How to distinguish cast wheels from stamped ones

How to distinguish a forged wheel from a cast one?

The question of how to find out whether a wheel is forged or cast worries many car owners who are planning to purchase wheels produced using forging technology. Indeed: the price of the latter is quite high, so no one wants to become a victim of scammers. It is no coincidence that forged wheels are called the prerogative of wealthy car owners: their production technology is quite complex and energy-consuming, so they are manufactured abroad for Premium class vehicles. However, in our country the situation is somewhat different, which allows us to determine the price of these products several times lower! So, if you are asking questions about the difference between forged wheels and cast wheels and which wheels are lighter: forged or cast , this article is for you!

The difference is in the production technology!

The production technology of cast and forged wheels determined the name of their types. For the manufacture of both the first and second, aluminum alloys with alloying additives are used. The difference lies precisely in the technology, which involves the use of hot die forging, hardening and artificial aging for cast wheels. All these processes allow us to achieve a material structure that will withstand loads well due to its strength and ductility! Thanks to it, forged wheels can be repaired even in situations where cast wheels cannot be restored. Even with strong impacts leading to deformation, forged wheels are not destroyed.

How to identify a forged wheel?

Despite all of the above, the question of how to determine whether a wheel is forged or cast remains relevant. So: what parameters should you pay attention to in order not to get into trouble and not overpay for a cast wheel instead of a forged one?

The weight of a forged wheel is less. So, it is up to 5 kg for a product with a diameter of 15 inches and 8 kg for a cast product of the same diameter. However, it is worth noting: this parameter may not work if we are talking about domestically produced disks that are manufactured using old technologies. In this case, Russian forging may have virtually no differences from foreign casting;
Alloy wheels have an uneven edge. Forged wheels are absolutely free of such imperfections, since their production technology provides for additional processing, and therefore ideal geometry. However, it is worth noting that alloy wheels made using the latest technologies are also free from such a disadvantage as an uneven edge;
Forged wheels have stamped or pressed lettering on them. At the same time, cast ones are distinguished by convex designations, although in this case there are exceptions;
The specifications for forged wheels from well-known manufacturers include the designation “forged”, which translates as “forged”, “stamped”.

Unfortunately, price is not always the determining factor as to whether the disc in front of you is cast or forged. This is due to the dishonesty of sellers who, knowing about this feature, often artificially inflate the cost of alloy wheels. In order to be guaranteed to purchase forged wheels, contact the Bullet company!

Ideal wheels: how to distinguish forged, stamped and cast wheels from each other

According to production technology, passenger car wheels are divided into three types: cast, forged (from light alloys) and stamped (from sheet steel). Let's try to figure out how to distinguish them, and which type is better.

What should a car wheel look like?

Car rims are more correctly called wheels. A car wheel consists of a rim and a disk part. On stamped-welded wheels, these two elements are separate parts, stamped from a steel sheet and connected by welding. Hence the name of these wheels.

1 — installation stream; 2 — wheel disk; 3.4 - rims

Light alloy wheels are a monolithic product, where the rim and disc part are formed simultaneously, in the same shape.

The wheel must be durable. There is nothing to explain here: the stronger it is, the more reliable and safe it is. And to make the structure stronger, you need to add metal to the most loaded places.

True, then the wheel will become heavier, but it should also be light. The lighter the car, the less energy is spent on its movement, which means it is more economical and can reach higher speeds. In addition, the wheel is part of the “unsprung mass” - that part of the car’s weight to which shocks from uneven road surfaces are transmitted directly, and not through elastic suspension elements. The lower the unsprung weight, the better the ride quality of the vehicle. Another important characteristic is the moment of rotational inertia. The lower the inertia, the lower the resistance to acceleration, which means the faster the car accelerates.

Price is also of great importance. The price of a wheel is determined by the cost of the material from which it is made and the complexity of the technology. Of course, light alloys are much more expensive than steel, but to produce one wheel, non-ferrous metal is required less than ferrous, and the difference in the finished product is no longer so noticeable, especially with the development of mass production technologies for light alloy wheels. Alloy wheels of the same size are usually two or more times more expensive than stamped ones.

Characteristic differences of light alloy cast wheels

As a rule, alloy wheels are made from aluminum alloys, less often - magnesium. They have many advantages.

