Car enthusiasts are known for forever tinkering with their ride. A new intake there, swaybars here, and a turbocharger for the road. Wheels are no exception, and it's not surprising that enthusiasts change them frequently. But when you make the switch to those shiny new BBS wheels, you now have a stack of rims taking up space in the garage. It’s time to list your used wheels for sale. Whether those wheels are OEM take-offs, popular multi-piece aftermarkets, or a wheel with a famous history (that people would care about), you need them out. But you need to know what can make the difference between your wheels sitting for months with terrible asks or a quick sale is as simple as presentation and reach.
Here is how to maximize your profit and get your wheels sold fairly.
1. Deep Clean Before Pictures, shouldn’t need to be said, but you would be shocked at how many people list dirty wheels. That brake dust that you don't notice anymore will hide the finish condition. Take the time to clean them, or get all the time in the world waiting for a sale. But for your first timers, here's how to make them shine.
- Iron Remover: Use a dedicated wheel cleaner with iron remover (the kind that turns purple) to strip baked-on brake dust.
- Polish the Lips: If you have polished aluminum lips, spend 10 minutes with some metal polish on a microfiber towel. A mirror-like shine makes the wheels look significantly more valuable in thumbnails (nobody wants wheels looking like they came out of an attic).
- Remove Old Weights: If the tires are off, remove the old adhesive from wheel weights on the inner barrel for a professional look.
2. Photography That Sells Your main photo is the "hook." Avoid dark garage photos or blurry angles. Literally think people are scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, SHINY.
- The "Face" Shot: Take a straight-on photo of each individual wheel face. Hold the light over it so it is lit up, but your arm isn’t casting a shadow. Also, turn on grid lines on your phone so you can make sure the wheel is centered. Finally, make sure your legs or feet are not in the picture. We suggest putting it on a table of some form to get the best photo possible.
- The "Concave" Angle: If your wheels have aggressive offset or concavity, take a photo from a side angle to show off the depth. This is a huge selling point for enthusiasts.
- Honesty Wins: If there is a curb rash or a nick, take a close-up photo of it. Buyers are far more likely to trust a listing that says "Small rash on Wheel 3 (see photo)" than one that claims "Mint condition" but comes with your history permanently scratched on it.
3. Nail the Specs When someone searches for used wheels for sale, they are usually filtering by size, offset, and bolt patterns. If you omit these, you lose buyers.
- Diameter & Width: (e.g., 18x9.5)
- Offset (ET): This is crucial. A +45 offset fits differently from a +22. If you don't know it, check the back of the hub mounting pad; it is usually stamped there.
- Bolt Pattern: (e.g., 5x114.3, 5x120).
- Center Bore: If you know it, list it. If not, mention what car they came off (e.g., "Came off a 2018 BMW M3").
4. Pricing and Platform Strategy: Where you list matters. General marketplaces are full of "tire kickers" who will offer you $200 for your $2,000 wheels.
- Target Enthusiasts: List on platforms specifically for car people, like WheelPrice. Most non-enthusiasts won’t understand your pricing wheels in the thousands, and will consistently drive your price far below what the wheels are worth. Please put them in front of people that know cars, wheels, and are actively looking; you have a much higher chance of getting a fair price.
- Price Fairly: Remember, selling to enthusiasts means they know how much your wheels are worth normally and can easily factor in wear and tear. So check history and demand for your wheels, so you know the prices enthusiasts are willing to pay
- Factor in Shipping: Shipping heavy wheels is intimidating. WheelPrice simplifies this by partnering with carriers to offer discounted shipping labels, so you don't have to guess the cost or get burned by high shipping fees at the counter.
Conclusion: Selling your wheels doesn't have to be a headache, but it will take a bit of effort. Clean them up, take pictures that you would actually click on, be honest, and put them in front of enthusiasts and turn those used wheels for sale into part of your budget for your next build.