RAYS’ Tokyo Auto Salon booth this year was a celebration of a very special anniversary, because 2026 marks the 30th of the Volk Racing TE37’s production run. It’s possibly the most iconic, most recognizable and most successful wheel model ever to come out of Japan
To mark the occasion, you’ll be happy to hear that RAYS are producing a special 30th Anniversary line up for 2026. But before we get into that, let’s jog our collective memory a little, and dive into a short history of the Touring Evolution!
I’ve been writing about cars and car culture in Japan for so many years that it won’t come as a surprise, but this is not my first post on the TE37. In fact, 13 years ago I dedicated some space on ‘an old blog’ I used to write for, and put together a little look back at RAYS’s most popular and recognized wheel.
What makes the TE37 incredibly cool is that it was spawned out of pure function. The aim to achieve max rigidity dictated a symmetrical six-spoke design that would equally distribute stresses across the rim. A special alloy mix and forged production further boosted overall performance, with a big selling point of the wheel being its weight, the “37” portion of the name denoting the target weight of the entry-level size, 3.7 kg for the 15×6-inch wheel.
From its launch in 1996 the TE37 was an instant hit, a great deal of its success coming from the fact that it was the wheel of choice in series like Super Taikyu. With every car guy and girl out there wanting to emulate what the race teams did, it didn’t take long to start seeing the six-spoke design in either white or the signature matte bronze finish at every race track in Japan.
That instant connotation with lightweight, strength, performance and of course the link to motorsport turned the TE37 into a default choice for so many people wanting to spice up the looks of their cars.
Fast forward 30 years and it’s pretty crazy to see, but not much has changed. RAYS has continued to evolve the iconic six-spoke design, aiming only at refining the metallurgy, production techniques and finishes and never once meddling with the signature design.
The TE37 is now offered in so many variants it really has to be the most successful wheel model ever. I mean, name one wheel that’s equally at home on an 800 HP Nissan Skyline GT-R in an 18-inch size as it is on a Mercedes-AMG G63 in its biggest 22-inch version. Don’t forget its offroad applications fitted in smaller sizes on a Suzuki Jimny, or in larger diameters on a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Added to the regular line up, for 2026 Volk Racing have released the special 30th Anniversary editions which can either be ordered with either the machined RAYS Engineering/Volk Racing logos on the spokes and rim, or the choice of two sticker versions.
The colors of these SAGA S-Plus TE37s have been kept simple and in line with the 1996 offerings, only offered in either white or matte bronze – the “Almite” finish as RAYS calls it. Both versions will have 30th Anniversary machined on the rim, and will no doubt be a must-have for those wanting to inject that ‘90s look onto their cars!
I think 2026 will be about spotting who has gone for these commemorative TE37s on their car, and I know I want a set!
Can’t believe the TE37s have been out for 30 years. It’s crazy to imagine this wheel has been out for so long yet had a substantial impact on the car scene even in video games and pop culture these are like the go to wheels. Such an iconic design I can see these wheels still being in style for the next 30 years.