Seeking wheel advice from someone who KNOWS

[Russelt3hPirate]

Originally Posted by 09TRD

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/w...treet-use.html

"A word on BBS Race wheels for street use
I see many inquiries and threads on these wheels, and I think it's fair to warn people that don't know that these wheels were not designed for street use and BBS does not recommend them to be used off of a track. The barrel sections are roll formed and they are considerably thinner on these wheels than they would be on one of their road wheels. It saves weight, but it makes the wheel much more likely to be damaged by potholes, etc."

Cast aluminum racing wheels are typically made from A356 aluminum and are very light. By definition they can't be strong, since the material properties of that aluminum are quite low and since real racing wheels use very thin walls (in the barrel and the spokes).

Here are the material properties of A356, which is the most commonly used aluminum in cast wheels. They are laughable compared to a good forging:

http://www.mse.mtu.edu/classes/my413...inum/a356.html

we got it, you read somewhere that a racing wheel from BBS isn't for the street

there are plenty of Racing wheels that aren't designed for street use and are sold as exactly that "only for Racing". Not all wheels that are light were designed with that one goal in mind, many wheels you would consider "race" wheels were designed for dual duty purposes and can handle the rigors of street use assuming you're not a retard.

will you please answer our questions?

[09TRD]

Originally Posted by Russelt3hPirate

we got it, you read somewhere that a racing wheel from BBS isn't for the street

there are plenty of Racing wheels that aren't designed for street use and are sold as exactly that "only for Racing". Not all wheels that are light were designed with that one goal in mind, many wheels you would consider "race" wheels were designed for dual duty purposes and can handle the rigors of street use assuming you're not a retard.

will you please answer our questions?

Manufacturers go to extremes to save weight and increase fuel economy.

Cast aluminum wheels are common in OEM applications.

Show me just ONE OEM cast wheel that weighs anything close to 10 pounds. (20 pounds is closer to realty for most 15" and 16" OEM aluminum wheels).

You can't - despite the fact that such a wheel would be "win win" for the manufactures since they'd be CHEAPER to build (less material) and would yield a slight gain in fuel economy (lower weight and reduced rotating intertia).

So why don't they do it?

Answer: Because such a wheel would produce a flood of warranty claims in the form of bent rims.

Thin wall, cast aluminum wheels will BEND on roads like we have here in the Northeast and I've personally seen dozens that have.

[Russelt3hPirate]

Originally Posted by 09TRD

Manufacturers go to extremes to save weight and increase fuel economy.

Cast aluminum wheels are common in OEM applications.

Show me just ONE OEM cast wheel that weighs anything close to 10 pounds. (20 pounds is closer to realty for most 15" and 16" OEM aluminum wheels).

You can't - despite the fact that such a wheel would be "win win" for the manufactures since they're be CHEAPER to build (less material) and would increase a slight gain in fuel economy (lower weight and rotating intertia).

So why don't they do it?

Answer: Because such a wheel would produce a flood of warranty claims in the form of bent rims.

since when are we talking OEM's?

OEM wheels also need to stand up to some dumb girl running over a curb at 35 mph and being able to go home and not tell mommy.

I'll try and re-organize our questions for you in a easier to read format. BRB.

[09TRD]

Originally Posted by Russelt3hPirate

since when are we talking OEM's?

OEM wheels also need to stand up to some dumb girl running over a curb at 35 mph and being able to go home and not tell mommy.

I'll try and re-organize our questions for you in a easier to read format. BRB.

The fact of the matter is that 15" - 16" OEM aluminum wheels weigh ~ 20 pounds because they are cast (cheaper than forgings), yet still must be ROBUST enough to deal with the rigors of street use. That means thick barrel sections and reasonably robust spokes (each of which adds weight).

The manufacturers would save money AND increase fuel economy if they could use 10 pounds wheels of the same size instead.

They don't because warranty claims (in the form of bent/damaged wheels) would skyrocket in areas like the Northeast.

Any 15"+ cast aluminum wheel that is lighter than 17.5 pounds or so is pushing the limit of impact-related durability in street applications.

Anyone who wants a wheel in that size that is LIGHTER than that AND values durability on the street would be wise to choose a forging.

[Russelt3hPirate]

Originally Posted by 09TRD

The fact of the matter is that 15" - 16" OEM aluminum wheels weigh ~ 20 pounds because they are cast (cheaper than forgings), yet still must be ROBUST enough to deal with the rigors of street use. That means thick barrel sections and reasonably robust spokes (each of which adds weight).

The manufacturers would save money AND increase fuel economy if they could use 10 pounds wheels of the same size instead.

They don't because warranty claims (in the form of bent/damaged wheels) would skyrocket in areas like the Northeast.

Any 15"+ cast aluminum wheel that is lighter than 17.5 pounds or so is pushing the limit of impact-related durability in street applications.

Anyone who wants a wheel in that size that is LIGHTER than that AND values durability on the street would be wise to choose a forging.

Is this blue's clues? are you repeating yourself assuming we can't read?

come on now. I'd be more than happy to continue debating the value of an OEM wheel and why only a select few use Forged wheels, but that wasn't the topic of conversation.

I have a strong feeling you wanted someone to just agree with you and say "yes good choice" instead of someone actually criticizing your decision of picking a crappy wheel, at least they aren't knock offs.

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by 09TRD

Thin wall, cast aluminum wheels will BEND on roads like we have here in the Northeast and I've personally seen dozens that have.

thin wall FORGED ALUMINUM WHEELS will bend as well, depending on the stupidity of the driver..

my wheels, Team Dynamic Pro Race 1's are used in the BTCC (in monohub form) and are a cast wheel..

now.. does that make them race wheels or street wheels?