Beautiful. It is easy to give cast molds different configurations. In this case, the designers’ imagination is limited only by the designers’ requirements for the strength of the wheel. Forged wheels also look good, but their shape is more limited by technological capabilities. The fact is that in the technology of hot die forging, as the process of “forging” disks is correctly called, there are more restrictions associated with the permissible shapes of the dies and, accordingly, the resulting product. Cast forms can be more fanciful, and the choice of “casting” is incomparably richer. Alloy wheels have a wide variety of design and external design options
Economical. In theory, alloy wheels actually reduce fuel consumption. On the one hand, lightweight wheels have a lower moment of inertia, which means they reduce energy costs when accelerating a car. But on the other hand, the most economical acceleration is smooth acceleration with minimal movement of the gas pedal. And with such acceleration, the inertia of the rotating parts fades into the background. At the same time, wheels with greater inertia increase the vehicle's range (the distance it can travel without pressing the gas or brake pedals), which means you have to press the gas pedal less often. That is, the main thing in saving fuel is the driving style: smooth acceleration and minimal braking. True, the weight of the car also affects fuel consumption, and with alloy wheels the whole car becomes a little lighter.
Dynamic. The engines of modern cars are quite powerful, so that during a sharp start from a standstill the drive wheels will slip. Due to the lower rotational inertia, a light alloy wheel will begin to slip a little earlier. This will have an effect, but will not add acceleration to the car, rather the opposite, because there will no longer be traction on the slipping wheel. But on all-wheel drive vehicles, on vehicles with large wheels, this theory really works. The formula here is simple and known from a school physics course: the angular acceleration of a wheel is directly proportional to the torque supplied to it and inversely proportional to the moment of inertia.
Comfortable. Large unsprung mass transmits shocks from road irregularities more strongly to the car body, reducing comfort in the cabin. A lighter wheel means more comfortable movement.
Durable. Aluminum alloy is much more resistant to corrosion than sheet steel. That is why alloy wheels retain their original appearance longer, are more resistant to the aggressive environment of winter city streets, and do not require touch-up.
Good for winter. The attractiveness of alloy wheels for winter conditions is due to the same corrosion resistance. The reagents used to treat city streets quickly corrode the enamel of steel stampings, after which the metal itself begins to rust. Aluminum wheels are coated with a layer of durable oxide film, and if the surface does not receive any mechanical damage, they retain an attractive appearance for a long time.

Features of forged wheels

They have the same advantages as cast ones, but to a slightly greater extent (not counting the variety of shapes, in which they are most often inferior to cast products). They are also the most expensive. The strongest for the same weight, or the lightest for the same strength. This is achieved by the fact that during pressure treatment the metal is, as it were, compacted, its surface becomes stronger, “riveted,” as experts say.

Disadvantages of light alloy products

The main disadvantage of an alloy wheel is its vulnerability on bad roads. With a strong impact, it receives a crack through which air begins to escape, or a whole piece flies off the rim upon impact and the tire can simply jump off the wheel.

If the disc is strong enough to withstand the force of the impact, then there is a high probability of cutting the sidewall of the tire. Subsequently, along the crack, the destruction of the disk itself begins. After such an incident, the alloy wheel usually has to be replaced. Now some tire shops offer repair of such damage by welding, but this is also an expensive operation. In addition, there is no certainty that after repair the wheel will remain strong enough.

Stamped discs

Stamp-welded wheels are made from steel sheet using the cold deformation method. Design options are limited to color, as well as the shape and number of holes. Holes in the disc are needed not only and not so much for “beauty” and weight reduction (often very slight). The main purpose of the holes is to allow air to pass through them to cool the disc brakes.

This can be clearly seen in old Volga or UAZ cars: while they only had drum brakes, the wheels had no holes at all. As soon as front disc brakes appeared, the wheels became a little larger in diameter, and holes began to be cut out in the discs.

It is not always possible to enlarge these holes, giving a more interesting look to the car, because the strength is sharply reduced, and increasing the thickness of the sheet from which the disc is made is limited by the capabilities of the technology.

Why are caps needed?

