Wheel Shopping: Separating Truth From Hype
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 80
From: Houston - Clear Lake
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
Wheel Shopping: Separating Truth From Hype
Here's a good article on wheels. The MBWorld hardcores already know most of it but I think there are some insights here for everyone.
All cars have the wheel in common, though the wheels on our cars couldn’t be more diverse in form and construction. There’s an emotional element as well, as personalizing a vehicle often starts with changing the wheels, whether for aesthetic or performance reasons.
In motorsports, there are genuine, measurable gains to be had from swapping out the stock wheels for something lighter, stronger, larger or smaller. Aftermarket wheels can also open the door to other upgrades, like larger brake systems and wider tire footprints.
With hundreds if not thousands of options in any particular size, however, there can be a paralyzing number of choices. Budget plays a factor, of course, and certain wheel types have a reputation for being race-appropriate, but how can you really know what you’re getting? We asked a number of wheel industry experts three basic questions to learn a bit more about what makes the wheels on the race car go round and round
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/ar...paign=GRMDaily
All cars have the wheel in common, though the wheels on our cars couldn’t be more diverse in form and construction. There’s an emotional element as well, as personalizing a vehicle often starts with changing the wheels, whether for aesthetic or performance reasons.
In motorsports, there are genuine, measurable gains to be had from swapping out the stock wheels for something lighter, stronger, larger or smaller. Aftermarket wheels can also open the door to other upgrades, like larger brake systems and wider tire footprints.
With hundreds if not thousands of options in any particular size, however, there can be a paralyzing number of choices. Budget plays a factor, of course, and certain wheel types have a reputation for being race-appropriate, but how can you really know what you’re getting? We asked a number of wheel industry experts three basic questions to learn a bit more about what makes the wheels on the race car go round and round
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/ar...paign=GRMDaily
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
From: Portland, OR
Edition 507 Coupe, M278 powered E550 Coupe, S211 E500
Worth noting:
"There are so many new manufacturing techniques, like carbon wheels and flow forming–but the best and most advanced is mold forging. This is a technique used by Rays (Volk Racing) and BBS, the only companies capable of manufacturing with this technique in-house. It allows a wheel to exhibit extreme lightness and durability. Unlike traditional machine-forged wheels, the grain structure of the high-end aluminum is organized throughout a mold-forged wheel.
Carbon wheels are super light, but durability comes into question: Once there is an impact beyond the carbon strength threshold, the structure will crack and break. A mold-forged wheel will still retain air in the tire, so the wheel performs better than all other wheels while retaining a safety element as well.”
EDDIE LEE
Mackin Industries/Volk Racing
"There are so many new manufacturing techniques, like carbon wheels and flow forming–but the best and most advanced is mold forging. This is a technique used by Rays (Volk Racing) and BBS, the only companies capable of manufacturing with this technique in-house. It allows a wheel to exhibit extreme lightness and durability. Unlike traditional machine-forged wheels, the grain structure of the high-end aluminum is organized throughout a mold-forged wheel.
Carbon wheels are super light, but durability comes into question: Once there is an impact beyond the carbon strength threshold, the structure will crack and break. A mold-forged wheel will still retain air in the tire, so the wheel performs better than all other wheels while retaining a safety element as well.”
EDDIE LEE
Mackin Industries/Volk Racing
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 175
From: London, UK
W212 - E63 AMG
Here's a good article on wheels. The MBWorld hardcores already know most of it but I think there are some insights here for everyone.
All cars have the wheel in common, though the wheels on our cars couldn’t be more diverse in form and construction. There’s an emotional element as well, as personalizing a vehicle often starts with changing the wheels, whether for aesthetic or performance reasons.
In motorsports, there are genuine, measurable gains to be had from swapping out the stock wheels for something lighter, stronger, larger or smaller. Aftermarket wheels can also open the door to other upgrades, like larger brake systems and wider tire footprints.
With hundreds if not thousands of options in any particular size, however, there can be a paralyzing number of choices. Budget plays a factor, of course, and certain wheel types have a reputation for being race-appropriate, but how can you really know what you’re getting? We asked a number of wheel industry experts three basic questions to learn a bit more about what makes the wheels on the race car go round and round
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/ar...paign=GRMDaily
All cars have the wheel in common, though the wheels on our cars couldn’t be more diverse in form and construction. There’s an emotional element as well, as personalizing a vehicle often starts with changing the wheels, whether for aesthetic or performance reasons.
In motorsports, there are genuine, measurable gains to be had from swapping out the stock wheels for something lighter, stronger, larger or smaller. Aftermarket wheels can also open the door to other upgrades, like larger brake systems and wider tire footprints.
With hundreds if not thousands of options in any particular size, however, there can be a paralyzing number of choices. Budget plays a factor, of course, and certain wheel types have a reputation for being race-appropriate, but how can you really know what you’re getting? We asked a number of wheel industry experts three basic questions to learn a bit more about what makes the wheels on the race car go round and round
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/ar...paign=GRMDaily
