Wheel Lips & Barrels

Curb rash, corrosion, and dated finishes can sideline an otherwise great set of multi-piece wheels. Replacing the wheel lips is often the fastest way to bring a set back to show condition without sourcing an entire new wheel package. Whether you are stretching a deep-dish look on a refresh project or rebuilding a damaged corner, the lip is the component that defines the front face of the wheel and the most visible part once the car is on the ground.

Ehrlich Wheel Works stocks wheel lips in a wide range of diameters, widths, and step profiles to match popular two-piece and three-piece wheel constructions. We carry standard, deep, and reverse mount options, with sizing that supports common three-piece platforms used on European performance cars, JDM builds, and American muscle restorations. From 15-inch classic fitments to 19 and 20-inch modern setups, the catalog above covers the diameter and width combinations enthusiasts ask for most.

Matching Wheel Lips and Barrels for a Cohesive Build

Sourcing wheel lips and barrels together saves time and ensures the bolt circle, step pattern, and finish all line up cleanly when the wheel is reassembled. Mixing components from different manufacturers can introduce sealing issues or visual mismatches at the seam, especially on polished or chrome finishes where any inconsistency stands out. We carry hardware from established suppliers so the inner barrel, outer lip, and center disc fit together the way the wheel was originally engineered.

Custom wheel barrels are available in a range of widths to support staggered setups, where rear wheels run wider than the fronts for a more aggressive stance and improved traction on rear-wheel-drive cars. If you are running a staggered application, our non BBS wheels collection carries complete sets with matching barrel and lip configurations already validated for popular chassis. For BBS owners specifically, lip and barrel sizing varies by series, so confirming your wheel model before ordering prevents fitment headaches during reassembly.

Finish Options and Hardware

Most wheel lips ship in raw or polished aluminum, giving you the option to finish them yourself or send them to a professional polisher for a mirror result. Brushed, anodized, and gloss black powder-coated finishes are also available on select sizes. ARP bolts, sealing rings, and valve stems are stocked alongside the lips so you can complete a rebuild in one order rather than hunting down small parts across multiple suppliers. Once your lips and barrels are ready, the final visual touch is often the cap, and our custom center caps collection offers floating and fixed options to match the finish you choose.

Get the Right Lip the First Time

If you are unsure which size lip your wheels take, send us your wheel model and current width and we will confirm the correct part before you check out. Multi-piece wheel rebuilds reward patience and accurate measuring, and our team is here to help you avoid the common mistakes that turn a refresh project into a parts return cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you correctly measure a wheel lip for replacement?

Lip width is measured from the mounting surface where the lip meets the center disc to the bead seat, not from the outer edge of the lip flange. Tires need to be dismounted for an accurate reading because the rubber covers the bead area. So an 18x9 wheel built with a 2.5-inch lip and a 6.5-inch barrel will read as 9 inches bead-to-bead, with each component measured from its mounting face to its bead seat. Measuring outer edge to inner edge is the most common mistake and produces a number that does not match how lip and barrel parts are actually catalogued.

Will adding a wider wheel lip change my offset and how much poke I get?

Yes, and this trips up a lot of first-time builders. Going from a 2.5-inch lip to a 3.5-inch lip on the same barrel will add an inch of width entirely to the outside of the wheel, which both widens the wheel and reduces the offset by roughly half the added width. The result is a more aggressive stance with the wheel face sitting further out toward the fender. Use a split-rim offset calculator before ordering to confirm the new fitment will clear your fenders at full suspension travel and lock-to-lock steering.

Can you mix polished wheel lips with a powder-coated center disc?

You can, and a lot of popular builds use a polished outer lip paired with a black, gunmetal, or bronze center face for visual contrast. The thing to confirm is that the lip finish you order is genuinely polished aluminum rather than chrome plated, since true chrome finishes can react differently with the silicone sealant used at the lip-to-barrel seam over time. Stick with polished or anodized outer lips for the most reliable long-term seal.