If you’re looking to change the look of your vehicle, nothing can do more than adding a set of aggressive off-road wheels. With so many options available out there, however, it can be hard to narrow down what you want. Fortunately, Lock Off-Road has a wide range of designs.
I went with the Olympus in Matte Bronze, as I believe the classic 6-spoke design and simulated bead lock add to the rugged design of the Tacoma. The color perfectly complements my Cement Grey paint, and I couldn’t be happier with the overall look. Lock is a newer company to the wheel scene, but they’ve been popping up literally everywhere. Especially on Instagram and other social medias.
Let’s take a closer look!
Table Of Contents
Overview & Features
While the stock wheels look okay on a 3rd Gen and previous generation Tacomas, but you eventually get tired of blending in and want something that will pop a bit more. The Olympus wheels I chose are 17×9 with a -12 mm offset.
I went with a -12 mm offset to give the truck a more aggressive stance. This is a popular offset among Tacoma owners as it doesn’t require an extreme amount of cutting and trimming to make them fit in the front wheel well. It’s the perfect balance of wheel poke without running into more involved issues such as rubbing on the fenders and body mounts. This is also dependent on your tire size, but I kept mine reasonable. If that’s not enough poke for you, though, they also offer the 17×9 wheel in a -35mm offset. If you’re a fan of the deep dish look, those will be perfect for you.
The Matte Desert Bronze color I opted for is something special. While the black outer ring has a typical black powder coat texture, the bronze is neither flat nor glossy. Rather, it’s slightly iridescent. The finish is slightly textured with a sand-like feel, which aids in durability. They call their finishes “TACT” – Tough Application Chemically Treated. I anticipate that these will hold up really well over time. They are also available in Matte Black, Matte Grey, and the all-new Matte Blue!
A big differentiating factor between different wheels is weight. While stock wheels weigh between 25 and 27 pounds each, most aftermarket wheels weigh more. That is not because they are bad quality, but often because they are built stronger with more material in critical areas. Lock Off-Road casts its wheels, which causes the wheel to be a bit heavier but also brings the price point down. The Olympus wheel weighs in at 32 lbs. each, so they shouldn’t noticeably impact drivability. If you want a lighter wheel, you will be looking for something forged, but those both come with a much higher price tag. Most people, and your truck, will not notice a few added pounds.
These wheels are also available in 18″ and 20″ varieties, if that’s your style.
Initial Impressions
Once installed, the shop left a small note asking if I wanted to remove the dust caps on the front wheels. The center caps do not sit flush unless you take the dust covers off the center hub. You can also do what I did, which is bend them in. The wheels are extended thread-compatible, so be sure to buy extended wheel lug nuts (12×1.5) to ensure you have more than two threads engaged on your lugs. Thread engagement is key to ensuring that your rig is operating safely on and off-road.
The wheels performed flawlessly off-pavement, with nothing weird happening to note. They’ve maintained proper balancing as well. The added weight mentioned earlier has not caused any issues or significantly affected my fuel economy. In fact, I can hardly tell the difference from my previous setup. Which is great!
I wrapped the wheels in the commonly sized 285/70R17 (33s) with some BFGoodrich K03s. I did a very small cab mount chop to ensure enough room at the firewall, in addition to removing the front fenders and cutting the rear of the liner slightly. The only rubbing I get is on the inner liner at full compression with the wheel turned in. However, that is more a reflection of my trimming abilities.
Final Thoughts
The Olympus wheels have earned me many compliments from the guys I work with and people on the trails. With varying styles, sizes, and offsets, you are sure to find something that fits your taste. Whether you prefer a more stealthy or fully forged bead lock, Lock Off-Road has you covered.
