There was a time when modifying a car meant making it look as different from the factory version as possible.

Lower it as far as possible. Fit the widest wheels possible. Choose an aggressive offset. Add body modifications. Make sure everyone knows the car has been modified.

But a new approach is becoming increasingly popular among Australian car enthusiasts:

Make it look like the factory could have built it — just better.

This is the philosophy behind OEM+.

OEM+ isn't about leaving a car completely standard, and it isn't about building the most extreme show car possible. Instead, it focuses on improving the original design while respecting the vehicle's factory proportions, styling language and everyday usability.

For Holden owners, this approach makes particular sense.

The VE and VF Commodore, SS, SSV, Redline and HSV models already have strong factory styling. Sometimes the most effective modification isn't a dramatic body kit or an extreme stance.

Sometimes, it's simply the right set of wheels.

At WheelsZone, our Holden and HSV wheel range naturally fits this philosophy. The goal isn't to make your Commodore look like a completely different vehicle. It's to create an upgraded version of the car that feels as though it could have come from a higher-performance factory specification.

1. What Does OEM+ Really Mean?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer—the components and styling originally designed for a vehicle by its manufacturer.

OEM+ takes those original design principles and builds upon them.

Think:

A typical OEM+ wheel setup might retain the original vehicle's visual character while introducing:

• Larger wheel diameter for a more modern stance.
• Improved wheel fitment for a cleaner relationship between the wheel and guard.
• Modern finishes such as Hyper Black, Machined Face or Genuine Chrome.
• Appropriate wheel width and offset to improve visual proportion without creating unnecessary rubbing.
• Performance-oriented tyre sizes that complement the vehicle's intended use.
• Subtle suspension changes that improve stance without sacrificing everyday usability.

The important word is subtle.

The modification should look intentional rather than excessive.

2. Why Is OEM+ Growing in Australia?

Australia has a unique car culture.

A modified vehicle may be used for a weekend cruise, but it can also be the owner's daily transportation, a long-distance touring car, a family vehicle or something that needs to handle Australia's varied road conditions.

That makes extreme modifications impractical for many enthusiasts.

A vehicle that is extremely low or has very aggressive wheel specifications may look incredible in a photograph, but it can become inconvenient when dealing with:

• Speed bumps
• Driveways
• Uneven roads
• Long highway trips
• Full passenger loads
• Tyre rubbing
• Limited suspension travel

OEM+ sits comfortably between two extremes:

Factory Appearance ↔ Modified Stance

You can make a car look substantially better without turning every drive into an exercise in avoiding road imperfections.

For many Australian enthusiasts, OEM+ provides the best compromise between appearance, performance and everyday usability.

3. Why Holden Is Perfect for the OEM+ Approach

Few Australian vehicles lend themselves to OEM+ modification as naturally as the Holden Commodore.

The VE and VF Commodore generations already feature strong proportions, wide bodywork and a distinctive performance-oriented design language.

The same applies to performance variants such as:

• Holden SS
• Holden SSV
• SSV Redline
• HSV Clubsport
• HSV GTS
• HSV Senator

These vehicles don't necessarily need a complete visual transformation.

A carefully selected wheel can dramatically change the appearance while keeping the original design language intact.

Consider the basic formula:

The body remains recognisably Holden.

The wheel design complements the factory styling.

The larger or more modern wheel specification gives the vehicle a sharper stance.

And because the fitment is carefully selected, the final result doesn't look like an aftermarket wheel has simply been bolted onto the car.

It looks integrated.

4. Wheel Design Matters More Than Extreme Modifications

One of the biggest advantages of an OEM+ build is that you don't need to modify everything.

The wheels can become the main visual upgrade.

But choosing the right design is important because different wheel styles communicate very different personalities.

Five-Spoke Wheels — Classic Muscle

Five-spoke designs naturally complement the muscular proportions of Commodore and HSV models.

The larger individual spokes create a strong, uncomplicated visual structure that works particularly well with performance-oriented builds.

For an OEM+ Holden setup, five-spoke wheels can make the vehicle look more purposeful without appearing excessively modified.

Split-Spoke Wheels — Modern Performance

Split-spoke designs introduce more detail and can make a larger wheel appear visually lighter.

They work particularly well when the goal is to move a Commodore toward a more contemporary performance appearance while maintaining a factory-inspired aesthetic.

Concave Wheels — Subtle Visual Width

A concave profile can create the impression of additional width and depth without requiring an extreme offset.

