Which wheels are lighter: cast or stamped?

Which wheels are better - cast or stamped?

Most car owners want their car to look elegant and neat. To do this, it is important not only to monitor the condition of the body, but also the appearance of the rims. There is no consensus among car enthusiasts as to which wheels are better, cast or stamped? Let's look into this issue together.

Each type of disc has its own strengths and weaknesses. After studying them, the car owner must choose the most suitable option for himself.

For those of our visitors who prefer to watch and listen rather than read, we suggest watching the video at the end of the article, in which an auto center specialist tells which wheels are best to choose for a car.

In any case, you will have to be careful and carefully look after any wheel rims, regardless of whether they are cast or stamped.

Types and properties of alloy wheels

All light alloy wheels can be divided into two large groups: cast and forged.

The name “cast disk” indicates that the part is made from light metal alloys using the casting method. The main material for the manufacture of cast wheels is aluminum. However, sometimes there are wheels cast on a magnesium basis.

Simplified, the manufacturing process can be represented as follows:

1. A melt with a set of metals and additives is prepared in a metal smelting furnace;
2. Then the molten mass is poured into special molds;
3. After this, finishing machining of the cast workpiece is performed;
4. At the last stage, a paint coating is applied to the surface of the disc to protect it from corrosion.

Forged wheels are produced using a different technology: a light alloy metal blank is heated and subjected to pressure treatment in a special press, that is, stamping or forging.

To produce each type of forged disc, you need your own separate stamp, which is quite expensive. Therefore, the choice of forged alloy wheel models is somewhat poorer than that of their cast counterparts.

Advantages of alloy wheels

The most obvious advantage of alloy wheels is their attractive appearance. A car equipped with “casting” looks richer and more solid. This axiom applies to both forged models and cast wheels.

Alloy wheels are much lighter than stamped steel wheels of comparable size. For example, the weight of a 13-inch wheel varies within the following limits:

• steel stamping - 8 kg,
• light alloy wheel - 6 kg,
• forged wheel - 5 kg.

When using alloy wheels, the load on the suspension is reduced, the moment of inertia during deceleration is reduced, acceleration dynamics are improved, and the wheel returns to its original position faster when driving over potholes.

Disadvantages of alloy wheels

Among the main disadvantages of alloy wheels, their fragility should be noted. With a strong impact, the disc does not deform, but cracks or chips. Most of these damages cannot be repaired.

Forged wheels are the most durable, however, with a strong impact on the wheel area, all the power falls on the suspension parts, disabling them. So repairing the suspension, steering mechanism and drive shafts can ultimately cost more than replacing a wheel rim.

An unpleasant moment when driving on all types of “casting” can be an imbalance of the wheels. This happens most often for two reasons:

1. Since the balancing weights are glued to the inner surface of the disc, they come off quite often.
2. When driving off-road and in mud, sticky road debris gets stuck in the beams of fancy alloy wheels. Even when dry, it does not lag behind the surface of the disc, disrupting the wheel's balance.

The main recommendation for using alloy wheels is to drive carefully on rough roads, especially on low-profile tires. You also need to exercise care and caution when parking near curbs and ribbed bollards. Alloy wheels are designed for good cars and excellent roads.

Properties of stamped steel discs

Most vehicles produced on our planet are initially equipped with steel wheels. Structurally, the “stamping” consists of two parts: the rim and the disk.

• Each of these parts is made from sheet steel by cold forming;
• The rim is then connected to the disc into one element using spot welding;
• The final stage of disc manufacturing is the application of liquid or powder paint.

The entire technological process for producing such “pieces of hardware” is quite simple and cheap.

Advantages of stamped steel wheels

Metal stamped wheels, oddly enough, also have quite a few advantages.

1. Among the main advantages of stamped iron disks, it is necessary to note their low cost. The price of the issue is usually 2-3 times lower than a similar-sized “casting”.
2. A positive technical characteristic will be the ability of the discs to deform upon impact. Thanks to this, the steel is crushed, absorbing the impact force, and a softened impact is transmitted to the suspension parts and steering mechanism.
3. The next advantage of such a disk will be the ability to recover in most cases. Only completely crushed and cracked discs cannot be repaired. In other cases, you can use straightening, rolling, welding, and so on.

Disadvantages of stamped steel wheels

Along with important advantages, stamped metal disks have a number of serious disadvantages.

