If you are shopping for aftermarket wheels we are sure you have seen different types of construction options such a forged wheels or flow formed wheels. What’s the difference? and what is the right option for you? Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about forged vs. flow formed wheels.

Wheels can be made in many different processes. Flow forming and forging are two different processes to make aluminum wheels. Flow forming technology takes an already casted wheel at a narrower width than the intended final product and is heated up and spun where rollers then apply pressure to barrel of the wheel stretching the aluminum and compressing the molecular structure creating a final product that is lighter weight and has greater tensile strength than a traditional cast wheel.

There are different processes of the forging process, mold forging and CNC forging. Mold forging is taking a piece of aluminum and repetitively pressing it with extreme heat and pressure until it takes the form of a wheel. CNC forging is starting off with an already forged block of aluminum and then CNC machines cut and extract metal to create the shape of the wheel. Both are efficient ways of making forged wheels.

What’s right for you? If you are trying to make the decision of what product is right for you here are a few things you should consider when shopping for wheels.

1. Use case. Enthusiasts cover a wide of necessities. If you are shopping for wheels it is important to understand what you will be using them primarily for. If you are going to be using them mainly for street use, you are probably going to want to go with something that fits properly and ultimately something you like ie. design and finish. If you are going to be using your vehicle for track use, both options are track ready options but forged wheels will have weight savings and longevity benefits over flow formed wheels.

2. Budget. On paper forged wheels are the superior option but the main con to forged wheels are a higher price tag. Although forged wheels typically use less material than flow formed wheels, the cost of the product comes from the manufacturing process rather than the amount of material used. Flow formed wheels will certainly give you the best bang for your buck.

It is important to know that regardless of the construction type, wheels are still a wear item and can suffer damage whether they are forged or flow formed. Flow formed wheels will be able to take repetitive flex over time before reaching a fatiguing point over a cast wheel because of the flow formed barrel. A full forged wheel will be able to take even more stress over time before reaching a fatiguing point over a flow formed wheel.

With the introduction of our brand new HyperTrail series of Truck and SUV wheels we have seen an influx of more and more questions regarding tires on Truck wheels. In this FAQ we get with Chuck Converse from Milestar Tires to help answer some of these questions. We normally can and will answer questions regarding tires but it at the end of the day we are wheel professionals and not tire professionals. Thanks to Chuck and Milestar we get the answers straight from the tire professionals!

Question #1:

Q: Will I need a lift kit to run a size such as a 37″ tire?
A: You will need to know two things, the minimum backspacing requirement and that will be listed by the lift kit company. We list of our backspacing specs on our website. The lift kit company should also list the proper tire size for their lift kit.

Question #2

Q: I want to use a taller tire, do I still have to maintain overall rolling diameter?
A: You should always look to maintain your rolling diameter to avoid issues with internal systems such as ABS and speedometer reading. When looking at a tire that will not align with your factory overall rolling diameter, you are going to want to look for scanners or tuners that can recalibrate your readings to ensure all of your systems are working and reading properly.

Question #3

Q: Can I use an aggressive off-road tire for street use?
Chuck’s Answer: It will come down to personal preference. You can really use any tire you would like on the street, it may not be the most comfortable option but if that is your preference and you can live with it then go for it.

Question #4

Q: What are “ply ratings”
Chuck’s Answer: As you go up in ply ratings your sidewall is going to get stiffer. With off-roading you would normally air down tire pressure so going up in ply rating will allow for better handling and traction off road.

Question #5

Q: How does tire size affect performance and handling?
Chuck’s Answer: As you go up in tire size you go up in weight. The extra rolling mass will affect your fuel economy, handling and adds more stress on your suspension.

Question #6

Q: When does too much tire actually become TOO much tire?
Chuck’s Answer: When the tire starts to affect your road characteristics or maintenance of your vehicle ie. turning or rubbing.

For more FAQs check out more videos on our YouTube channel!

This is part 2 to the most frequently asked questions to choosing the right track wheel. In our FAQ series we gather as many questions as we can that you ask us and answer as many as we can! You guys had so many questions regarding choosing track wheels we had to make a second video!

Question #1

Q: What are the signs that a wheel needs to be replaced?
A: Check for any kind of damage ie. bends or cracks. If you see that your wheel is damaged you would want to replace it immediately. Remember that wheels are a wear item and more importantly a safety item. Knowing that your wheel is going to wear over gives you reason to check and inspect your wheels to ensure you don’t find yourself in a situation where a wheel breaks on track putting yourself and others in danger.

Question #2

Q: In terms of wheel care, how should I take care of my track wheels?
A: Ceramic coating your wheels out of the box is a great way to preserve the finish of your wheels. Whether you ceramic coat them or not you are going to want to clean your wheels frequently to avoid brake dust build up. When cleaning your wheels you want to avoid acidic cleaners. If you are looking for ceramic coating check out our CCD Max ceramic coating kit!

Question #3

Q: Does the type of finish matter for track wheels?
A: Yes! A full painted wheel will be more durable than something like a machined wheel. A machined face wheel will have a harsher corner, meaning the clear coat would be thinner around spoke corners. Having a full painted wheel will give an additional layer to the face and spokes along with a clear coat on top of that. As you drive around the track you are prone to debris eating up and scratching the face of your wheel and a full painted wheel will give more protection over a period of time.

For more FAQs check out more videos on our YouTube channel!