This is especially useful for enthusiasts who want a more aggressive stance while still prioritising sensible clearance.

The key is getting the geometry right rather than simply choosing the deepest concavity available.

Machined Face and Hyper Black — Modern OEM+ Finishes

If you want the most obvious OEM+ aesthetic, Machined Face and Hyper Black finishes are particularly versatile.

They provide enough contrast to highlight the wheel design without becoming visually disconnected from the factory vehicle.

Genuine Chrome — Heritage and Show-Oriented OEM+

Genuine Chrome can take the OEM+ philosophy in a different direction.

For heritage-inspired Holden builds, polished and chrome finishes can emphasise the vehicle's connection with Australian muscle-car culture while still using a modern wheel diameter and fitment.

This is particularly effective when the overall build is designed around classic character rather than stealth performance.

5. OEM+ Doesn't Mean “Keep Everything Stock”

There is sometimes confusion about the difference between OEM and OEM+.

An OEM build tries to preserve the factory specification.

An OEM+ build intentionally improves it.

For example, a Holden might originally have been fitted with an 18-inch wheel.

An OEM+ owner may choose a 19-inch or 20-inch wheel that:

• Maintains the vehicle's original design language.
• Provides a more contemporary appearance.
• Uses a carefully selected offset.
• Maintains appropriate tyre sidewall.
• Provides sufficient brake and suspension clearance.
• Remains practical for regular road use.

That is still an aftermarket modification.

It simply doesn't look like one was made for the sake of being different.

6. The Most Important Part of OEM+: Getting Fitment Right

This is where many otherwise excellent builds go wrong.

You can spend thousands of dollars on high-quality wheels, choose the perfect design and select an excellent finish—but if the fitment is wrong, the car can still look awkward.

A $3,000 wheel can still look wrong if the fitment is wrong.

OEM+ fitment requires more than simply asking whether the wheel physically bolts onto the vehicle.

You need to consider:

• Wheel diameter
• Wheel width
• Offset
• Tyre width
• Tyre profile
• PCD / stud pattern
• Centre bore
• Brake clearance
• Guard clearance
• Suspension height

The objective is not maximum poke.

The objective is not maximum concavity.

The objective is not the lowest possible ET number.

The objective is a wheel that sits naturally within the vehicle's bodywork while providing sufficient clearance for normal driving.

OEM+ Fitment Pro-Tip: Don't copy a wheel specification simply because it looks good on another Commodore. Suspension height, tyre size, wheel width, brake package and guard modifications can all change the final result. Always evaluate the complete wheel and tyre combination.

7. Why Tyre Selection Is Part of the OEM+ Look

Wheels don't exist independently from tyres.

The tyre sidewall is part of the visual design, and its relationship with the wheel can completely change the character of the vehicle.

For example, an extremely stretched tyre may create an aggressive motorsport-inspired appearance, but it generally doesn't communicate the same factory-inspired aesthetic as a properly matched tyre width.

For OEM+, the tyre should look like it belongs on the vehicle.

The sidewall should complement the wheel diameter, the overall rolling radius should remain appropriate, and there should be sufficient clearance under steering and suspension movement.

This is particularly important on VE and VF Commodore builds where larger aftermarket wheels are often paired with lower-profile performance tyres.

The right combination creates a clean visual transition:

Body → Guard → Tyre → Wheel

Nothing should look excessively pushed, stretched or tucked.

8. OEM+ Is About Proportion, Not Just Parts

This is perhaps the most important principle of the entire OEM+ movement.

A successful build isn't necessarily the one with the most expensive individual components.

It's the one where all the components work together.

Consider a VF Commodore with:

• Factory-style bodywork
• A modest suspension drop
• 20-inch performance wheels
• Correct wheel width
• Appropriate positive offset
• Matched performance tyres
• Visible factory or upgraded brake hardware

None of these modifications is particularly extreme.

But together, they can create a vehicle that looks substantially more purposeful.

That's the essence of OEM+.

9. The OEM+ Philosophy Works Beyond Holden

Although Holden is a perfect example, the OEM+ philosophy is not limited to Commodores.

The same principle applies to modern Australian performance and enthusiast vehicles across different brands.

The idea is always the same:

Identify what makes the original vehicle visually successful, then enhance those characteristics instead of fighting them.

For one vehicle, that might mean a subtle set of machined-face wheels.

