cast vs. forged - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ssmike · 01-06-2010, 10:22 AM

What is the big advantage of forged over cast wheels. What is the difference in strength and reliability?

8ty8 ls1 · 01-06-2010, 10:30 AM

forged wheels are where you will find the most strength and reliability due to the actual process of forging. Casting isn't as strong as the process is quite different to manufacture a wheel. Cast wheels also tend to be less expensive since the actual process of manufacturing costs less than forging.

Nine Ball · 01-06-2010, 11:43 AM

Cast wheels are also more brittle, and do not stand up to impacts very well. They will crack or chunk when a pothole is hit, and aren't safe to repair. Forged wheels take abuse a little better by just bending usually, and can be safely repaired.

Simple version? Cast wheels are made by melting aluminum into a liquid and pouring them into a mold shaped like a wheel. Forged wheels are made by high pressure stamped forgings as the base material, which is then machined away to look like a wheel.

6liter · 01-06-2010, 12:25 PM

simple answer
forged is much better if you can afford the wheel

cast is a whole lot cheaper, but heavier and not as strong

unless you are racing your car and care about weight go with cast. For daily driving you will be fine with cast.

ssmike · 01-06-2010, 01:15 PM

are the stock wheels cast?

COR Forged · 01-06-2010, 01:40 PM

SS.. with the SS I believe they are forged wheels. Don't quote me 100% on this since I'm not to familiar with the OE wheels on the Cam. What I can tell you is that there is nothing like an aluminum forged wheel; whether it's a 3 piece forged or a one piece forged monobloc. The ride quality, the weight, the look, and the finish is uncomparable to anything that cast wheels have to offer (even their 2 piece replacements).

Gio

6liter · 01-06-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssmike

are the stock wheels cast?

Cast wheel made in China.
If you ever take the tire off, you should see some chinese writing on the rim somewhere. That is the inspector stamp that the wheel was inspected before shipping.

ssmike · 01-06-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6liter

Cast wheel made in China.
If you ever take the tire off, you should see some chinese writing on the rim somewhere. That is the inspector stamp that the wheel was inspected before shipping.

China! Go figure! The more I dig the more I find out that very little of this car was actually made here in the US! I saw a set of Sport Muscle Tach cast wheels at Tire Rack that would look great on the Camaro and are affordable. I'm just concerned about the quality.

Class1E · 01-06-2010, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssmike

China! Go figure! The more I dig the more I find out that very little of this car was actually made here in the US! I saw a set of Sport Muscle Tach cast wheels at Tire Rack that would look great on the Camaro and are affordable. I'm just concerned about the quality.

I'm also interested in those wheels. I like the ones with the black accent in the middle of the spokes. I haven't seen anything about them quality-wise one way or the other.

Treefrog · 01-06-2010, 07:36 PM

Class1E, nice core shot.. Im in the business myself.. Operator at browns ferry 8)

Class1E · 01-06-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treefrog

Class1E, nice core shot.. Im in the business myself.. Operator at browns ferry 8)

I'm in engineering. No shift work for this guy! Might go for the SRO waaaay in the future, but who knows.

Bentley78 · 01-06-2010, 11:39 PM

Stock wheels are Cast for sure, all most all high quality billet aftermarket wheels are forged, 3 piece being the best way to go, esp for weight savings.

Sherwood SS · 01-06-2010, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley78

Stock wheels are Cast for sure, all most all high quality billet aftermarket wheels are forged, 3 piece being the best way to go, esp for weight savings.

+1 on the weight savings

ssmike · 01-07-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Class1E

I'm also interested in those wheels. I like the ones with the black accent in the middle of the spokes. I haven't seen anything about them quality-wise one way or the other.

Yea,the black ones are nice. Only problem is I think they are heavier than the stocks by a couple pounds, not good!

01-06-2010, 10:22 AM	#1
ssmike BL1ZZRD Drives: '16 Camaro 2SS, '20 Equinox Redline Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 7,841	cast vs. forged What is the big advantage of forged over cast wheels. What is the difference in strength and reliability?

01-06-2010, 10:30 AM	#2
8ty8 ls1 Resident Engineer Drives: 2010 Camaro SS, 1988 GMC S-15 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 766	forged wheels are where you will find the most strength and reliability due to the actual process of forging. Casting isn't as strong as the process is quite different to manufacture a wheel. Cast wheels also tend to be less expensive since the actual process of manufacturing costs less than forging. __________________ 12.68 @ 109: LSR cai, Borla S-type axle-back, Tunes

01-06-2010, 11:43 AM	#3
Nine Ball Drives: 1969 & 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,849	Cast wheels are also more brittle, and do not stand up to impacts very well. They will crack or chunk when a pothole is hit, and aren't safe to repair. Forged wheels take abuse a little better by just bending usually, and can be safely repaired. Simple version? Cast wheels are made by melting aluminum into a liquid and pouring them into a mold shaped like a wheel. Forged wheels are made by high pressure stamped forgings as the base material, which is then machined away to look like a wheel. __________________ Fquick.com/NineBall

01-06-2010, 12:25 PM	#4
6liter Drives: BLK Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Posts: 913 View My Garage	simple answer forged is much better if you can afford the wheel cast is a whole lot cheaper, but heavier and not as strong unless you are racing your car and care about weight go with cast. For daily driving you will be fine with cast. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS 6spd - Mods: Kenne Bell 2.8, Kooks, Wortec Bi-Modal Exhaust & Big Brake Kit (12piston front), MTI Shifter, BC Racing Coilovers, CCW Thunderbolt, Hotchkis Sway Bars, Carbon Fiber and satin wrap. Thanks to Hartely Automotive for helping with this build.

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01-06-2010, 01:15 PM	#5
ssmike BL1ZZRD Drives: '16 Camaro 2SS, '20 Equinox Redline Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 7,841	are the stock wheels cast?

01-06-2010, 01:40 PM	#6
COR Forged Drives: SS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 383	SS.. with the SS I believe they are forged wheels. Don't quote me 100% on this since I'm not to familiar with the OE wheels on the Cam. What I can tell you is that there is nothing like an aluminum forged wheel; whether it's a 3 piece forged or a one piece forged monobloc. The ride quality, the weight, the look, and the finish is uncomparable to anything that cast wheels have to offer (even their 2 piece replacements). Gio

01-06-2010, 07:36 PM	#10
Treefrog U235 is fun! Drives: CGM 2SS/M6 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florence, AL Posts: 403	Class1E, nice core shot.. Im in the business myself.. Operator at browns ferry 8)

01-06-2010, 11:39 PM	#12
Bentley78 Rice Cooker Drives: Avalanche Z/71, 2010 Camaro2SS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hawaii/Phoenix Posts: 590	Stock wheels are Cast for sure, all most all high quality billet aftermarket wheels are forged, 3 piece being the best way to go, esp for weight savings.