After seeing the fifteen52 concept wheels on the Basecamp Atlas I knew that I wanted those wheels for the Overland OC Atlas. fifteen52 finally released the Traverse MX Wheels in April and I reached out through a mutual friend to get an order through directly from the manufacturer. fifteen52 created a 17-inch version of their Traverse MX with the specific fitments for the VW Atlas of 5×112 mm. Offered in two colors: Frosted Graphite and Magnesium Grey… I opted for the Graphite.
The Carson, California company has been making premium wheels since 1996 and they continue to push their minimalist designs to truly create wheels that offer form as much as function. The Traverse MX feature a “Rock Ring” technology that strengthen the tire bead and protect the valve stem.
The Install
The wheels arrived a few days after placing my order and I was all set to take my driving experience to the next level. I had my tires delivered directly to American Tire Depot from Tire Buyer. This is my second time using Tire Buyer and they make purchasing online a breeze. Select the tire of choice and pick a local installer and within a day or two the tires arrive and a standard installation price is already negotiated for you!
The fifteen52 Traverse MX wheels paired with the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W’s (265/70/17) are a perfect match. The additional sidewall provided by the Falken’s and the high offset version of the Traverse wheels offered a smooth ride once I took the Atlas on the road. There is some rubbing when the vehicle turns far left or right. This will be resolved with raising springs which I have ordered from H&R. I’ll be looking for shocks to complete my suspension upgrade and will begin researching options in a few weeks. If you have any recommendations please leave a comment down below.
Overall, I’m pleased with the wheel and tire upgrades and with the VW’s Haldex AWD system… the all terrain tires is a significant step up to improving the capabilities of this 4MOTION VW Atlas.
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