Question of the day #3 - Are aftermarket tires/rims worth it??

                        In the past year, I have bought 3 sets of aftermarket rims to spruce up a couple of cars.  The sets cost anywhere from $13 to $16 including shipping.  My curiosity was whether these special rims would make the cars a ton better... or at least $13 better.  

                        The best of the 3 ended up on a 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo, 1/24 - by Fujimi.  The car retails for around $25, but usually carries a large overseas shipping rate - so about $35.  Like most exotic cars, the Gallardo packs good exterior detail, but does not have a full engine and very little suspension detail.  You can always count on them to have decent tires and rims, however. 

                        The stock rims are on the orange car to the right.  As five-star rims go, they are very aggressive and new-age, and the tires are among the better you get in models.  The rims on my yellow one (right, bottom) are Aoshima Advan RS-DF that were part of a set of a 3 purchase for $32 (so probably $6).  These rims retail for $14-$16 and in my opinion do not make the Lambo $15 better looking.  That said, I cannot think that these rims don’t look maybe 5 or 6 dollars better.  My Gallardo is quite a bit brighter on the shelf - thanks to the Advan's sparkle.  

                       The trick to all of this, I believe, is to buy the rims in conjunction with something else to bring the price down to realistic.  Otherwise... I think the rim market seems to be too expensive to be worth while.

                       Have a car that looks too good to care about rim cost?  Think it is a worthwhile expenditure?   Let me know!

                                                                                                                OKIE