• Among the disadvantages of stamped wheels, many motorists put their unattractive appearance first. Although it is enough to cover the iron discs with nice caps and this disadvantage can be eliminated.
• The situation is much worse with a large mass of steel wheels. This ultimately affects the durability of the entire vehicle's suspension.
• Another problem that constantly plagues a metal disc is merciless corrosion, which not only spoils the appearance of the disc, but also slowly eats away at it. The oxidation reaction is especially active after winter, when remaining salt, moisture and heat lead to the formation of deep shells on the surface. You can’t waste precious time; the disk must be revived by removing oxides and applying a protective coating.

Unfortunately, there are no perfect wheels. Therefore, choosing what is better to use, cast or stamped discs, follows from their operating conditions. In addition, you should not forget to regularly maintain and repair your wheels.

Ideally, it is advisable to have two sets of wheels and tires: in winter, use stamped steel wheels, and in summer, switch to light-alloy cast or forged ones.

Video educational program: which wheels are better - cast or stamped?

Stamped or cast wheels. Which ones are better and more reliable? Right choice

Basically, budget car configurations come with so-called stamped wheels. But the “rich” configurations are “cast”. But why does this happen? It turns out that “stamping” is worse, because they save money on it? But casting is better, and much better, because they make it for those who have money? Where is the truth here, what is really better and more reliable, and is there any point in overpaying for “casting”? Let’s find out...

THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE

You know, a lot of my readers write to me that the same make and model of car costs MUCH more, only because it has alloy wheels, and not “stampings”. That the difference in price can reach as much as 50,000, or even more! Guys, this is not entirely true.

Of course, alloy wheels are more expensive than stamped ones, but the difference here is not so critical, if you take the R14, which now comes on a very large number of our cars, then it is approximately 10,000 rubles (for all 4 wheels), no more, unless you have not some “author’s” wheels (which would be rare on a standard car).

But such a difference of 50,000 rubles emerges due to the greater configuration in many respects, for example - the stamped wheels were R14, and the cast wheels were R15, also added (for example) - climate control, cruise control, all power windows, heated windshield glass, parking sensors, etc. Of course, such equipment will be more expensive, but to say that only because of the “casting” is not correct! I think everyone understands this, let's look at each of the subspecies.

Stamped discs

At the moment, this is the most common disc in the whole world. The reason, as usual, is banal, THIS IS THE PRICE. It’s no secret that they will cost 2–3 times less than their cast counterpart (with the same parameters).

They are made by stamping metal parts, there are two main ones - the “rim” and the so-called “plate”. Initially, a plate is produced, made using a special profile to increase rigidity, which is why the “plate” is almost never flat. Then the rim is made, it is also stamped from steel, then they are connected using special welding. That's why they got the name "stamped". After this process, the surface is painted with a special corrosion-resistant paint. Actually, this is the whole process, often it is as automated as possible, so the cost of such a product is really low.

pros:

• Low cost of the final product
• Maintainability. When deformed, it does not crack but wrinkles. Can be easily straightened and then easily applied

• The suspension is a bit protected. What’s the matter here, but the fact is that upon impact, the disk begins to crumple, and as we know from the law of physics, part of the “impact energy” is absorbed, accordingly, this destructive effect does not pass further to the suspension element (or passes but in a reduced version). Thus, we can say that these discs “protect” the suspension a little.
• Standard bolts. The thing is that for “casting” you usually need to use your own bolts, which are more expensive.

There are not many advantages, but as you can see, they really exist, if you need a disc for a company car, that is, say, for a Gazelle, or some kind of truck, or bus - STAMPING IS THE IDEAL CANDIDATE. Moreover, I personally have never seen alloy wheels on trucks (expensive and pointless).

Minuses:

• Appearance. What can I say, they really are “wretched” on the outside.
• Caps. Almost 80% of manufacturers use decorative caps to at least somehow decorate their stampings. They are usually plastic and quite easy to lose! So this is where the absurdity lies - if you have lost your ORIGINAL CAP (I’m not talking about market China), then a new one will cost about 1000 - 2000 rubles. If you sell the cap + the disc itself, then you can easily buy the original “casting” (well, maybe not much to add).

• They rust. YES they are subject to destruction, because they are made of steel.

• Heavier. Maybe not significantly, but still, an additional load on the suspension
• Worse balancing. As a friend of mine who works at a tire shop told me, they move much more along the axle.
• They hold the road worse at high speeds, from 80 – 90 km/h. It was also developed experimentally; I have an acquaintance who first went to stampings and then to castings - as they said, “the difference is obvious.”