Many automakers install plastic caps on stamped wheels, and the shape of the plastic is limited only by the imagination of the designers, because the cap is a purely decorative element and does not carry any load. So that the product is not visible behind the cap, it is painted black, or in nondescript dark tones of gray and green. From a distance, the hubcap on such a wheel cannot be distinguished from a casting.

Wheels on bad roads

Unfortunately, Russian roads are rich not only in uneven roads, for driving on which it is important to reduce unsprung masses, but also in serious potholes in the asphalt. Getting into such a hole, the wheel hits the edge of the asphalt. In the event of a strong impact, the shock energy compresses the suspension spring and the travel limiter buffer—a “suspension breakdown” occurs. After this, the tire deforms, absorbing its part of the energy. The tires of modern cars, for the sake of better handling, have a low profile, so they are easily crushed upon impact right up to the rim. The remaining impact force acts on the wheel. And this is where all sorts of troubles can happen. The steel disk is crushed, absorbing some more energy that would otherwise go to the ball joints and suspension arms. If there is a strong impact, the dent can be so large that the tire loses its seal and deflates almost instantly. This is dangerous, but a cut in the sidewall of an alloy wheel is no less dangerous. After such an impact, the steel wheel can be straightened, if the seal is not broken, without even removing the tires. And in case of severe damage, roll it out, restoring the roundness of the rim on a special machine.

Video: how to choose the right wheels for your car

The choice of disk (wheel, to be precise) is largely a matter of your financial capabilities and taste preferences. In normal use, the difference in their characteristics is not so noticeable. Alloy wheels are theoretically preferable from the point of view of improving the properties of the car. They look impressive and add personality to your car. Stamped wheels are an effective budget solution, especially on bad roads.

What is the difference between cast wheels and stamped ones?

Previously, we have already compared cast and forged wheels and talked about the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Today it’s time to compare alloy wheels with stamped ones and determine which ones are better. We will not torment you with waiting and will immediately get down to business!

Stamped discs are the most common. They are the standard equipment of any car, regardless of make and model. People often call them “pieces of iron.” It was not by chance that they received this nickname; the fact is that stamped discs are made from ductile steel. The production technology is indecently simple - two circles are knocked out of a piece of steel using a mold, which are essentially the inner and outer parts of the disk . Later, the blanks are rolled, welded and coated with an anti-corrosion coating. Ready!

Alloy wheels are right behind stamped wheels in popularity. Their main difference from the latter is the material used in their creation. Alloy wheels are literally cast from an aluminum or magnesium alloy .

Advantages and disadvantages of stamped discs

+ Durability .
The main advantage of stamped discs is that when they fall into a hole, they do not split, but bend. Thus, they can be easily and quickly revived, and even a non-professional can do it. + Suspension protection .
When hitting an obstacle, stamped disc caps absorb the full force of the impact, which relieves the suspension from unnecessary loads and extends its service life, and therefore protects the car owner from unexpected repair costs. + Low cost .
Stamped wheels are several times cheaper than cast wheels, and now it’s clear why they are standard equipment on most modern cars. — Unpresentable appearance .
Stamped wheels are a budget option, so you shouldn’t expect an attractive appearance from them. That is why car owners often decide to replace the hardware with more attractive cast ones, while others solve this problem with the help of hubcaps. — Susceptibility to corrosion . When purchasing a stamped disk, you should carefully examine its surface for chips and scratches. The fact is that at the slightest violation of the integrity of the disc's paint, especially in winter, under the influence of water and reagents, the disc runs the risk of turning into a rusty piece of hardware.

Advantages and disadvantages of alloy wheels

+ Light weight .
One of the significant advantages of alloy wheels is that they weigh relatively little, and therefore protect the suspension from unnecessary overloads, which allows you to extend its life. + Attractive design .
The manufacturing technology of alloy wheels allows them to be created in any shape, which is appreciated by car owners who prefer their car to stand out on the road. - High price .
Of course, cast wheels are not as expensive as forged ones, but compared to stamped ones, their price is several times higher. - Fragility . If a cast disk falls into a hole, it will not be dented like a stamped one, but will crack, so it will be impossible to restore it, so you will have to buy a new one, and this is an additional expense.

