Quote:
Originally Posted by ParisTNDude
I can't understand the high price since building a wheel is "building a wheel" regardless of the specs the process and materials are essentially the same.
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I think your statement is just a tad too generic. There are some major differences in materials and techniques between wheel manufacturers which can make their wheels expensive or cheap. For example, the materials and processes used in manufacturing cast wheels are significantly different from that of a true forged wheel. In some high-end wheels (like Forgeline), I would say their high cost is fairly justified. Then you get into the the whole 1-piece, 2-piece, or 3-piece that all affects pricing and labor times too. Don't get me wrong, I do think that someone needs to produce an inexpensive 17" alternative, but as of yet, it hasn't happened. Race Star Industries tried to do it with their "92 Series Drag Stars", but after looking at it, they ended up dropping the idea of the 17's and moving up to 18's. Not sure why that was easier, I guess less engineering needed??? In the end, RSI produced an 18x10.5 specifically designed for the 5th Gen Camaro that is still $400 per wheel. So much for their "less-expensive" alternative!!!