With AI becoming more relevant in our day to day lives, we have naturally started to keep an eye out for when things just seem a bit ‘off’. Uncanny Valley as we call it. Well that’s the exact feeling we got when we got our hands on the Volk Racing NE24. Right out of the gate something didn’t feel right. On the surface it looks like another killer wheel from Rays and Volk Racing, but the more you look at it, the more you realize this wheel is actually kind of weird. Volk wheels are a staple in motorsports and enthusiast builds alike. However, the Volk Racing NE24 is a bit different. It breaks the mold with an asymmetrical design that makes it stand out from just about every other wheel on the market. But is that a good thing? Or is it different just to be different?
The NE24 isn’t your typical split-spoke or mesh wheel. Instead, it features a unique 2×4 spoke design that lacks symmetry depending on the way you look at it. If you were to try and line up each of the spokes with the spoke across from it you will soon realize that none of them are aligned and it will start to hurt your brain. However, pair the spokes into 4 groups of 2, and it will start to make more sense. The problem however, is trying to fit a 5-lug bolt pattern into a split 4 spoke design. It doesn’t work the best, and ends up adding another layer of asymmetry to the overall design. Causing an overall divide amongst the MartiniWorks crew on whether or not this wheel looks good, or is just too confusing to handle.
At first glance, the NE24 may seem unconventional, even odd. But that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s a wheel that challenges traditional styling norms, offering a fresh take on lightweight performance-focused wheels
Like all Volk Racing wheels, the NE24 is constructed using RAYS’ advanced forging technology. This method results in an ultra-strong yet incredibly lightweight wheel, perfect for reducing unsprung weight and improving vehicle handling. The NE24 benefits from Volk’s signature 10,000-ton forging process, which ensures high-density material structure without excess weight. This means you get a wheel that is not only durable but also capable of withstanding the rigors of aggressive driving, whether on the street or track.
As an addition to the recent “N” generation of Rays sports wheels, the NE24 achieves all the certifications you have come to expect from Rays. The NE24 is JWL+R Spec2 certified.
The NE24 is offered in a variety of 18” and 19” sizes to cater to most modern Japanese Sport Tuner cars as well as some European performance cars.
These sizes make the NE24 an excellent choice for performance-oriented vehicles looking for a lightweight, track-ready setup.
Thanks to its versatile sizing and performance-driven construction, the NE24 is a popular choice among sports car owners and track-day enthusiasts. Some of the most common vehicle applications include:
Volk Racing keeps the NE24’s finish options relatively simple but refined, allowing the wheel’s unique design to speak for itself. Like the majority of our closets, Volk has decided to stick with shades of Black and Grey. Giving you the option between:
Listen, it is dang near impossible for anyone to go out there right now and try to come up with an original wheel design that hasn’t been done. So sometimes that means making something that steps way out of the mold to be able to do so. When it comes to the Volk NE24 there is a lot to like. It’s another performance oriented single piece forged wheel from Rays that comes in some very popular sizes. And if you can get your mind to work around the optical illusion that is the design of the NE24, it is in fact a great wheel. But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.
It may be weird. It may be different. But that’s exactly why it’s awesome.
Alex Gelina "Also Known as Gels"