We have presented to your attention the main characteristics of cast and stamped wheels. Each species wins in some ways and loses in others. It is quite difficult to say which wheels are better, because each car owner has his own requirements for them. Therefore, which wheels, cast or stamped, is up to you, dear visitors of our portal, to decide. Good luck on the roads and, as they say, no nails, no wands!

What is the difference between cast wheels and stamped ones?

October 25, 2017 In the Tires and wheels section | No comments.

Wheels are the support of the car, on which the quality of its movement depends. One of the main attributes of this system is the disk, which is attached to the case.

Today there are several types of such elements on the market, differing in both design and design features. You can learn more about car rims on the website http://replica.su.

Basic Concepts

Discs are special cylindrical products that are the main supporting element of a car. Depending on the manufacturing method, there are several types of these products, among which the most popular are:

cast. Discs of this type are made by hot casting into special molds. Aluminum is used as the main material. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the weight of structures, which qualitatively affects the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle;
stamped. This type of disc is made from two elements that are welded together. To obtain blanks, special types of steel are used, which can be easily shaped by rolling or stamping.

Advantages and disadvantages

To understand which type of disk is better, you should compare several of their characteristics:

weight. Cast structures are significantly lighter than their stamped counterparts. On such aluminum wheels the car has better handling characteristics;
durability. Steel corrodes very quickly, so products lose their external parameters in a short period of time. If such a disc is not painted, it will fail very quickly. Cast structures tolerate moisture and exposure to various chemicals very well;
strength. Here, stamped models have an advantage, since steel is much more ductile than aluminum. Therefore, when impacted, the disk will simply bend, whereas a cast product may crack. Restoring the latter type of damage is quite difficult, since it requires special equipment;
design. The variety of alloy wheels is very wide, which allows you to choose them for almost any style of car. Stamped models differ in several standard shapes;
price. Alloy wheels are much more expensive than stamped ones, which is why the latter are especially popular.

It should be understood that each of these types of disks has its own positive aspects, which you should rely on when purchasing them.

Which wheels are better - cast or stamped?

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to the question of which wheels are better - cast or stamped. Both of them have both their advantages and significant disadvantages. Therefore, if you suddenly face such a question, the answer to it should be sought according to the principle of choosing the lesser evil. Some people don’t see the point in the beauty of casting, others are not ready to invest money in it, and still others generally consider the so-called titans to be extremely unreliable and completely unsuitable, for example, for driving in winter.

We propose to understand this issue in as much detail as possible, and from an objective point of view. Let's look at both wheel rim manufacturing technologies. Let's list and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. We will also pay attention to some myths that, although in small quantities, have accumulated in recent years around stamped and cast wheels.

What are stamped discs

Stamped discs - made from sheet steel by cold stamping. However, not from a single piece of metal, but from several molded parts. They are subsequently welded into a finished part. At the last stage of production, stamped wheels are primed, painted in the desired color, and sent to the car manufacturer or to car store displays.

It should also be noted that, in accordance with the State Standard, such disks undergo only two tests in production. The first is to determine the so-called rotational bending fatigue strength. In real life, these loads are experienced by the wheel rims when entering a turn at speed. The second test is to determine the rotational bending fatigue strength. The wheels experience similar loads when moving in a straight line under the car's own weight.

Looking ahead, we note that stamped discs are not fragile, and therefore are not tested for shock loads. In practice, this means that steel wheels cannot be completely destroyed by running over a small obstacle - a hole, a curb, and so on. As a result of the impact, the stamped disc may be deformed and bent, but not crack or burst. Steel gives it these properties.

What are alloy wheels

Alloy wheels are made from an aluminum-based alloy by casting into a finished shape. The quality of the wheel, its strength, durability, and resistance to various types of loads depend on the composition of the alloy used in production. After casting, the discs undergo finishing machining to give them an ideal geometric shape and remove casting marks. At the final stage, the products are primed and painted.

We will not argue here that better technologies and materials are used for painting cast wheels than in the case of stamped ones. In fact, there are both steel ones with high-quality coating and titanium ones, which peel off in just a few weeks of use. Objectively, in this regard, there is no difference between casting and stamping. It all depends on where and how the rims were made.