In general, for a simple car, as I wrote above, also for commercial vehicles, this is the “it.” But if your car is representative and expensive, then it’s a completely different story to imagine some kind of “INFINITY” on stamped wheels.

Alloy wheels

Here the production is completely different, these discs are produced by the so-called “casting”, that is, they are physically poured into molds, and only then they begin to process ( more about this here ).

The main material used for production is alloys of aluminum and magnesium, and they are known to be much lighter than steel, and also almost do not rust or rot, that is, the decomposition period is much longer.

However, due to a complex process that is much more difficult to automate, cast options are more expensive than their stamped counterparts.

From the point of view of design and automotive aesthetics, these wheels are much more beautiful - there is only one principle left - the wheel is round, but there can be simply a huge number of internal shapes and patterns.

As for weight - many of us are sure that cast options are much lighter than stamped ones, but practice shows the following parameters. Previously, cast wheels were much more likely to deform and burst due to their structure (all aluminum combined with magnesium is a brittle composition), so modern “casting” manufacturers, as they say, have evolved and began to produce wheels that are much more massive, which increased their strength and durability. If previously the difference between stamped wheels (a complete set of 4 wheels) differed from cast ones by 20 kilograms, now it is only 10 - 12 kg. Of course, there is a difference - 10 kilograms of weight simply pales in comparison to the entire mass of the car. Of course, it will be a little easier for the suspension, like the car itself, to push such discs, but you shouldn’t expect a GLOBAL DIFFERENCE in dynamics and fuel consumption.

Positive points:

• Beautiful and stylish. Indeed, the beauty of design is sometimes just OVERWHELMING

• Easier. As noted above, not by much, but still. When hitting a bump, the wheel recovers its trajectory faster
• Fuel consumption. Again due to weight, it decreases, but it will be more likely to be several tens of grams of fuel rather than liters
• Wheel acceleration and braking. These characteristics are improved, because their inertial component is lower
• Easier to balance. As a rule, such discs are much stiffer, they initially hold their shape well, there have been cases when balancing is not necessary at all
• At high speeds, the “steering feel” of the car’s handling is much higher

As you can see, this is a kind of technological breakthrough, not only beautiful, but also light and rigid.

Negative points:

• Strength. If you remember 1990 - 2000, when alloy wheels began to appear on the market en masse, they were treated with skepticism. YES they are beautiful, but the durability (especially on our roads, when you can easily fly into a hole) LEAVED MUCH TO BE BETTER. When hit, they cracked, and repair was practically impossible. That's why manufacturers have now increased the weight of such discs (they have added strength)

• Maintainability. AT a low level, if you dented such a disk, then it is difficult to repair it, most likely you will have to solder it (which is also difficult to call a high-quality repair, most likely it is a “crutch”, but it will not be able to produce such characteristics)

• Suspension. Now you can ask me a question - if they are so rigid, it means that the suspension suffers more, because the impacts go straight to the disc and it does not deform. This is partly true, THEY ACTUALLY TRANSFER MORE IMPACT ENERGY. BUT - due to the fact that they are lighter, the energy is initially not as strong as for stamping. If you look at it on your fingers, it’s like throwing a half-liter bottle and a one and a half liter bottle at you. The first will have less impact energy than the second. The same is true here; most likely, in terms of suspension life, they are almost identical.
• More expensive service. What can I say, it’s more expensive to remove and put on tires, even the balancing “weights” that stick to the surface are more expensive
• It's hard to imagine on a commercial vehicle. As I wrote above, it’s difficult to imagine on buses and other trucks, because they may not be able to withstand the weight and burst, and they will simply stand there in space.

On ordinary ordinary foreign cars, this is really not a bad choice, it’s lighter (the brake pads will simply be used less), more beautiful, better balancing and speed characteristics, and also saves fuel at least a little. But it is very difficult to imagine such options on trucks; they are simply not designed for this.

Let's put it this way - if you have a passenger car, you can (and even need) to use casting, if you have a truck or work car, then you can use stampings, but in any case, the choice is yours.

Now a short video version of the article

Voting: What do you think is better – cast or stamped wheels?

Which wheels are lighter: cast or stamped?

For a long time, motorists have been arguing about the choice of rims for summer and winter - some prefer the classic “stamping”, while others choose only “casting”, and there is no consensus on this issue. In this article we will find out how different types of rims behave in winter conditions, analyze several myths in detail, and try to make the right choice.

