What are “Real Wheels”?

When trying to squeeze performance out of a car, one of the most important things is a good wheel and tire combination. A poor wheel and tire setup can not only be dangerous, but it also is inefficient.

Often times when shopping for wheels people go with what they think looks best, but if you were to look further you’d find out that wheels are one of the most noticeable modifications you can make to your car.  So, what do people mean by “real wheels” when talking about this topic?

The term real wheels refer to wheels that are forged. A forged wheel is made from one piece of Aluminum, starting with a big block of aluminum the wheel is made by a lathe removing material until the shape of the wheel is all that remains. Cast wheels on the other hand, are made by melting aluminum down until it can be poured into a mold.

Forged wheels are not only lighter but also stronger than cast wheels. This is important as even a difference of 10lbs per wheel adds up to a total of 40lbs in weight savings. The lower weight also means an increase in responsiveness while driving. With a lighter wheel the engine does not have to work as a hard to spin that wheel meaning you’ll see an increase in throttle response because your wheel is getting up to speed quicker.

Strength of a wheel is also important. Everyday people encounter potentially damaging potholes and curbs. In the event a driver hits a pothole or curb it can bend, rash, or even crack a wheel depending on how fast and at what angle the wheel impacts.

A forged wheel is about 3x stronger than a regular cast wheel meaning that the chances of damage occurring is much less.

All of these benefits are nice but they come at a cost. Forged wheels are almost 3x more expensive to buy than cast wheels but I think they are worth picking up for the guy looking to improve his driving experience and lap times.

For more info about why Forged wheels are better than cast please stop by CarThrottle and give their article a read.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/what-is-it-that-makes-fake-wheels-so-potentially-dangerous/