Many note as something important that cast wheels, unlike stamped ones, are a solid, monolithic piece of metal. No welds. In practice, this feature cannot in any way distinguish titans from steel stampings, since it is impossible to destroy welds made by a robot under normal operating conditions of car wheels. Even if a stamped disk is placed under a powerful press, the welds will be the last thing that such a unit can be destroyed.

In accordance with the same aforementioned State Standard, alloy wheels are also tested in production. However, in this case there are not two, but three. The first two are similar. But the third is to determine the resistance of the wheel to impact at different angles. Especially for casting, such a check is very important, since, unlike stampings, aluminum monolithic disks under shock load do not bend so much as burst.

The tendency of cast wheels to crack and burst will be discussed a little further below, since many consider this feature to be one of the most catastrophic shortcomings of titans. Whether titans are so “weak” in terms of shock loads is still a big question.

Advantages and disadvantages of stamped discs

For both types of rims, we will first consider the advantages and then the disadvantages. Moreover, not in the same way as some sources - with obvious prejudice and expressed sympathy for casting or stamping. Each point, as far as possible, will be substantiated, and not presented as an axiom that should simply be taken for granted. Along the way, the previously promised myths will be mentioned, since their existence greatly influences the choice of car enthusiasts in favor of one technology or another.

Advantages of stamped steel wheels:

Relatively low cost . Since steel itself is cheaper than aluminum with various additives, the finished product is more attractive in price. However, even in the case of stamped discs, there are very expensive options. It’s the same with casting – the price tag is not always exorbitant.
Impact resistance . This is perhaps one of the advantages of stamped discs that is worth attention. Especially considering the state of our roads. After carelessly hitting a specific impact hole, the steel disc will most likely bend and lose its shape. But it can be easily and relatively inexpensively straightened, returning the ideal geometry.
Possibility of rolling . Indeed, rolling steel wheels is more feasible than in the case of casting. Moreover, it is possible to align stampings even in the case of severe deformations, while castings, most likely, will not be greatly deformed, but will simply crack.
Stamped discs are less clogged with snow . This is a very controversial advantage if you look at things objectively. Yes, some alloy wheels have a very open configuration, and they actually pack snow almost instantly. But the stampings also get clogged, especially on the inside.
The suspension lasts longer with steel wheels . This advantage relates more to myths about casting and stamping. It is based on the fact that steel wheels supposedly dampen impacts, making the suspension less likely to break due to bad roads. If the blow is serious, then the steel will actually soften the load a little. But there is absolutely no guarantee that the suspension will not fall apart from this.

As a result, it turns out that of the really important advantages of stamped disks, only price, shock resistance and increased chances of successful rolling in case of serious geometry violations are worthy of attention. The rest is just because.

Let's move on to the disadvantages of stamped discs:

Tendency to corrosion . It is quite reasonable that if a product is made of ferrous metal, then it will rust and rot when in contact with moisture and oxygen. But this is only true in cases where the owner does not take care of the car and its parts. Accordingly, if the paint has come off from stamped discs in places, they will rust. But if you update the protective coating in a timely manner, then steel that is vulnerable to corrosion can last forever.
Heavy weight . Which allegedly affects the intensity of acceleration, inertia during braking, and even fuel consumption. This is all partly true. Stamped steel wheels are indeed heavier than similarly sized titanium wheels. But only a couple of kilograms. Does this have any serious effect on dynamics and fuel consumption? Yes. But it is so insignificant that for most car enthusiasts such a difference will not be a significant argument when choosing.
Dull appearance . The stampings really look standard and ordinary. They are not fashionable. Not cool. Partially this drawback can only be offset by caps. Coloring using print technology is used less often. But no matter what you do with stampings, they won’t look the same as casting. Although not for everyone this is an indicator of something there.

As a result, it turns out that there are neither more nor less shortcomings. If you regularly monitor the condition of your car and its components, do not chase fractions of a second in acceleration and grams of saved gasoline, and also do not particularly bother with the appearance of the car, then stamped wheels have no disadvantages for you at all. Nothing but advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages of alloy wheels

Among the advantages and disadvantages of alloy wheels, objectively speaking, there are more myths than actually substantiated facts. Nevertheless, there is still some truth even in myths. To highlight this truth, and its real scale, is part of the purpose of this material.

