Write-up & Photos :: 18" Forgestar F14 Wheels & Nitto NT05 Tires :: 2010 C63
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Offset (both starting and final) plays a role in the final weight of the wheel. This is especially true in this case when the vendor shaves off backpad to achieve final offset.
It's still not 100% clear if they made any changes to the wheel or simply just tested it at a higher rating. I've got a few questions out there.
It's still not 100% clear if they made any changes to the wheel or simply just tested it at a higher rating. I've got a few questions out there.
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Info directly from Peter @ Forgestar:
Hello,
The wheel that was test was the original design but tested in Japan and the wheels were approved at 1520 per corner. So it wouldnt make a difference if you have the 18 inch F14 wheel then or now. We have sent out a letter but to our dealers since we normally don't sell direct and they can contact there customers of the load ratings we were approved for.
Peter Chaney | Forgestar Performance Wheels
The wheel that was test was the original design but tested in Japan and the wheels were approved at 1520 per corner. So it wouldnt make a difference if you have the 18 inch F14 wheel then or now. We have sent out a letter but to our dealers since we normally don't sell direct and they can contact there customers of the load ratings we were approved for.
Peter Chaney | Forgestar Performance Wheels
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Wayne, thanks for taking the time to document your experience and turn us on to one of the best mod bargains available. I ordered a set from James yesterday in matte black. My preference was for the piano(gloss) black but the lead time was 16 weeks as opposed to 5 and my gloss blacks look like a matte finish after one track session anyway thanks to the brake dust. I also ordered a set of Toyo R888's(275/35 & 245/40) at an incredible price of $816. Everything should be installed and ready to go before the fall "campaign" and I might even make a Time attack event at Sebring in mid August.
Thanks again for your contributions, this is what a forum is all about!
Thanks again for your contributions, this is what a forum is all about!
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From: www.Traben-Trarbach.de
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Info directly from Peter @ Forgestar:
Hello,
The wheel that was test was the original design but tested in Japan and the wheels were approved at 1520 per corner. So it wouldnt make a difference if you have the 18 inch F14 wheel then or now. We have sent out a letter but to our dealers since we normally don't sell direct and they can contact there customers of the load ratings we were approved for.
Peter Chaney | Forgestar Performance Wheels
The wheel that was test was the original design but tested in Japan and the wheels were approved at 1520 per corner. So it wouldnt make a difference if you have the 18 inch F14 wheel then or now. We have sent out a letter but to our dealers since we normally don't sell direct and they can contact there customers of the load ratings we were approved for.
Peter Chaney | Forgestar Performance Wheels
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I'll also be posting the letter from Forgestar to the Dealers once I get a copy from James.
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Wayne, thanks for taking the time to document your experience and turn us on to one of the best mod bargains available. I ordered a set from James yesterday in matte black. My preference was for the piano(gloss) black but the lead time was 16 weeks as opposed to 5 and my gloss blacks look like a matte finish after one track session anyway thanks to the brake dust. I also ordered a set of Toyo R888's(275/35 & 245/40) at an incredible price of $816. Everything should be installed and ready to go before the fall "campaign" and I might even make a Time attack event at Sebring in mid August.
Thanks again for your contributions, this is what a forum is all about!
Thanks again for your contributions, this is what a forum is all about!
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I asked Peter the same question about the posted weight differences. I don't know the other circumstances so I'm not quick to judge just yet. I have personally witnessed two of the same spec wheels having variances in weight before. This could be the case here, but I'll wait for the source to answer directly.
I'll also be posting the letter from Forgestar to the Dealers once I get a copy from James.
I'll also be posting the letter from Forgestar to the Dealers once I get a copy from James.
Our 18" before was load rated to 1200 lbs. We always put in safety margin into our engineering. We first tried 1350lbs a corner and it passed. Then we did 1520 and it passed. We don't test to failure. After we passed at 1520 we knew we had to put the safety margin back into the part and that is why the weight of the wheels went up about .7 of a lb. - Forgestar Custom Wheels
Quick Summary according to Peter: - Both the old and the new 18" Forgestar F14 wheels have been tested to 1520 lbs. Both passed.
- The old ones are stamped "1200 lbs."
- The new ones are stamped "1520 lbs."
- The new ones are approximately 0.7 lbs heaver per wheel.
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picking mine up soon, they've been ready for a week. I haven't been sadly. I'll check to see what stamp and weights I got. Looking at possible rotors and lines to do at the same time.
hoping for the heavier wheels for a little more security...it'll be a total net gain of 2.8lbs i can live with
hoping for the heavier wheels for a little more security...it'll be a total net gain of 2.8lbs i can live with
Last edited by BerBer63; Jul 7, 2010 at 01:10 AM.
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Our 18" before was load rated to 1200 lbs. We always put in safety margin into our engineering. We first tried 1350lbs a corner and it passed. Then we did 1520 and it passed. We don't test to failure. After we passed at 1520 we knew we had to put the safety margin back into the part and that is why the weight of the wheels went up about .7 of a lb. - Forgestar Custom Wheels
The question is, for the older 18" version, how close is 1520 lbs to the ultimate load, i.e., the load at which something will fail.
