When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This post is predominantly for the archives, considering I struggled to find a direct comparison over the years.
I recently moved from Tramonts to Speedlines and had both wheels with me for a short time to be able to take some side by side photos.
This was not a scientific exercise and I didn't weight them; well aware both are on the heavy end of the spectrum... .
Sizing?
Both sets the same size:
F: 8*18 ET52 on 225/40/18 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres
R: 10*18 ET65 on 265/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres
Which is which?
Monochrome centre caps = Tramont
Coloured centre caps = Speedline
Both wheels are great, but for me, the iconic status and cachet the Speedlines have is justified... they are, to my eye, more visually appealing especially when it comes to the wheel centre/spokes which offer more depth and are more pronounced and curvaceous.
With that said, this thread is not intended to ignite a debate...
Pics:
Front - face on:
Rear - face on:
Front - spoke depth:
Rear - spoke depth:
Similar view, when my car was parked next to a genuine Blood Orange RS CS running Speedlines:
Spokes close up:
Both sets are no longer in my possession so that's all I have.
Thanks for the detailed comparison. I didn’t realise there was that much of a difference but now I know it can’t be unseen. I do like the pronounced curves…
FWIW, I’ve got a new set of Tramonts going on in next two weeks. Will see how I get on and if an upgrade in the future is on the cards.
Curious how the Tramonts held up finish wise since you tend to drive your car a lot?
mine first went on the car in the spring of 2014, about 35k miles on them now…and multiple tire changes later, they still look awesome. Barrels have a few scratches here and there, but the finish on the spokes is still near perfect.
Originally Posted by clib
Great job and will definitely be useful for others as a resource. I am impressed how close the tramonts are.
they are “officially licensed” replicas after all
Originally Posted by abiazis
Speedline more defined design all around.......
either unobtanium or HUGE $$ to have built for WB fittment…without enormous spacers.
I loved the look of mine so much, I had a set built for the Boxster. Still a great wheel for the money.
Curious how the Tramonts held up finish wise since you tend to drive your car a lot?
Good memory!
Although usage has significantly decreased in the post-pandemic era; less travelling/commuting in general but also the arrival of our son means we tend to utilise the family car more often. Not for much longer .
The Tramonts have held up very well indeed. My car as you allude to was used year on year, in all seasons here in the UK. Our roads are really poor here, potholes and poor surfaces everywhere, speed bumps in almost all towns and cities. No issues to report on the wheels in terms of construction, integrity or trueness - cannot fault their longevity. With that said, upon delivery, I coated them with Race Glaze Nano Wheel Sealant. A year or so later when the whole car was being ceramic coated, the wheels were also tended to, with Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour . So they have benefited from 'protection' from the outset. To this day, they were wipe-cleanable.
I didn’t realise there was that much of a difference but now I know it can’t be unseen. I do like the pronounced curves….
Well, yes, this was precisely my issue ... not an issue per se, maybe OCD?
Originally Posted by Hashlove
FWIW, I’ve got a new set of Tramonts going on in next two weeks. Will see how I get on and if an upgrade in the future is on the cards.
They'll serve you well. There's a long running thread on Rennlist for Tramonts - 40+ pages - post up your pics when on the car!
Not sure if you have a NB or WB, but for anyone with the latter, as @Magdaddy suggests, Tramonts are the move because:
(i) Speedlines are typically only available in either (NB) RS fitment, or (very WB) GT fitment, and
(ii) one can spec any size and offset with the Tramonts = perfect for WB owners and/or those seeking aggressive fitment
Originally Posted by Magdaddy
they are “officially licensed” replicas after all.
Was there ever any official documentation to support this notion? Could be useful for this thread/the archives.
@ch3tman ”officially licensed replica” is how I remember them as described. I do not remember if that was part of their marketing way back in mid 2013 when the “need” started for me. First attempt at a group buy back then, ended up with just two sets…both WB builds. My shipping was a complete dumpster fire train wreck tsunami earthquake scenario.
Tramont didn’t handle shipping back then, like now…and there were no North American dealers at the time either.
Another thread on that somewhere…happy ending due to Rennlister connections on that shipping fiasco, naturally.
I've never seen any evidence of the "officially licensed" thing either so I've personally always shrugged that off as internet rumor.