Features of cast and stamped wheels

Today, cars are equipped with two fundamentally different types of wheel rims - stamped steel and solid cast (or light alloy). Forged wheels have become somewhat widespread, but in a number of characteristics they are similar to cast wheels, so they are often considered together. These discs are radically different from each other in design and characteristics.

Stamped steel wheels are made from several parts, stamped from sheet steel with specific characteristics. Such discs have all the characteristics of steel - they are quite strong, upon impact they get deformations that can be straightened, are resistant to very negative temperatures, but at the same time they are heavy and do not have the most attractive appearance. The main advantage of these discs lies precisely in the combination of their low price and high strength.

Alloy wheels are made by casting from light alloys (mainly aluminum), so they have low weight and high strength, and most importantly, an attractive appearance. However, alloy wheels have insufficient resistance to shock loads - an impact can lead not only to chips or cracks, but even to the entire disk splitting. Also, light alloy wheels somewhat lose their strength qualities at very low temperatures. Finally, alloy wheels have a higher cost, but this price fully pays for all their positive qualities.

Such differences in the properties of discs have given rise to a debate about which ones are better to use in summer and which ones in winter. Both types of disks have their adherents, but very often the choice of disks is not made for objective reasons, but only on the basis of common myths and prejudices.

Alloy wheels

Stamped discs

Myths about using cast and stamped wheels in winter

Today it is generally accepted that traditional stamped wheels are better suited for winter use than summer ones. The following arguments are usually given in favor of this opinion:

• Due to frost, alloy wheels can break even without heavy loads;
• In winter, the roads are slippery, so the likelihood of a side impact with discs on curbs or other obstacles is higher, while stamped discs are easier to return to normal after an impact, while cast discs usually cannot be restored;
• There may be holes and various obstacles hidden under the snow, which can cause alloy wheels to break when they hit them;
• Alloy wheels, especially of an open design (with thin “spokes”), become clogged with snow, which disrupts the balancing and also leads to intense corrosion of the brake mechanisms, wheel bearing and other parts;
• Under the influence of deicing agents, alloy wheels undergo corrosion and lose their appearance and characteristics.

It is for these reasons that many motorists install wheels on stamped wheels for the winter, and put up with the fact that the car becomes less attractive and loses some of the advantages that alloy wheels give them (for example, a reduction in unsprung weight, and the associated overall improvement in comfort and handling ). But in reality there is no point in such a replacement, since all the above arguments are something from the realm of rumors, and most of them are not entirely true.

How do cast and stamped wheels actually behave in winter?

What actually happens to alloy wheels and a car with such wheels in winter? To understand this, you need to analyze in detail each of the above arguments against.

The fragility of “casting” in the cold. In principle, this argument is correct - aluminum alloys at very low temperatures actually become more brittle and brittle. However, in reality, cars practically never encounter such frosts that an alloy wheel can crack upon impact - this is only possible in the Far North. And even in Siberia, the temperature in winter rarely drops below -40°C, so there is no risk when using alloy wheels.

Side impacts. This argument also has a right to life, but remember - how long have you hit your wheels on obstacles? Such situations happen extremely rarely, and if they do happen, the impacts in this case are not so strong as to damage the disk.

Danger under the snow. You can encounter such obstacles only if you drive on virgin soil covered with unrolled snow, but in real urban conditions it is almost impossible to run into a hole or brick hidden under the snow, because the snow is compacted on the roads and in courtyards and cannot fall under the weight of the car. By the way, this fact significantly reduces the likelihood of alloy wheels breaking, since all road irregularities are smoothed out by compacted snow. Although this, of course, does not apply to city roads, which are regularly cleared of snow.

Snow in the disks. Wet snow and ice can actually clog both stamped and alloy wheels just as well, but the latter have the advantage of usually being designed to self-clean while driving. This, by the way, makes it easier to wash the discs and provides better cooling of the brake discs, which is important during icy conditions, when the brakes are used much more actively.

Disc corrosion. This point is irrelevant for modern alloy wheels - they have a very reliable paint coating, and many wheels have a much more durable chemical coating (for example, anodizing). So alloy wheels are not afraid of reagents, which cannot be said about traditional steel wheels - they break down much faster in winter.