For another, it could mean a larger concave wheel with a carefully selected offset.

For a heritage build, genuine chrome might be the perfect answer.

The wheel becomes an extension of the original design rather than an unrelated aftermarket accessory.

10. How to Build an OEM+ Holden Wheel Setup

If you're starting an OEM+ project, there is a simple process that can help avoid expensive mistakes.

1. Start with the vehicle.

   Confirm the exact model, year and variant. A VE SS and a VF SSV may share some characteristics but should not automatically be assumed to have identical wheel requirements.

2. Define your intended use.

   Is the car a daily driver, weekend cruiser, long-distance touring car, Show Car or performance build? Your answer should influence wheel width, tyre profile and fitment.

3. Choose the wheel design.

   Select a style that complements the vehicle's original design language rather than simply choosing the most aggressive wheel available.

4. Calculate width and offset together.

   Don't evaluate ET in isolation. The combination of wheel width and offset determines the wheel's actual inner and outer position.

5. Match the tyre.

   Confirm the correct tyre width, profile, load rating and overall diameter for the vehicle.

6. Check brakes and clearance.

   Make sure the wheel provides adequate spoke and barrel clearance, particularly on HSV and other vehicles equipped with larger performance brakes.

7. Check the final stance.

   The finished wheel should sit naturally within the guard, creating a clean OEM+ appearance rather than excessive poke or excessive tuck.

11. The Future of Holden Modification May Be OEM+

Car culture will always have room for extreme builds.

There will always be enthusiasts who want the widest wheels, lowest suspension and most aggressive possible stance.

But OEM+ offers something different.

It focuses on refinement rather than excess.

It allows an enthusiast to modify a car while preserving what made the original vehicle desirable in the first place.

And for Holden Commodore and HSV owners, that philosophy makes particular sense.

These cars already have the proportions, attitude and performance heritage. They don't need to be reinvented.

They simply need the right details.

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12. Build Your Holden the Way the Factory Might Have Done It

The new generation of Australian car enthusiasts isn't necessarily asking:

“How extreme can I make this car?”

They're increasingly asking:

“How good can I make it without losing what made it special?”

That's the OEM+ philosophy.

For a Holden Commodore, one of the most effective places to start is the wheels.

The right design, finish, diameter, width and offset can transform the entire stance while keeping the vehicle unmistakably Holden.

Whether you're building a VE Commodore, VF Commodore, SS, SSV, Redline, HSV Clubsport or GTS, the goal remains the same:

Factory-inspired looks. Modern performance. Correct fitment.

Explore the WheelsZone Holden & HSV collection and find the wheel style that fits your OEM+ vision.

Frequently Asked Questions About OEM+ Wheels

What does OEM+ mean for car modification?

OEM+ means modifying a vehicle while retaining its original design language and proportions. Instead of extreme modifications, the focus is on subtle improvements such as better wheels, modern finishes, improved stance and carefully selected fitment.

What are OEM+ wheels?

OEM+ wheels are aftermarket wheels selected to complement the original vehicle design. They typically use modern wheel sizes, finishes and fitments while maintaining a factory-inspired appearance.

Are OEM+ wheels better than aggressive aftermarket wheels?

Neither approach is universally better. OEM+ prioritises balance between appearance, fitment and everyday usability, while aggressive builds often prioritise maximum visual impact.

What are the best wheels for a VF Commodore?

The best wheels depend on the specific VF model, brake package, suspension, tyre choice and desired appearance. For an OEM+ build, choose a wheel design that complements the factory bodywork and use an appropriate width and offset.

Can I use 20-inch wheels for an OEM+ Holden build?

Yes. 20-inch wheels can create a modern OEM+ appearance on many Holden and HSV builds when the wheel width, offset, tyre size and clearance are correctly matched to the vehicle.

Does OEM+ mean the car has to remain at factory ride height?

No. A modest suspension change can be part of an OEM+ build. The important consideration is maintaining sensible clearance and avoiding an excessively compromised setup.

Is wheel offset important for OEM+ fitment?

Yes. Offset determines how far the wheel sits inward or outward relative to the hub. It should always be considered together with wheel width, tyre size, suspension and guard clearance.

Can chrome wheels work with an OEM+ Holden build?

Yes. Genuine chrome can work particularly well with heritage-inspired or Show Car-oriented Holden builds. For a more contemporary OEM+ appearance, Machined Face, Hyper Black and other subtle metallic finishes may be more suitable.