Fuel Wheels: What We Love About This Off-Road Legend

There’s nothing wrong with zipping around town in a sedan or taking your SUV down the highway, sunroof open. But there’s nothing truly exhilarating about it either. The true adrenaline junkie knows that you’ll need something with a little extra kick to get the blood pumping.

Taking a Jeep or pick-up through the desert, snow, mud, or rocky terrain can make you feel filled with power, and supporting your vehicle with the best off-road rims is the way to go. And there’s really no wheel manufacturer that understands off-road terrain like Fuel.

Fuel Wheels is a frontrunner in tough and rough tires that just look awesome. If you’re in the market for a fresh set of tires, these guys might be a pretty solid option.

So What are Fuel Wheels All About?

Fuel’s got a pretty short history despite being such a huge name in off-road tires. They were established in 2009 by MHT Luxury Alloys, which provides the metals for many manufacturers, including Rotiform, Dub, Niche, and more. 

MHT branching out into the off-road world was actually a bit of risk for them, as every one of their other brands was focused on luxury and sport. With that said, it worked in their favor because Fuel continues to be one of the most respected off-road brands in the country.

MHT subjects every wheel to a detailed assessment via computer simulations to ensure that every design and sized wheel meets strict quality standards. 

While they’re known for their applications on your trophy truck, they also make tons of different attachments for UTVs and other off-road specific vehicles. Plus, they’re continually innovating with the materials they use and the designs of their wheels, so there’s something here for every off-road enthusiast, big or small.

What Makes Their Wheels So Great?

Fuel’s wheels are some of the best in the game. If you’re a bit of a pick-up connoisseur, you’re probably already familiar with everything that this brand has to offer. 

Built to Last

Off-road wheels need to be built with sturdier materials than a typical road vehicle, so it’s a good thing that Fuel excels in this department. One of the biggest stand-outs is their Forged line, which is machined from 6061 T-6 aluminum alloy, coming in 20-inch and 30-inch diameters. 6061 aluminum has become the unspoken standard for off-road tires, but Fuel’s stand out as the largest lifted truck forgings on the market today.

These come in 1-piece options for the bargain hunters out there, but their 2-piece options for those who are really looking to kick things up a notch. All of these also come at a very fair price point compared to other brands, especially since the quality of their 2-piecers is similar to multi-piece units on the market.

Their dual line is great, too, because they make tailored bolt-on wheels that fit right onto your vehicle. So you won’t need to worry about spacers or adaptors. 

Unique Styles

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that Fuel has become so popular is because of the sheer number of different styles they offer. There are thousands of different options that you can choose from to make your pickup awesome.

And the customization options that come with their 2-piece wheels are pretty killer. You can customize the center and outer lip independently from the barrel, so you can have some freedom to experiment with different colors and styles as you see fit.

Look at these Hardline rims in candy red, for example. This is a sick-looking wheel that will never go unnoticed if you drove it down the street. And you can pretty much say the same thing about every other wheel that they have to offer -- they’re just that good-looking.

But one of the reasons why Fuel may have gained popularity so quickly from the start is because of their Deep Lip wheels. These are those tires that sort of jut out from underneath the car. It makes any lifted truck or SUV look a lot cooler than it once did. The deep lip wheels were pretty unique at the time, and they continue to add new styles into this category for never-ending aesthetic opportunities.

They even make wheels specifically designed for off-road utility vehicles. From their classic one-piecers to fully customizable forged options, they leave no stone left unturned. It’s further proof as to why Fuel is such a respected name in all things off-road.

Fresh Rims Every Year

One of the best things about Fuel is that they are constantly innovating and updating their wheel styles. In fact, Fuel puts out at least five new variations every single year. And in 2021, their catalog has become even more expansive, with more than 10 new styles to choose from.

Despite only being out for a little over ten years, the variety here is pretty unmatched. These Blitz wheels are new for this year, and they’ve got that super-rugged feel. But it’d be pretty tough to find something here that didn’t match your own personal preference.

Pretty Prices

Typically huge, beastly off-road tires are pretty expensive. It makes sense, considering the amount and quality of materials that need to be perfect to withstand the toughest terrain. However, Fuel’s prices are very fair compared to most of the competition.

Especially when considering the quality of each wheel and rim that you purchase, getting a set of four for under $1,000 is hard to find. It can still be hard to justify spending that much money on a new set of tires.

You’ve got enough student debt to pay off, so let’s not make your bank account feel even worse. You can use a rent-to-own tire service like Rent A Wheel to save money, time, and energy when it comes to getting yourself some cool Fuel wheels. Sure, you can pay upfront in cash, but you can also choose from a flexible payment plan that won’t put such a drastic dent in your wallet.

What Makes Their Tires So Great?

Fuel knows they’ve got a stronghold on the off-road industry, so they don’t just stop at wheels and rims. Now, they have their very own Gripper tire that you can toss onto any of your existing rims.

Their main attraction here is the Gripper X/T, which has an intricate, deep, and unique tread design meant to get you through the thickest types of terrain. It features some super aggressive lugs with an equally intense sidewall design, so it’s one of those tires that can lift you out of a sticky situation when needed.

Those X/T tires might be out of the price point for you, but their A/T and M/T designs are just as great. While they don’t have the same aggressive treads as the X/T, they’re a surprisingly quiet ride when driving on the asphalt that stands between you and your next adventure.

All of them feature small sipes to help reduce heat generation while in use, and their deep treads can really help decrease wear and tear as you drive. Their tires are built to last just as long as their wheels. So combining the two might be a match made in heaven.

Why Fuel is Cool

We love all tires equally, but we’ve got a bit of a soft spot for big beauties like Fuel’s off-road lineup. When a company as new as Fuel can make such big waves in the automotive industry in just a few years, you know they’ve got to be good.

The main attractions here are their Forged tires made of high-quality aluminum. And with 1 to 2 piece options, the price ranges and customization options are endless. But considering there are thousands of choices to pick from, since they’re continually updating their catalog yearly, you may just find the perfect fit without needing to add your own personal touch.

They’ve also started rolling out their own line of tires, which are meant to work as perfect accompaniments to your off-road truck or Jeep. Classic, deep treads prove that they put just as much thought into the quality of their rubber as they do with their metal.

When you’re ready to take your adventure vehicle to the next level, Fuel’s got your back. If we see you driving down the road with these bad boys under your truck, we’ll be sure to get out of your way.

Sources:

Grade Anatomy: Aluminum 6061 | Ryerson.com

How Engineers Figure Out The Right Tread Patterns For Your Truck Tires | Fleet Equipment Magazine

Red Light, Green Light: Forces of Friction, Roads & Tires | TeachEngineering.org