What In The World Are ‘Donks’?

There are a lot of words for them: hi-risers, skyscrapers, bubbles, but most of the world knows them as “donks.”

Traditionally, a donk is an American, full-size, RWD sedan that has been raised with a lift kit to add ground clearance and add custom wheels with low profile tires.

Originated in the Deep South, donks are nearly always a late model sedan with a custom paint job and an outrageous audio system. Flowmaster exhausts have also quickly become a must-have accessory as well, as long as the exhaust tips are chromed out.

In the mid 90s, it started to become popular to put bigger wheels on cars. Rappers were the first to do it but it started off smaller; the hip-hop group Outkast had lyrics bragging about 18-inch wheels, which come stock on many vehicles today. Eventually everyone decided that bigger was better and it progressed quickly. By 1999, manufacturers were putting 20-inch rims on stock SUVs and the car culture followed quickly.

In the year 2000, Dub Magazine launched and started to embrace the urban custom car culture. A “Dub” is a wheel that is 20’’ or larger, which is the standard on any donk.

Most Popular Donks

If you have never been to Atlanta or Miami (the undisputed capitals for donks), then you may not know what you’re looking for when you’re searching for a donk. Some of the most popularly used cars for transforming into a donk include:

Chevy Impala: For whatever reason, everyone loves the Impala. Lowriders, drag racers, classic car freaks and little kids all love the perfect lines of old Impalas. The donk world is no exception, you can sometimes find a pristine Impala that has been lifted sky high, to which some purists shake their heads at.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme: A long time ago these were a cool ride for drag racers, and their popularity has no carried over to the donk world. In a sea of lifted sedans, you can usually spot the sleek coupe being driven by a handful.

Ford Crown Victoria: You can buy a Crown Vic anywhere, and they’re easy to work on. Retired cop cars have become a “go-to” for hot rodders who are looking for a smooth way into the donk game.

Cadillac Fleetwood: These cars have the longest wheelbase of any domestic sedan. They handle poorly and can be a hassle to park. However, because they’re so large, they’re appealing for customizers who want to go as big as possible when they’re cruising down the boulevard.

However, just because a car isn’t listed above doesn’t mean that it can’t be a donk. Camaros, Mustangs, Lexus Rx300s and even Mazda Miatas have been jacked up in the air with dubs thrown underneath. For some drivers, handling and common sense go out the window when they’re transforming their rides, which is why some people have called it “the most hated trend in automobiles.”

Risky Rides

Unfortunately, donks do more than look silly to some people, too. As with any serious customization, there is an inherit risk to changing the equipment on your ride. For donks, the risks go nearly as high as their oil pans. Broken wheel studs, cracked lug nuts, blown suspension, fried transmissions and useless brakes (if not upgraded) are just some of the problems associated with a donk ride.

Aside from the mechanical problems, driving the cars can be a nightmare. A turn that is taken too fast in a donk can cause a quick loss of traction, which can spin the car out of control. Also, a fast turn has known to snap all the lugs straight off a donk and leave the car stranded. Plus, donks have also been called “cop magnets” because of the attention that they demand.

For most people, it is a fun novelty to check out a donk on the road. They’re loud, demand attention and are unlike anything else on the road. But, if you think that you want to get into the donk world, do everyone else on the streets a favor and make sure you reinforce every bit of suspension, brakes and tires on your ride before your maiden voyage. There can be serious risks with slapping a set of 26’’ wheels on any otherwise stock sedan. However, if you’re just looking to add a bit of bling to your ride without going over the 22’’ mark, consider a fresh set of Cruiser Alloy wheels to spice up your game.

By Sean Bowes

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