Huge Forgiato wheels give this supercharged Jeep a unique, yet controversial look.
The huge wheel openings of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk coupled with the popularity of the supercharged sport utility vehicle make it a popular model for showcasing massive aftermarket wheels. With this in mind, it comes as little surprise that Forgiato has chosen a Trackhawk to show off a set of their huge custom wheels on their official YouTube channel, but the resulting look is one that many people do not appreciate.
Big Power, Big Wheels
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is the quickest, fastest and most powerful sport utility vehicle in the world, with the supercharged Hemi delivering 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. This SRT-designed machine also has a massive Brembo braking package and a track-tuned suspension setup that makes it almost as impressive in in turning as it is on a long straightaway.
The Trackhawk comes with package-specific, lightweight 20-inch wheels wrapped in 295/45ZR20 performance tires at all four corners. This wheel/tire combo plays a role in the impressive performance of the supercharged Grand Cherokee, but there are lighter wheels and stickier tires on the market. As a result, many Trackhawk owners will install new wheels and tires, but the odds are good that those Jeep owners focused on improved performance won’t be opting for these huge Forgiato rollers.
Red GTR Wheels
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in the video above is fitted with a set of Forgiato GTR wheels with a full-red custom design. The entire wheel is finished in bright red, and while the company doesn’t state the wheel size on the video, the Facebook album with the images shown here show 26- or 28-inch versions of the GTR wheel.
There is no question that these huge, red wheels give the Trackhawk a unique look, but many people in the performance community don’t care for the look. The low profile tires aren’t likely to offer the grip that you would get from something on a slightly smaller wheel, so some Jeep fans dislike the fact that these wheels likely reduce performance while others are concerned that the massive amount of Hemi torque being channeled through those thin spokes will damage the wheels.
Negativity aside, the Forgiato GTR in red looks sharp on the white Trackhawk, although a smaller wheel might offer a similar look without any compromise in performance.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
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