Alloy wheel expert needed

[Nick Read]

I want some light but big wheels, light as factory 15s but big enough for at least 300mm discs.

So someone explain to me what a magnesium wheel is, can it just be used as a normal road wheel or is there some drawback to using a mag wheel for every condition on the road or track? Apart from the cost obviously, leave that out of it for the moment. Isnt magnesium highly flammable? I seem to remember chemistry experiments at school with magnesium kept under water so it didnt burst into flames or something? Is magnesium not as strong as alumninium alloy?

 

[maciek]

yes - magnesium is prone to high temps. - when the car catches fire it melts like ice cream - but i guess it doesnt matter... does it Nick?

Magnesium wheel is just the wheel casted from different alloy - containing a lot of magnesium. There are some problems with rigidity of magnesium structutres - Magnesium is softer then Aluminium, but manufacturers surely sort these problems out somehow their own (highly confidential) way. - all WRC factory teams (and some privs too as I belive) rally cars use magnesium wheels - speedline, OZ(=enkei on Mitsu)

As I know there are only a couple of makes that made magnesium wheels on bigger scale and available to private customers - that is Speedline, OZ(=enkei), ATS (which no longer does), and in m.sport only BBS.
in addition many less known or popular companies like Volk racing and others.

Major problem for manufacturers is painting magnesium wheel, as normal powder coatings arent really ok with magnesium alloy. Painting magnesium is more complicated.

Magnesium wheels RUST! very easily and quickly - which adds to painting problem.

I guess thats all - at least all that happend to come up to my mind

 

[Flying Scotsman]

As an older member of the club .....Im thinking back to the days of Minilites ....magnesium alloys!

From what I remember they are expensive, pretty strong and extremely light but:

(1) Magnesium alloy wheels are prone to chemical corrosion requiring frequent cleaning and washing down particularly in winter conditions eg. when salt is on the roads.

(2) An additional significant downside of the ‘mag’ alloy is that the material is brittle by nature, which meant that any careless ‘curbing’ of the wheel could cause cracks that were not easily repaired.

(3) And as you remember from your chemistry days are a wee bit unstable when mixed with heat! Not that you will be planning to set your motor on fire!

In conclusion I think these wheels are very much specialised for infrequent motorsport use. However if used on the road, would certainly improve your suspension dynamics, in fact so much so that you may have to re-tune your spring/damper settings. I think some of the more modern silicon alloys are getting close to the magnesium territory without all the above disadvantages.

Perhaps you need to visit a wheel supplier with your scales under your arm and work your way through their display. You will probably find something that is light .....but as wheels go .....yukk!! Probably OZ are closest to the mark!

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Hi maciek,

I think we hit the post button at the same time! You obviously have similar concerns!

Nick, have a look at http://www.superlite-wheels.comhttp://www.superlite-wheels.com they produce a three-piece wheel which may be a possibility. Only the styles are a but dated / limited and really aiming at historic applications

 

[night.icon]

nick get some 3 spokes !!!

 

[maciek]

thats right scotsman - we couldnt have different opinions... its all basics of "wheels knowledge" heeh heeh... cheers

take a look at this:
http://www.wheelweights.net/http://www.wheelweights.net/
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel22.shtmlhttp://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel22.shtml

most of the info sounds reasonable, great shame that so few european wheels are included though...

hope it helps. - dont bother with magnesium wheels - theyre not worth it.

I would even think to try to fit 295mm discs (or maybe even 305 - with some clever calipers) inside 15" - but it would need checking. and there are quite few alu wheels in 15" which weigh around 5,5 kgs (such a shame You dont live in Poland - i could sell them - ATS motorsport... to You - but i will investigate the idea anyway... if anyone wants...)
then in 16" its not easy to find anything light other than supperleggera and motorsport, incredibly expensive wheels,
and then in 17" its again easier...

 

[maciek]

hmmm... superlights dont seem to be that light anyway...
this is lighter:
http://www.ats-motorsport.com/seiten/produkte/uebersicht/raeder/index.phtml?lang=e&id=11http://www.ats-motorsport.com/seiten/produkte/uebersicht/raeder/index.phtml?lang=e&id=11
and for sure cheaper (if you can get it from who is importing ats to UK...)

 

[geoff_clio182]

3 spokes are the dogs danglies!

 

[Nick Read]

Cheers guys thats just what I needed to know.

BTW I think a two spoke wheel would be better for lightness.

 

[maciek]

Intra/Exip used to make such wheel - with just one big, wide spoke from one side to the other... but i believe they were not light...

 

[Colin_S]

Nick, me and Nick G were looking at Speedline Magnesium wheels as they are custom made. We need them for our wide arches. The clio cup wheels and V6 wheels in magnesium 8" x 18", they weigh about 3kg and cost about £300ea trade price to my shop. Problem is I need a MOQ of 12 which would have meant me and Nick G buying 6 each, if you are interested then i am to and would think Nick G would be too, as we are having trouble finding wheels.

Colin

 

[Colin_S]

Sorry Nick that offer is no longer avalable as i have just ordered my technomags, middle of December it is going to be till i get them.

 

[Nick Read]

Bummer! Ill keep looking then.

 

[BenR]

i wouldnt bother, you wont really gain anything.....not with 300mm vented discs under there.....but you do come to a point where you overbrake your car....with huge discs if you run hard pads, itll take longer to heat up and thus longer to work properly.

but mag wheels are a no no on teh rd...they will break if you hit a curb and generally eng up looknig very very tatty after a yr....

just get a decent motorsport wheel....and none of this fashion nonsense......