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Selecting Materials for Durability
The foundation of every forged wheel designed for track abuse is its material, and aerospace grade 6061 T6 aluminum is far superior to the rest. It is a unique alloy exhibiting high tensile strength and great corrosion resistance, an invaluable advantage at track conditions where wheels experience constant vibrations, quick and sudden impacts, and extreme heat and cold. The forging process at 12000 tons uses a wildly higher compression level than a traditional casting process, allowing the alloy to be forged at a molecular level and unfilled voids, which lead to cracking, are removed. This process is repetition dependent, which mean breaking and cornering on the track will really not be a problem. Also, unlike cast wheels that compromise strength to lose weight, this aluminum alloy, under high pressure, provides a great, light, and strong base that is an absolute necessity for track abuse. Wheels geared for track use do not focus on cosmetic elements, but rather focus on real track abuse needs.
Validated Integrity for FEA
Vertical Forces on the track are going to be heinous longitudinally, and the turns are going to be just as aggressive laterally. The FEA is going to show the most economic way to optimize the design to remove the structural weak points. This along with other validation methods directly correlates to track performance. An example performance structuring is the 17x8 forged wheel with a load rating of 1652 lbs and a weight of only 16.42 lbs. This type of engineering optimizes the physical demands of track use without the weight that would impractically slow track performance. FEA is always going to do a structural analysis and fatigue test to show that the track sessions are going to be well within the structural integrity of the wheel, and that is what makes a wheel a true track ready wheel.
Real World Track Case Studies
Using wheels in a racing environment is what demonstrates their real-world capabilities; we recently completed a build for Valencia-based driver Marcos. Forged wheels are particularly useful in scenarios where their wheels are going to be subjected to a lot of extreme punishment on a track. For this build, every single gram of weight saving was important, which is why we were able to provide a 17x8 FS 17 forged wheel that weighs 16.42 lbs, and that carries a 1652 lbs load rating with full FEA validation. Lightweight wheels provide quicker acceleration, increased steering response, and decreased brake fade, and this driver was able to experience all of these benefits while the wheel was put to the test with extreme levels of punishment on the track. The driver’s focus on weight reduction without compromising wheel strength is in alignment with the foundational design principle of track forged wheels. This case study illustrates the best track wheels are made to deal with the specific requirements of the driver and track, not an arbitrary standard of performance.
Forged Wheels Global Certification for Track & Street Legality
To be legally track and street compliant, forged wheels must meet global certification. Based on international laws, topquality forged wheels are compliant with FMVSS 120, JWL, and ECE R124. The DOT in the US has FMVSS 120, JWL VIA for Japan, and the EU for TCV ECE R124. These certifications are not just safety regulations stickered or stamped on products, they depict thorough 3rd party inspections and testing. These comply with the wheels being track ready, and also the public road abuse safety standard regulations. The dual legality of not needing separate sets of wheels valuable for daily driving performance cars and track driving. Global certification denotes the wheels are compliant, recognized, and registrable in most international competitive driving markets. This is increasingly valuable for global performance driving customers.
Optimized Performance for Commerce and Racing
Forged wheels for racing and commercial use are designed to cross both ends of the pricing spectrum. For racing-focused configurations, the M Spec series is designed for high torque use, especially for those racing in AWD track cars that experience high acceleration and cornering. Thanks to the OEM ODM system, clientele can take advantage of varying dimensions, finishes, and nut/bolt configurations. Vertical integration of design, forging, and manufacturing guarantees high quality wheels and a limited turnaround time for track wheels, meaning brand owners and end-users can efficiently complete their wheel configurations. Additionally, the core race engineering of each wheel remains intact (lightweight, certified globally, and validated using Finite Element Techniques). As a result, track grade forged wheels are not exclusive to professional racing anymore. Almost all performance-oriented consumers can access wheels that are made to last. Racing brands owners, while end-users, can customize their sets to suit the commercial requirements.