Special mention should be made about disc deformations. Very often, supporters of stamped discs argue that these discs are much easier to straighten and repair if damaged, while alloy discs can only be thrown away after a strong impact. However, in winter, as we have already found out, the risk of impacts not only does not increase, but in some cases decreases. In addition, stamped discs can not only become deformed, but also become beaded, causing additional problems.

Thus, there is no real reason not to use alloy wheels in winter. And, contrary to popular belief, “stamping” in winter does not have any advantages over casting. However, an important note must be made here - this applies to high-quality alloy wheels manufactured in compliance with all standards and regulations. If you use too cheap disks of dubious quality, then problems will definitely not be avoided.

What to choose for installation in winter?

So, what type of discs should you choose in winter? In fact, the answer is very simple - choose those disks that are preferable for you personally. If a car is “shod” in “casting” in the summer, then it makes no sense to install “stamping” for the winter - there will be no positive effect from this replacement. And if the car is always operated on stamped wheels, then there is no point in installing “cast” wheels for the winter, especially if you don’t want to spend extra money.

Although there are several nuances here. In particular, for cars that are constantly used in northern conditions, it makes sense to install stamped wheels for the winter, which are better able to withstand severe frosts.

You also need to take into account that cast wheels are lighter than stamped ones, and therefore have less inertia. What does this give? A lot: alloy wheels slow down or accelerate faster, which in icy conditions has a positive effect on the car’s handling, improves the ability to restore traction after a skid, etc. So light alloy wheels are generally safer in winter than heavy stamped ones, and this factor is very important.

In any case, choosing the type of wheels for winter use is a personal matter for each motorist, and only you can decide what your car will be “shod” in this winter.

What is the difference between cast wheels and stamped and forged ones?

Reading time: 7 minutes

Many car enthusiasts often wonder which wheels are better - cast or forged, or stamped. Many disputes are provoked by the manufacturers themselves, who often advertise their products. For this reason, a large number of stereotypes and prejudices have formed around various materials. To combat them, you need to study a lot of information.

Which wheels are better: cast, forged or stamped?

The reliability of car wheels directly depends on the material used to make them. Stamped ones are used in cheaper car models. As a rule, they are made of steel. For this purpose, rolled metal sheets with certain characteristics are used.

Car disk

Cast ones are made by pouring the prepared alloy into a special mold. With this method, manufacturers evenly fill the distance between the center and the rim, which increases the service life of the wheels. Such models are not subject to corrosion, sudden breakdowns and other troubles on the road. The disadvantages of this option include the impossibility of self-repair.

The choice of material will depend on the terrain over which the motorist plans to drive. If you can’t spend extra money, you should choose cast options, while forged ones are suitable for speed lovers. To decide whether forging, casting or stamping is better, you need to study the pros and cons of each option.

Types of disks

Advantages and disadvantages of manufacturing materials and some parameters:

• Cast elements. Advantages: the load on the suspension is reduced, the disc reduces inertia during braking, and improves acceleration. Disadvantages - fragile, chips quickly appear that cannot be repaired independently. FR Design is considered one of the best manufacturing companies. On sale you can find diameters from 13 to 22 inches at an affordable price, and various color options are available.
• Stamped. Advantages: they are 2-3 times cheaper than cast ones, they crumple on impact without “injuring” the suspension, crumpled or cracked discs can be repaired yourself. Disadvantages are not always an attractive appearance, high weight, which affects the car suspension, susceptibility to corrosion, which intensifies over time, this is especially noticeable in the spring, when salt and moisture on the roads corrode the metal.
• Forged. Advantages: strength and light weight. Disadvantages: small selection of designs, high cost. A 14-inch wheel will cost the car owner approximately 2,500 rubles*.

What are the differences between car wheels?

Stamped models have the following parameters:

• The average cost is 1000-1500 rubles per part of one wheel with a diameter of 14 inches. Their advantage is considered to be strength when falling into a hole or when encountering other irregularities.
• The disadvantages include their weight.
• Among the disadvantages, many also cite cost and appearance.

Cast parts are made from aluminum or magnesium alloys. These materials significantly reduce the weight of the wheel. This property will help you decide how to distinguish forged wheels from cast ones. The most popular size of the cast element is 14 inches, costing about 3000-4000 rubles. The disc is quite fragile and can crack if it falls into a hole, in which case this type of wheel cannot be restored. However, as surveys of car enthusiasts show, neither the high price nor the low service life reduce the popularity of such wheel elements.

Forged options have a long service life and a large margin of safety. Many experts call low weight another advantage.

