The Delight of Crazy Chinese Wheels (TikTok???)

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
09/04/2020 at 12:08 • Filed to: None

So, I’m starting a bit of a refresh project on my 2012 smart while also building another vehicle into the off-roader of my dreams. Unfortunately, the wheels I want for the refresh project have been out of production since 2013. I’ve been wanting the wheels for as long as I’ve been in love with smarts, so I thought I’d finally make it happen.

However, since the wheels in question are Chinese, chances are they still are in production, but simply under a different name with a different company. Indeed, the last time I saw the wheels were in 2018 and they were flying under a different name. The new company making them improved on the design too, offering more colours and lighter materials. Thus, off to Alibaba!

Alibaba is a lot like Wish, but with even more wacky products. In my wheel search I stumbled upon these TikTok wheels.

Is...is that Peppa Pig as a center cap?

But wait, there’s more! I even found adorable “I LOVE YOU” wheels.

Bear wheels!!

The wheels I’m actually looking for used to be called SM3 from Sport Edition. However, it appears Sport Edition no longer makes them. They are clones of the smart roadster “Spikeline” wheels, which originals are so expensive that getting a set from Europe would cost several Gambler cars. The clones have a similar design, plus neat colour inserts that make them pop. As they were made for smarts, the wheels shipped with every insert that would match every factory panel colour. So you could use the blue inserts to match blue panels, black inserts for black panels, or go nuts and have three different colour inserts on every wheel for a rainbow-ish effect.

When I last spotted them in 2018, they were selling under a brand called “BYT”. BYT managed to lighten these chonky wheels and add many more finishes including chrome and matte finishes. But for whatever reason I cannot find the BYT ones either.

The Chinese aftermarket for smarts is hot. Look at these wheels for the third gens!

Or this wacky steering wheel!

My search continues and I reckon will likely fail. They do occasionally pop up on classifieds so that’s likely where I’ll find them.

DISCUSSION (15)

Nibby > Mercedes Streeter
09/04/2020 at 12:11

put 33" ATs

Mercedes Streeter > Nibby
09/04/2020 at 12:16

I WISH! But this vehicle would barely move under its own power with 33s. I’m aiming for 27-ish sizes.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Mercedes Streeter
09/04/2020 at 12:21

Ronal Bear is for the true hardcore!

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Mercedes Streeter
09/04/2020 at 12:21

Is there a Smart forum where someone could be selling a set?

Nibby > Mercedes Streeter
09/04/2020 at 12:40

doesn’t it barely move anyways? *runs*

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Mercedes Streeter
09/04/2020 at 12:42

Oh snap, knockoff Teddy B ears. Do they come in 20"?

Mercedes Streeter > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
09/04/2020 at 12:44

Oh I’m a moderator at all of the major US smart forums, ha. There’s someone selling a used set, but he’s missing pieces, they’re narrower than I’d want, and he wants new price for them, plus shipping. So I’d rather wait for a better set or continue my search for actual new ones.