Is it finally time to admit HRE Wheels are overpriced and overrated? HRE's 'new' $2100 RS2M & RS3M series
There was a time where HRE Wheels were the most desireable wheels on the market. They had an unbeatable combination of looks, pricing, and performance. Along the way something happened and HRE has moved away from performance and focused more on profit margins.
Their new RS2M and RS3M series of wheels retail for $2100 per rim. Why? What justifies that price tag? Are they lightweight? No. Do the have some sort of technologically advanced materials? No. Do they offer a new or stunning design? No.
Frankly, you would be hard pressed to tell this is a new wheel line unless HRE told you. Here is what HRE's president had to say about them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Peltier 2017
Sometimes less is more. The RS2M and RS3M are for those customers who appreciate the fact that wheel styles don’t always need to be overly complicated to be gorgeous. In an age where wheel styles are getting more and more “fancy”, we recognize that wheels don’t stand alone, but have to work with the design of the car
Translation: We ran out of ideas and this is a cheap way to reintroduce our same old tired designs at a premium.
As a matter of fact, I remember those lines of his on a previous wheel line introduction. He is using the same lines from a 2015 wheel release: http://www.boostaddict.com/content.p...05M-and-RS108M
HRE's president then:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Peltier 2015
The RS1M is a perfect example of how in design, usually less is more. In an era when everyone, including HRE, is moving to more and more aggressive designs, sometimes the more difficult and rewarding challenge is simply finding out how to improve on an icon.
They rearrange a few words, use the same basic press release, and here we are with a 'new' $2100 per wheel line.
When was the last time HRE actually was innovative? Why aren't they offering high performance and lightweight composite rims for some of their exorbitant prices? Do not think BoostAddict has some axe to grind here as the BimmerBoost.com M3 wears HRE wheels. The thing is, when the HRE C90 wheels were purchased eight years ago they were chosen because they were the lightest on the market offering a great blend of performance, strength, weight, looks, and cost. HRE does not even bother to include what the rims weigh any longer.
What happened to the performance aspect? It seems to have taken a similar tumble as their customer service. HRE just seems to be all about squeezing out every last dime by recycling as many tired designs as they can. This is stuff we have all seen before except now we get a higher price tag along with absolutely no performance benefit. BoostAddict was shocked when inquiring about current HRE wheel weights. They haven't gotten lighter, that is for sure.
This article will not change anything nor will any words written by anyone as HRE is a juggernaut and too big to care. However, many enthusiasts do care how they spend their money and this one in particular is going to look elsewhere for a set of performance rims.