How to distinguish forged car wheels from steel ones

Not entirely honest sellers take advantage of the buyer’s ignorance of the characteristics and appearance of the discs, but a fake can be determined mainly by weight. The average weight of a steel disk should not exceed 4-5 kg ​​with a diameter of 15 inches, but a forged one with the same diameter will already weigh 7-8 kg. The described difference will allow you to correctly determine the material of the disk.

The second difference is based on the fact that the edge of the forged part may be slightly uneven and rough. This happens because during the production process, the blanks of this part of the wheel are further processed on a lathe, while steel ones do not undergo this procedure, and, accordingly, their surface will be even and smooth. It is worth paying attention to the nature of the application of brand inscriptions. On steel parts they will be more voluminous, and on forged parts they will be extruded on the surface.

The main characteristics of forged rims are as follows:

• long service life;
• low weight;
• attractive appearance;
• does not “injure” the vehicle’s chassis;
• allows you to repair any damage.

Forged version

To determine the exact differences before purchasing, it is a good idea to study the specifics of the product.

Typically the labeling includes the following information:

• Rim width is the first number on the line indicating the distance between the inner parts of the rim in inches.
• Edge type - shows the shape of the edge of the rim, i.e. where the wheel and rim meet.
• Connectivity - indicated by the symbols “x” and “-”. The first of them means that the rim is one-piece, and the second shows that it can be easily assembled and disassembled.
• Mounting diameter - the size of the mounting rim for the tire.
• Annular protrusions or rolls are located on both sides of the metal part of the wheel and are used to block the outflow of air when there is external pressure on the cover. The additional function of these mounts is to secure the tire to the rim.
• Disc overhang is the interval between the point of contact of the structure with the hub and the center of the disc cross-section.
• The diameter of the mounting hole - the central hole, is usually indicated in millimeters. This factor for passenger cars ranges from 50 to 70 mm. It is necessary that the diameter exactly matches the seating belt of the car hub.

This is important during high-speed driving, a sudden stop, or when entering a sharp turn, because in a situation, for example, with a problem engine, you can always call a tow truck and get home by taxi, but in the case of a disk failure while driving you will have to deal with it immediately to avoid numerous traffic problems.

What is the difference between cast wheels and stamped ones?

To understand whether cast or stamped wheels are better, you need to decide on their main characteristics and decide for yourself which ones each motorist needs.

Comparison of cast and stamped wheels:

• Stamped ones are heavier than cast ones, which allows for better vehicle control.
• Cast ones are not afraid of high humidity, while stamped ones are sensitive to any external phenomena. However, during production, their surface is coated with a special paint that protects the disc from the harmful effects of the external environment.
• The stamped one is softer and more flexible, so if it hits an uneven surface, the disc will bend but not crack, while the cast one will break beyond repair.
• The stamped element can be restored manually, using a hammer, but in case of serious damage you will have to contact service.

When deciding what to choose, casting or stamping, special attention should be paid to the surface of the rim.

Which car wheels are lighter: forged or cast?

Forged ones are much lighter than cast ones. This is observed due to the fact that during the forging process, “extra” parts are removed from the disks, after which decorative figures of various shapes are cut out on them. Thanks to this form of execution, the wheels have thin walls.

The formula for producing forged wheels is as follows:

• The blank is made by stamping it on two presses with different forces of 10 and 20 tons.
• Next, the forging is carried out through a metal-cutting machine.
• Using a machine, holes and spokes are made on the surface of the wheels.

How to determine whether a wheel is forged or cast

When choosing forged or cast wheels, you should pay attention to some characteristic features of the first option.

These include:

• lighter weight (usually no more than 5 kg);
• flat and smooth surface of the part;
• presence of stamped inscriptions on the surface.

Although there is now a statement that a car is not a luxury, but a means of transportation, it still requires a lot of maintenance. This is especially true for the wheels of the “iron horse”. Their main part can be called disks, because they are essentially the “skeleton” of the wheel to which the tires are attached. When choosing the material from which the disk is made, it is important to pay attention to its strength, giving preference to a long service life.

*Prices are current as of December 2018.

Forged, cast or stamped - which wheels are better and how do they differ?

Having a desire to change the appearance of the car, or simply faced with the need to replace wheels, the car owner is faced with a dilemma about which type of wheels to give preference to. And since the modern market is literally overflowing with a variety of models from famous and completely unknown manufacturers, we will try to help in resolving this issue. So, which drives are better, and what is the difference between them?