For me the biggest differentiator and immediate tell-tale of identifying Tramonts vs Speedlines is the lips and position of the bolts. In my mind, there isn't even any need to attempt to discern differences in the centers/curves (which are much more subtle) since the lips/bolts can be spotted from a mile away (or at least 50 feet).
The Tramonts have the bolts centered on the flange, while the Speedlines have the bolts offset towards the edge of the flange towards the wheel center (note how there is more "flat" space on the outer side of the bolts towards the outer diameter and barely any space towards the very inner edge where the lip meets the wheel center). The Speedline bolts also have a slightly bigger head and have that zinc flake (dull grey) coating on them, while the Tramonts have bolts with smaller heads that are brightly finished (the older original Tramonts had bolts that looked almost identical to the Speedlines except they didn't have the "SL" engraved on the head). Lastly, the Speedlines also have the same size outer lip front/rear and the angled "step" is very shallow, creating that wider/taller "flat" section which is very distinctive (see reference above about bolt position).
Bonus trivia:
You cannot interchange Speedline lips/centers with Tramonts. The diameters of the centers aren't exactly the same.
Bonus-bonus trivia:
The Speedlines that came on the GT2 for the "extra wide body" fitment have magnesium centers and 30 bolts instead of 40. These are the ones that are NLA/super rare and fetch $15k-20k, yet BaT actions for the NB Speedline wheels have (embarrassingly) fetched comparable numbers even though you can still buy them brand new from Porsche for $9500.
Last edited by boomboomthump; Mar 11, 2025 at 09:35 AM.
These are the ones that are NLA/super rare and fetch $15k-20k, yet BaT actions for the NB Speedline wheels have (embarrassingly) fetched comparable numbers even though you can still buy them brand new from Porsche for $9500.
Not entirely accurate... The 'Speedlines' that are available new directly from Porsche are not the same as the originals. Ronal purchased Speedline a few years ago (I believe they were overseeing production prior to the actual sale) and instigated some changes when Porsche licensed them to build wheels for their Classic Parts company. Easiest to spot are the bolts/bolt heads. I've also heard of several complaints regarding QC.
From what I have seen, the NB sets that sell on BAT for strong money are originals and not the re-pops.
What is different about the bolts? The new ones I've seen looked identical and also had the SL engravings?
On BaT I've seen sets that were made just a few years ago (~2019), long after Ronal bought the tooling. AFAIK, it's just different people making them using the existing tooling/methods.
What is different about the bolts? The new ones I've seen looked identical and also had the SL engravings?
Thats correct - the new Ronal's certainly do have the SL stampings in the bolt heads, however this is not the original stamping that Speedline used. Of course, the stampings on the back side of the centers and barrel stickers are different too.
I remember Jim Dorociack rattling off a number of other issues with the Ronal's when he was restoring a set of polished 3.6's for me a few years ago but I don't recall the other details.
I'm no purist, but I guess for those that want to maintain originality the $6-7k delta between the new / original Speedlines is worth it.
Original Speedline bolts - note the crowned shape and also logo design in the stamping (my wheels were refinished by Dorociak, so no clearcoat on the bolts - which is not correct but more practical):
New Ronal bolts - with the SL stamping and flatter head shape:
Last edited by Nurburger; Mar 11, 2025 at 10:37 PM.
9 Vehicles Porsche Helped Engineer that Aren't Porsches
Slideshow: Long before engineering consulting became trendy, Porsche was quietly helping other automakers build everything from supercars to economy hatchbacks.
9 Features and Characteristics That Only Porsche People Understand
Slideshow: Some brands build cars. Porsche builds traditions, obsessions, and a few habits that stopped making sense decades ago but somehow became part of the charm.
This Builder Is Turning Heads With Its Slantnose 911 Creation
Slideshow: A small Polish tuner has reimagined the Porsche 911 Slantnose for the modern era, blending 1980s nostalgia with widebody tuning culture and serious performance upgrades.
Porsche 911 GT3 Artisan Edition Pays Homage to Japanese Culture
Slideshow: Porsche has created a Japan-only 911 GT3 Artisan Edition that blends track-ready hardware with design cues inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
Porsche Reveals Coupe Variant of the Electric Cayenne With a Fresh Look
Slideshow: Porsche's latest electric Cayenne Coupe blends dramatic styling with supercar acceleration, turning the brand's midsize SUV into a 1,139-horsepower flagship.
Speedline vs Tramont | A Visual Comparison
.
Front - face on:
.
