When trying to decide what rims to go racing with, there are quite a few things you need to think about. First, of course, is aesthetics. You are going to have to look at your wheel and tire combination every single day that you drive your car, and if you do not like how it looks, no matter how race-ready the wheels are, then you are just going to end up feeling negative about them. Make sure to pick wheels that have a design you can live with, better yet, pick a design that you will enjoy riding in.
Of course, a great looking wheel is only the beginning. The two most vital physical characteristics of a racing wheel are its weight and its strength. Racing is an extremely demanding sport in terms of the forces and stresses that are put on your car. This kind of driving quickly separates parts and components which are cheaply made and those which can stand the test of a few hot laps. Wheels are no different, in fact, they can be amongst the most important decisions you make when it comes to outfitting your car for the track.
Lets start with weight. Wheel weight is known as unsprung mass. This term refers to the weight of components which are not supported by the suspension system. Reducing this number can dramatically speed up your car, as lower wheel weights let the suspension react faster to any imperfections or changes in road condition or driving. It also brings down the overall weight of the car, which we all know is a big factor in speeding up acceleration and cutting down braking distances.
Strength is a measure of a wheels ability to handle impacts and other forms of stress without deforming or cracking. Coming down hard on a curb, pothole, or other obstacle can be enough to cause weaker wheels to bend at the lip. This is especially true of the larger diameter wheels seen on a lot of imports, since low-profile sidewalls do not absorb as much impact as standard tires.
Not surprisingly, strength and weight are tied together in the world of racing wheels. There are two basic ways to construct a wheel: forging and casting. Cast wheels are very common on street machines, and they are formed by pouring liquid metal into a mold. This method requires that wheel manufacturers use a lot of metal alloy in order to make sure that the wheel is as strong as it needs to be, thus increasing the weight of the wheel. Forged wheels are created by working the metal at a lower temperature, and this lets companies create stronger wheels with far less materials than are used in cast construction.
What does this mean for you? Basically, forged wheels are a much better racing solution than cast wheels. They are stronger and lighter, making them an unbeatable combination for the track. Unfortunately, they are also significantly more expensive than cast wheels, but this is the price that you will need to pay when trying to wring out those precious few seconds from each lap time.
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