I've been trying to piece together how these are all related when it comes to wheels. Would some wheel guru please correct me if I'm wrong? For comparison purpose, I'm assuming all wheels are the same size and made of the same material.

cast wheels: cheaperest, moderate weight, weakest
forged wheels: more expensive, lightest, modeate strength
2/3 piece wheels: most esxpensive, heaviest, highest strength

I might be way off, so please correct me if I'm wrong?

Thanks y'all!

Gotta get some new wheels soon!

-andrew

 

Well I guess it depends. I guess you want a general rule?

Cast is heavy. But not necessarily the weakest. The oem cast wheels on the maxima/G are strong.

Forged is going to be noticably lighter.

Now the question is strength. I suppose the rule should be strength per lb. The cast actually might be stronger but it might be because they cast it so thick. lb for lb, forged will be stronger.

I'm not versed on 2/3 pc wheels to comment.

 

2/3 piece wheels fall into 3 categories, forged, cast or combo, thus they can range from heaviest to moderately light, and strongest to moderately strong, and most expensive to moderately expensive.

 

A forged wheel with the same volumetric dimensions as a cast wheel will be stronger, but heavier. Forged wheels can be lighter than because less material is incorporated into the design for less weight, this also takes away from strength, sometimes to the point where they are weaker than some cast wheels, but never at the same weight range.

 

Thanks fellow washingtonians!

I'm really interested in getting some Weds Sport SA-90 forged wheels. They are the lightest 19" wheels I could find, (18.3 pounds for 19x9.5 and 18.8 pounds for 19x10.5) but I'm not sure how they stack up strength wise. I'm really dis-interested in Volks or iForgeds since it seemed that everyone and their monkey had a set in CA. . .

I'll keep researching for now. Anyone else?

-Andrew

 

Well if you are that weight conscience than you should research the tire weight also. I was looking up tire weights of the Michelin Pilots vs the Bridgestone re050s and there was a few lbs difference for the same sized tire.

 

I'm already on that. At least that info is readily available on tirerack. The BFG KDW2s I have on my stock 18's are amazing traction wise, but are 28 pounds for 245/45/18s, which is more than the Michellins. . .(I think they are 25 pounds?) Now it gets into the whole "tread life/traction vs weight" issue. Hmmmmm so many variables. . .so much fun!

-andrew