the market.
Where it started
Osaka, Japan. 1977, Takeshi Tanaka founded WORK Wheels. The name ‘Work’ was derived from his saying: “If you work hard, anything can be achieved”. Tanaka and his partners certainly lived up to the name, rapidly expanding the company in the coming decades.
In 1979 they opened their first 3-piece wheel factory in Osaka, one year later they opened a new headquarters. With the extra capabilities and the company gaining momentum, WORK Wheels made the plunge into motorsports by founding Team Equip in 1982. Expansion continued in the next years with offices being set up outside the home city. Various production facilities and offices were established in Fukuoka, Kanagawa, Sendai and Hiroshima. In 1983, just 5 years after Tanaka started the company, WORK Wheels was exporting products to the USA.
One of their first hit product lines was the WORK ‘Emotion’, starting in 1985. This lineup had some of the most iconic models such as the CR KAI, T5R and T7R, to name a few. The difference between Emotion and previous lines was affordability; this was WORK’s first affordable cast product, making it available to the mass market.
Growth continued through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. A second factory was established in Shiki, then later a third in Okayama - sales offices popped up in Nagoya, Okayama, Niigata, Omiya, Sapporo and Kanazawa.
A second breakthrough came with the launch of the Meister series - possibly their most recognizable line, including wheels such as the S1 3P. The S1 3-Piece has been sold, virtually unchanged, for the better part of 30 years - and it’s still one of the most popular wheels.
Another significant date in WORK’s history came in 2003 when they sought and achieved the ISO9001 quality standard certification. This meant their facilities had to meet meticulous internationally approved standards for cleanliness and production quality. At this point, people knew they had a state-of-the-art operation, but now they had the receipts to prove it.
The most popular models
WORK’s early models, such as the Equip series, were focused on small-diameter racing wheels, similar to what Hayshki and SSR were making at the time. The Equip line featured a four-spoke design, originally monoblock only. Since launch, the wheels have evolved to multi-piece, however, the styling (spokes) are almost identical to that of the ’70s. Recently, in the 2020’s, WORK released the Equip 40-Series, harkening back to the original look but in a modern product.
The Brand really hit its stride in the late ‘90s to early 2000s with favorites such as the Meister and VS lineups. From these, we got instant classics like the Meister S1 3P, VS-KF, VS-XX and more. If you ask someone about WORK, the wheel they will probably know is the Meister S1. This wheel was first used in Japan Grand Touring Car (JGTC) racing with center-lock only mounting. It quickly evolved into one of their most popular street models. Who doesn’t love a good 5-spoke?
Fun fact: The reason why Meister S1s don’t come with a center cap is because of the original design for center-lock applications.
The Emotion lineup, WORK’s bread and butter, launched about 10 years before some of these more recent successes. This line has evolved over the years. It originated from simple cast products, like CR KAI, but has grown into more complex, multi-piece offerings like the CR 2P, CR 3P, T5R 2P, T7R 2P and many more. While multi-piece versions are available, they didn’t replace the OGs - you can still pick up entry-level, flow-formed wheels for around $1800.
But what makes them so good and are they worth it?
Now you know who they are and what they make. But should you buy them?
When you are shopping for wheels, remember this - WORK focuses on strength above all. People might say “Volk makes em’ lighter, SSR uses hollow spokes…” WORK focuses on strength,and this is why you can find vintage sets that are 30+ years old, still going strong. If you invest in a brand-new set of Meister L1 3P you can rest assured they will last as long as your car (if not longer).
WORK was the first wheel manufacturer to utilize what they call an ‘on-demand production’ system. Other manufacturers, for example, SSR and Hayashi, produced wheels only to store them in a warehouse. WORK, on the other hand, built their wheels as the customers needed, on demand. This bespoke approach allowed them to pay special attention to each individual order, ensuring the customer gets the perfect product for their application. WORK effectively pioneered the modern wheel manufacturing process.
But the innovation didn’t stop there. They were one of the first to use what they call WFT (WORK Forming Technology), typically called ‘flow-forming’ in the industry today. This manufacturing process involves placing a cast center disk into a turning machine where the barrel is extruded outward. This is how single-piece wheels like the CR KAI are produced. This results in a stronger, yet lighter product, all while maintaining the cost-savings that come from casting.
So what about their 3-piece wheels, those must be out of my budget. Right? No, WORK tries to keep costs down on everything. Utilizing a cast center disk with a forged/spun lip & barrel, costs are kept relatively low compared to other multi-piece wheel manufacturers.
Key takeaways
Their single-piece flow-formed wheels start around $1500 for smaller diameters (15-16”), while multi-piece forged wheels can range around $3000-4000. This might sound like a lot for a set of wheels, but remember, they’re built to last. On top of this, they only make timeless designs, no gimmicks or fads - as we have seen, their earliest product lines are still sold to this day.
The company has been around for close to 50 years building some of the finest wheels on the planet. They have become one of the most respected brands in the space, and not just the JDM space. In fact, WORK has such a wide reach, it’s not uncommon to see them on all types of cars: USDM, Euro, Korean, you name it…
Considering wheels are one of the most important stylistic and functional components of your car, the investment is well worth it. If strength and style are what you’re looking for, WORK might be the brand for you.