The advantages of alloy wheels include the following:

Appearance . You can't argue with this dignity. After all, titans really look more solid than stampings. In addition, unlike steel, cast wheels, there are countless different designs - on thick spokes, thin, twisted, designer, and so on. The coolness increases significantly if behind the open titans there is a brake system painted in a bright color. When paired with low-profile tires, the titans look even better. In general, the appearance of alloy wheels is objectively better than that of monotonous stampings.
Light weight . It probably doesn’t make much sense to say that lightweight aluminum wheels have a positive effect on dynamics and fuel consumption. It was already said above that this influence is very insignificant, and the advantage relates more to the myths about cast and stamped discs. Additionally, the weight difference is not as huge as it is made out to be, based on the fact that aluminum is much lighter than steel. Aluminum, as a metal, is actually 2.8 times lighter than steel. But this does not mean that cast wheels are three times lighter than stamped ones. In fact, for example, regular 13-inch titans weigh about 6 kilograms, while similarly sized stamped ones weigh 8 kilograms. The difference is so small because there is much more volume of metal in cast wheels than in steel ones.

In fact, that's all. The low weight described by one point could, of course, be expanded into three - fuel economy, better acceleration and less inertia when braking. But there is no point in this, since all these pseudo-advantages are so insignificant that for the average car owner they are only a reason to brag to others. No more.

Now the disadvantages of alloy wheels:

High price . Many, of course, will say that there are titans on the market that are not so expensive. Especially on the secondary market. This is true. But even taking these factors into account, alloy wheels are still noticeably more expensive than steel ones. Especially if they are original, with a nameplate of a specific car brand. Although the same forged wheels are even more expensive. But there is something to pay for, and that’s another story.
Fragility . Aluminum wheels are really “afraid” of shock loads, and in most cases, serious impacts will permanently damage them. Light deformations can still be straightened, small cracks can be welded or soldered. But the fact remains that casting is more fragile than steel. Again, within reasonable limits. With careful operation, it is quite possible that you will never see in your own example what a burst titanium is.
Increased fragility in the cold . But this is more a myth than a disadvantage. Aluminum actually becomes more brittle at sub-zero temperatures. But this can only be noticed when it comes to frosts of 40-60 degrees Celsius. Winters in mid-latitudes, where the average frost is no more than 10-20 degrees, do not increase the fragility of titans so much that they cannot be ridden.
Difficulties with rolling . This is also not a myth. Alloy wheels are difficult to roll even when their geometry is slightly distorted. Even in such cases, they have to be heated intensively, otherwise there is a risk of not straightening the wheel, but causing it to crack.
On titans, the suspension “kills” faster . This point has already been indirectly discussed above. Essentially, this is a myth. Yes. On a bad road, on low-profile tires, or on a stiff sports suspension - the latter will “suffer” from the bad road. But if you put stampings in similar conditions, they won’t “live” for long either.

In total, it turns out that there are shortcomings, but all of them are significant only under certain, harsh operating conditions. In general, the drawback of titans that stops many from buying them is the price. Dot.

Which wheels are best for winter?

Of course, within the framework of this topic, one cannot ignore the question of which wheels are better in winter: cast or stamped. Why does this question exist? Firstly, it is believed that alloy wheels are mercilessly “killed” in winter. And since they are expensive, it’s kind of a pity for them. Secondly, many believe in the myth that in the cold, casting becomes comparable in fragility to ice. Thirdly, which has also already been mentioned, the titans are more open, and therefore become clogged with snow.

In fact, all three of these factors are not as critical as they are made out to be. You can “kill” anything in winter. But if you are a careful and attentive driver, then even cheap Chinese titans will easily survive one harsh winter on your car. With frost, everything is clear - if you do not live in a permafrost area, then you don’t need to worry about increased fragility due to frost. As for the falling snow, these are generally fairy tales that an adult should not believe in.

On the other hand, if in your region the situation with the roads in winter is frankly bad, then for the winter, it is still better to take a set of steel stampings and not worry about hitting every hole. The same goes for those who like to drive on bad winter roads. For the rest, it makes absolutely no difference which wheels to install in winter, cast or stamped. If you have money for cast ones, go ahead. Whether you don’t or don’t see the point in them, there are no problems at all.