Types of car wheels

Let's start by considering the different types of car wheels, the reliability and durability of which directly depends on the material used in their manufacture, as well as the production method.

Stamped discs

Budget cars in initial configurations are most often equipped with stamped rims made of steel.
Such models are made from rolled metal sheets of a certain thickness. In this case, the blanks for the hub and rim are individually processed in a hot state by a press, after which the finished product is formed by welding. In this case, the use of rolled steel guarantees the discs high strength and ductility, which are the main advantages of such models.
With a strong impact, they do not crack, but bend, which allows restoration or repair, even without the use of specialized tools and equipment. However, it is impossible to say unequivocally that stamped wheels are certainly not better than their expensive counterparts, since their low cost and maintainability are countered by significant mass, which increases wear on the suspension and reduces efficiency and ride comfort. It is for this reason that almost all stamped models have special holes to reduce their weight. But even in this case, steel wheels are 2-3 times heavier than alloy wheels.

You also need to remember that steel is susceptible to corrosion, which can render the disc unusable in just a couple of years of use.
To avoid this, steel wheels are coated with a special varnish or primer, which, however, is not capable of creating an ideal protective layer. Well, another drawback is the outdated design, which rarely harmonizes with the exterior of a modern vehicle.

Alloy wheels

When buying a new car, you should decide which wheels to give preference to.
At the same time, most experts recommend choosing alloy wheels, of course, if you have the finances. Light alloy models are made using classical casting, when the alloy is poured into a pre-prepared mold. When produced using this method, the boundary between the disc and the rim is completely leveled, which increases the durability and reliability of the entire structure.

The material for light alloy wheels in most cases is aluminum alloy, which may contain titanium or magnesium.
Cast models are significantly superior in strength to their stamped counterparts, since their deformation limit is significantly higher. In other words, to damage such a wheel, the required impact energy must be increased by 3–5 times. On the other hand, the ductility of an alloy of non-ferrous metals is lower than that of steel. And this aspect provokes great difficulties if wheel rim repair is necessary. In this case, improvised means are not enough. A whole range of professional work will be required, including hot rolling, argon welding, stretching, etc. The necessary equipment is expensive, and therefore repairs will not be cheap. In addition, when heated, the alloy of cast disks changes its molecular structure. As a result, the wheel loses strength and often becomes completely unsuitable for further use.

Alloy wheels, due to their low weight, provide a high level of reliability, safety, comfort and efficiency, not to mention the fact that they look great.
In addition, they are not afraid of corrosion, with the exception of models made of alloys with magnesium, which are gradually destroyed under the influence of moisture if the multilayer coating is missing or damaged. The advantages of the models under consideration also include the geometric precision of manufacturing, which improves the car's handling.

Forged wheels

Let us immediately note that mechanical forging, by which these products are made, has nothing in common with manual forging. In fact, this is the same stamping in which light alloy blanks are used instead of sheet iron. The main difference from creating steel disks is the use of high temperature and the use of other forms.

Forged wheels are made from non-ferrous metal alloys, which, compared to cast models, contain a much higher proportion of high-strength components (titanium or magnesium). While casting implies a violation of the molecular structure of the metal due to its complete melting, this does not happen when forging a heated workpiece. As a result, the discs become stronger, more durable and reliable. Practice has shown that a strong impact received while driving is more likely to damage the car’s suspension than the integrity of the forged wheel.

You can notice the difference between forged and cast products in their weight.
The former will be 10-25% lighter, which allows them to demonstrate better fuel efficiency and comfort, and also provide less wear on the chassis. Experts believe that forged wheels have only one drawback, which is the high cost of the product, which is determined by the peculiarities of the manufacturing process.

What to choose?

If you live in a city and travel exclusively on good roads, but do not want to spend extra money, alloy wheels are the best option. Moreover, the car market today offers many high-quality models at an affordable price, the best of which are products from European, Russian and South Korean production, and the worst, respectively, from China and Turkey.

Those who love speed and are unable to drive otherwise should take a closer look at forged wheels, which have greater strength and less weight. In addition, these products are adored by tuning connoisseurs and people with high incomes.

As for stamped steel wheels, they are often chosen for driving on roads with poor surfaces, are used as a replacement for cast models in the winter, and are also used to equip workhorse cars. These discs are inexpensive and allow you to make repairs without outside help, even in the field.