20" Performance rims manufacturing process

[byeOpec]

Are the original Performance rims flow forged?

 

[beastmode13]

Yes. It is flow formed or flow forged as some marketing types like consumers to think.

 

[Daniel in SD]

Yes. It is flow formed or flow forged as some marketing types like consumers to think.

Is that the same as rotary forging? The center of the rim is cast but the barrel is forged?

 

[byeOpec]

Yes. It is flow formed or flow forged as some marketing types like consumers to think.

Thanks.

 

[beastmode13]

Is that the same as rotary forging? The center of the rim is cast but the barrel is forged?

Yep, it is the same. Some wise marketing person just decided that replacing "form" with "forge" means more $$$ on the wheel.

Great video showing how flow formed, flow forged, a rotary forged wheel is made.

 

[Daniel in SD]

Yep, it is the same. Some wise marketing person just decided that replacing "form" with "forge" means more $$$ on the wheel.

Great video showing how flow formed, flow forged, a rotary forged wheel is made.

Well, the barrel is forged!
Fully forged wheels don't seem worth the extra cost for a few pounds of weight savings.

 

[beastmode13]

Well, the barrel is forged!
Fully forged wheels don't seem worth the extra cost for a few pounds of weight savings.

Advantage of fully forged wheel are 1. Weight savings, 2. Strength in barrel and spokes. Spokes is the flow forged wheels are casted, which have random crystal structure. The forging process aligns the metal crystal structure, which make it stronger.

There are different level of forging as well. Most forged wheel are CNC machined from forged billet. Only a few forged wheels has spokes forged into shape then finished with CNC machining.

Modern wheel manufacturing process has evolved significantly. A flow forged wheel will be plenty strong even for professional motorsports. Picking wheels really comes down to subjective style and willingness to spend $ for grams of weight savings.