Plastic Rims!

[Nutzoids]

Granted, there are options out there if you're looking to buy rims not constructed from some type of metallic matter, but for the tamer crowd, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's plastic alternatives are probably more your style. The firm's research team has reportedly developed fiber-reinforced plastics that enabled trial wheels to last some 250,000 kilometers without falling apart, and they are hoping that designers will soon have "more latitude in their choice of material." The next challenge, however, is convincing regulators that non-metal rims have what it takes to be a safe addition to your next vehicle, but barring any major catastrophes in future test scenarios, you won't find us complaining about wheels that weigh (and cost) less.

http://www.fraunhofer.de/fhg/EN/press/pi/2007/06/ResearchNews62007Thema6.jsp

:evil:

[PetersRedYaris]

That's crazy, but kinda cool. If they are light enough and cheap enough I think they would be quite popular.

I wonder what they consider "feather weight".

[eTiMaGo]

this is definitely something that will be big in the future...

[ceres]

Well the example is quite ugly but it's rather intriguing. Wonder if plastic would be easier to fix than metal.

[eTiMaGo]

well, it probably won't have to look like that picture, plastic can be painted, dyed, or *shudder* chromed... Overall most plastics are tough but flexible, so we shoudn't see any dents easily, but scratching may be a problem... wait and see...

[kurokoma-kun]

Wow! that swirly pattern in the sample wheel looks like damn bowling ball though! :laugh:

[brickhardmeat]

very cool, I'm game