What are forged wheels?
What are forged wheels, and how do they differ from cast ones?
Forged wheels are made from the same materials (alloys) as cast ones; only the manufacturing technology itself is different: forged wheels are made by industrial hot forging, after which, just like cast ones, they go through a process of heat treatment and artificial ageing.
Because of the manufacturing technology, wheels like this are somewhat lighter than their cast equivalents, but have far higher strength, less brittleness and, in some cases, can be repaired outright. Under heavy impacts, wheels like this react in much the same way as pressed steel: that is, they can buckle without breaking, only the force of impact needed to cause the buckling is far greater than for a steel wheel.
It is precisely this resistance to impact that hides the main drawback of a forged wheel: hit a deep pothole at high speed and a forged wheel will most likely stay intact, but it will pass the whole force of the impact on to the car’s suspension, which is mostly not designed for a load like that. So if you “catch” a pothole at speed on forged wheels, it is strongly recommended that you get to a garage and have the suspension checked at the first opportunity.
On the whole, a forged wheel can be considered the optimal combination of the practical advantages of cast and steel wheels, with the exception of one important consumer property: price. Forged wheels are several times more expensive than cast ones, so only a few motorists can afford them, and besides, forged wheels are mainly intended for use on cars with a reinforced suspension.
Question and answer
- How are forged wheels made?
- Unlike cast wheels, forged ones are made by hot forging. If the manufacturer follows the production process precisely, forged wheels are stronger and lighter than cast ones.