Too all the wheels manufactures, Lightweight Wheels?

[Sti_Guy]

With all the advances in PT over the years and so many people making really cool single and multi piece wheels, i never see anyone advertise weight. Until you step into Forgelines or something toward "race/track" does this ever seem to come up, but it just got me wondering can anyone else make a nice 18x10 wheel in the 20-22 lb range and not cost 4000$ a set?

[6spdcamaro]

CCW's are just as functional as the high end wheels, but they have less visual detail, and thats why they are so much cheaper. A full set of 18's is $2500, and it is 60 bucks extra to get them coated.
CCW classic- 18x12 is 21.6 lbs
http://www.ccwheel.com/wheelprofiles-display.php?id=Classic

[Sti_Guy]

CCW's are just as functional as the high end wheels, but they have less visual detail, and thats why they are so much cheaper. A full set of 18's is $2500, and it is 60 bucks extra to get them coated.
CCW classic- 18x12 is 21.6 lbs
http://www.ccwheel.com/wheelprofiles-display.php?id=Classic

Right but its a challenge to all the others to spec out weight, and even to design wheels that will be lighter, stronger etc. You go and buy CCW because you know thats a racing wheel and it will be 21lbs but looking at some of the other wheel designs they might be close its just a thought Ive been kicking around more less a challenge i guess of the other wheel manufactures.

[brans72]

Does wheel weight matter that much if one set is 7 lbs over the other? I am sure there are alot more areas you can shave weight on a car. Call Forge Line and ask them how much each wheel cost in every size but you might be on the phone for a couple days. I can tell you my 18x10 Rushforths with tires are very lite for size etc. Alot of factors your looking at like which model wheel from company X then what tire from company K etc. Just little over kill with weight of wheels since this subject has been talked about before.

[Wheel Czar]

Weld Racing makes an 18x10 multi-piece wheel for around $2400 a set of 4. It is their RT-S series. Each wheel only weighs around 20 lbs. I would consider looking at these.

[BBC69Camaro]

Does wheel weight matter that much if one set is 7 lbs over the other?

Unsprung weight is worth a lot more per pound, rotating weight/mass even more. If you driving at the level where you are pushing the limits of your car then every bit helps.

[DriverzInc]

With all the advances in PT over the years and so many people making really cool single and multi piece wheels, i never see anyone advertise weight. Until you step into Forgelines or something toward "race/track" does this ever seem to come up, but it just got me wondering can anyone else make a nice 18x10 wheel in the 20-22 lb range and not cost 4000$ a set?

I think the biggest thing to take into consideration is that the select few companies that have the capability, and/or the willingness to take the extra time and effort into further lightening wheels are on the higher end of the manufacturing spectrum. Forgeline, HRE, and our new NewGen 3pc stuff are among the few that come to mind.

We recently did a NewGen 3pc LITE wheel with further machining on the back of the spoke to lighten the wheel more so than its already light weight and got a 19" wheel down to under 23lbs, but to do it takes machining the center disc of the wheel from both the top, and bottom of the forging (or center). In doing so, it's complicated, and time consuming, which of course = dollars.

[Forgeline 1]

I think the biggest thing to take into consideration is that the select few companies that have the capability, and/or the willingness to take the extra time and effort into further lightening wheels are on the higher end of the manufacturing spectrum. Forgeline, HRE, and our new NewGen 3pc stuff are among the few that come to mind.

We recently did a NewGen 3pc LITE wheel with further machining on the back of the spoke to lighten the wheel more so than its already light weight and got a 19" wheel down to under 23lbs, but to do it takes machining the center disc of the wheel from both the top, and bottom of the forging (or center). In doing so, it's complicated, and time consuming, which of course = dollars.

Very well stated Jon.

[Sti_Guy]

No doubt everyone makes great points. I mean not to single out Forgeline but its cool to see other peoples wheel designs, and I just wondered why many did not include weight since everything these days is so custom seemed easy. Now making lighter wheels i know that depends a lot on the forging. Light weight 1 piece wheels i know is possible.

[jeff jordan]

Lets face it, as Jon said it would be very easy to price yourself right out of the market going after the last 1/2 lb of weight reduction. You have to keep in mind what your end goal is. For years, while working for another company, we spent many hours looking for a 1/2 lb of weight reduction but every time you invested in the time, tooling, materials to drop that weight you just narrowed your market considerably.
At some point styling has to be considered, to sacrifice an appealing design to cut another few ounces may not be the right thing to do.

[Sti_Guy]

I guess what I'm saying is, hey if you have a line up of a wheels weigh them suckers see what they are advertise it so people like us know. Then you can see if you have a design that might lend its self to be even lighter. Toss an R on the end of the model # and have a new product.

[Sieg]

The tire, spindle, hub, and brake manufacturers have to play the weight game also. Wheel weight is only one element. What's a 14" x 1.25" brake rotor weigh compared to a wheel.

IMO for a vehicle that is primarily street driven with low profile tires the chance of serious component failure isn't worth the weight savings.

[Vegas69]

I'm go, then show. I feel every wheel manufacturer should have the OPTION to lighten the wheel. When I bought my Forgelines the weight was a big contributor to why I bought the ZX3R vs. a different style.