Let's say the safety margin is 1.5, then a 1200lbs rated wheel would fail at 1800 lbs. This is a bit oversimplified, as I don't know what they used for margin of safety in building these wheels. But you can be sure that the older version of 18" wheel is not able to take as much stress as the new version. I don't think it's an issue, unless you track the car to its limits where you could generate enough cornering force to approach the failure load. Just because you have a margin of safety, doesn't mean you can't get to that ultimate load.
It's also a bit odd that they rated these wheels originally at 1200 lbs, then passed a test at 1520 lbs. That's quite a difference that doesn't seem to square with only adding about 3.5% of material by weight.
That being said, I'm thinking of getting these wheels..although I'd like to see someone tracking them first.
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Info directly from Peter @ Forgestar:
Hello,
The wheel that was test was the original design but tested in Japan and the wheels were approved at 1520 per corner. So it wouldnt make a difference if you have the 18 inch F14 wheel then or now. We have sent out a letter but to our dealers since we normally don't sell direct and they can contact there customers of the load ratings we were approved for.
Peter Chaney | Forgestar Performance Wheels
The wheel that was test was the original design but tested in Japan and the wheels were approved at 1520 per corner. So it wouldnt make a difference if you have the 18 inch F14 wheel then or now. We have sent out a letter but to our dealers since we normally don't sell direct and they can contact there customers of the load ratings we were approved for.
Peter Chaney | Forgestar Performance Wheels
More info directly from Peter @ Forgestar in response to the different wheel weights. Turns out they did make a new 18" wheel that is slightly heavier.
Our 18" before was load rated to 1200 lbs. We always put in safety margin into our engineering. We first tried 1350lbs a corner and it passed. Then we did 1520 and it passed. We don't test to failure. After we passed at 1520 we knew we had to put the safety margin back into the part and that is why the weight of the wheels went up about .7 of a lb. - Forgestar Custom Wheels
Quick Summary according to Peter: - Both the old and the new 18" Forgestar F14 wheels have been tested to 1520 lbs. Both passed.
- The old ones are stamped "1200 lbs."
- The new ones are stamped "1520 lbs."
- The new ones are approximately 0.7 lbs heaver per wheel.
Thanx for all your work superlubricity.
Interestingly in the 1st letter "it doesn't make a difference" and in the 2nd the claim about "safety margin". Also his weight increase claim seems to be the same as the one shown in the test data comparison for the one width/offset size but doesn't really address the larger width one with same offset but higher weight increase. It would be more believable if he would've stated a % instead of a x lbs figure since so much is dependent on size, width and offset.
For those looking for track info on these head to Porsche or BMW forums. AFAIK the main reason for this load/weight increase is because of BMW guys.
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The rings included with the Forgestars are Poly Carbon Plastic. Part Number HR74-6660 from CWA. -> http://www.cwausa.com/HubCentricRings.html (Oddly the P/N doesn't appear on this old list)
...
Unfortunately, I could not find any available metal hub rings in the right size.
...
Unfortunately, I could not find any available metal hub rings in the right size.
Not cheap but not a fortune, either.
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I just ordered a 2nd set of F14s in Brushed Titanium . . . 
18x8.5 ET40 and 18x9.5 ET50 wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Tires (245/40-18 and 275/35-18.)
Thank you James!
18x8.5 ET40 and 18x9.5 ET50 wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Tires (245/40-18 and 275/35-18.)
Thank you James!
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How come your getting new ones and not just powdercoating/painting your originals? You want the new 2.8lb heavier ones?
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Just personal preference. I really want to see how the brushed finish looks against the steel grey color. I like the idea of a bit more contrast and a hair more aggressive offset. It's unfortunate they'll be a bit heavier. The new offsets will also add some weight. Thankfully the PS2s are very light at only 24-lbs front and 26-lbs rear. I should break even or better in terms of total unsprung weight savings.
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2013 Chevy 427 Torch Red
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2013 Chevy 427 Torch Red
The rings included with the Forgestars are Poly Carbon Plastic. Part Number HR74-6660 from CWA. -> http://www.cwausa.com/HubCentricRings.html (Oddly the P/N doesn't appear on this old list)
Gorilla Automotive also makes a set in Poly Carbon Plastic. -> http://www.gorilla-auto.com/hub.centric.rings
I bought a set of the them from Amazon just in case I have issues with the CWAs. -> http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Automo...dp/B002805T38/ (They had one set in stock. Not anymore.)
Unfortunately, I could not find any available metal hub rings in the right size.
Gorilla Automotive also makes a set in Poly Carbon Plastic. -> http://www.gorilla-auto.com/hub.centric.rings
I bought a set of the them from Amazon just in case I have issues with the CWAs. -> http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Automo...dp/B002805T38/ (They had one set in stock. Not anymore.
)Unfortunately, I could not find any available metal hub rings in the right size.
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2009 C63
Picked up my wheels yesterday. Slightly confused since I thought they would be rated higher, but they say 1200 pounds. I thought it was 1220lbs and the new ones were 1500lb?
Sorry got numbers mixed up. Just thought by now they'd all be 1500
Sorry got numbers mixed up. Just thought by now they'd all be 1500
Last edited by BerBer63; Jul 14, 2010 at 03:10 PM.
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Just ran across a source that will fabricate metal hub centric rings: https://www.motorsport-tech.com/hub_rings.html
Not cheap but not a fortune, either.
Not cheap but not a fortune, either.
