Alloy Wheel Specialists
The Wheel & Tyre Specialists - Powered by SCC Performance
info@rtecshop.co.uk 01727 790100
Search Login / Register 0 (£0.00)
  • Sale
  • Wheels
    • Search Wheels
    • Special Offer Alloy Wheels
    • Revo Alloy Wheels
    • Search tyres
    • Tyre code guide
    • Alloy Wheel Style Finder
  • Air Filters
  • Brakes
    • Brake Pads
    • Brake Discs
    • Big Brake Kits
    • Brake Caliper Paint
    • View All Brakes
  • Exterior
  • Engine
    • Diesel Tuning Boxes
    • Accelerator Response Booster
    • View All Engine
  • Exhausts
    • Search Exhausts
    • Exhaust Accessories
  • Suspension
    • Lowering Springs
    • Lowering Springs (adjustable)
    • Coilovers/Suspension Kits
    • Lift Kits (4x4, ATV)
    • Lowering Links (For O.E air suspension)
    • Air Suspension Kits
    • Anti Roll Bar Upgrades
    • Wheel Spacers
    • View All Suspension
  • Gallery
    • Vehicle Gallery
    • Instagram
  • Information
    • Price Match
    • FAQ
    • Testimonials
  • Technical
    • Alloy Wheel installation
    • Avoiding pot holes
    • Bedding in tyres
    • Correct tyre inflation
    • Performance benefits
    • Porsche N rated tyres
    • Mercedes MO rated tyres
    • Quality of a wheel
    • Reading your tyre markings
    • Selecting the right tyre
    • The age of your tyres
    • Tyre labelling
    • Tyre pressure monitors (TPMS)
    • Tyre rotation instructions
    • Tyre tread patterns
    • What are alloy wheels
    • Wheel alignment
    • Wheel nut/bolt torque
    • Why install larger wheels
    • Winter tyres
  • Blog
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Blog
  • What Are Alloy Wheels?

What Are Alloy Wheels?

Sunday 19th April 2015
  • From
  • Technical

Though not required in the UK, there are quality standards to govern the production of wheels. Some countries though, like Germany and Japan, have government regulations requiring aftermarket wheels to meet certain criteria and ensure proper fit. JWL / VIA and German TUV are normally the ones you may notice.

Subsequently, all wheels are not made the same. The performance of an alloy wheel is a direct result of the manufacturing technique employed.

Unfortunately there are a lot of wheels and tyre shops in the UK importing cheap quality alloy wheels from China which have not been through any type of testing and have no structural warranty what so ever. Unfortunately in the wheel and tyre industry you do get what you pay for.

R-Tec Auto Design offers a wide range of wheel choices from manufacture's that have implemented the manufacturing processes that meet the strict O.E.M. (Original Equipment manufacturers) requirements. Wheel companies that supply to the O.E.M. market must follow certain procedures during the manufacturing process to maintain the quality and integrity of their product.

There are many factors to consider when purchasing an alloy wheel.

What Is an Alloy Wheel?

It may seem obvious, but a wheel is comprised of a hub, spokes and rim. Sometimes these components will be one piece, sometimes two or three. The hub is the center portion of the wheel and is what attaches the wheel to the suspension. The spokes radiate out from the hub and attach to the rim. The rim is the outer part of the wheel that holds the tyre.

One-Piece Cast Wheels

This is the most common type of aluminum wheel. The casting of wheels is the process of getting molten aluminum inside a mold to form a wheel. There are different ways this can be accomplished and although it sounds simple, this is truly an art when done properly.

Gravity Casting

Gravity casting is the most basic process of pouring molten aluminum into a mold utilizing the earth's gravity to fill the mold. Gravity casting offers a very reasonable production cost and is a good method for casting designs that are more visually oriented or when reducing weight is not a primary concern. Since the process relies on gravity to fill the mold, the aluminum is not as densely packed in the mold as some other casting processes. Often gravity cast wheels will have a higher weight to achieve the required strength.

Low Pressure Casting

Low pressure casting uses positive pressure to move the molten aluminum into the mold quicker and achieve a finished product that has improved mechanical properties (more dense) over a gravity cast wheel. Low-pressure casting has a slightly higher production cost over gravity casting.

Low pressure is the most common process approved for aluminum wheels sold to the O.E.M. market. Low-pressure cast wheels offer a good value for the aftermarket as well. Some companies offer wheels that are produced under a higher pressure in special casting equipment to create a wheel that is lighter and stronger than a wheel produced in low pressure. Once again in the quest for lighter weight, there is a higher cost associated with the process.

Spun-Rim, Flow-Forming or Rim Rolling Technology

This specialized process begins with a low pressure type of casting and uses a special machine that spins the initial casting, heats the outer portion of the casting and then uses steel rollers pressed against the rim area to pull the rim to its final width and shape. The combination of the heat, pressure and spinning create a rim area with the strength similar to a forged wheel without the high cost of the forging. Some of the special wheels produced for the O.E.M. high performance or limited production vehicles utilize this type of technology resulting in a light and strong wheel at a reasonable cost. BBS has used this technology for several years in their production of racing wheels for Formula One and Indy cars. BBS's RC wheel for the aftermarket is an example of a wheel produced using spun rim technology.

Forged Wheels

The ultimate in one-piece wheels. Forging is the process of forcing a solid billet of aluminium between the forging dies under an extreme amount of pressure. This creates a finished product that is very dense, very strong and therefore can be very light. The costs of tooling, development, equipment, etc., make this type of wheel very exclusive and usually demand a high price in the aftermarket.

In forged wheels, computer numerically controlled (CNC) mills add the cosmetics and the bolt circle to exacting tolerances.

Multi-Piece Wheels

This type of wheel utilizes two or three components assembled together to produce a finished wheel. Multi-piece wheels can use many different methods of manufacturing. Centers can be cast in various methods or forged. The rim sections for 3-piece wheels are normally spun from disks of aluminum. Generally, spun rim sections offer the ability to custom-tailor wheels for special applications that would not be available otherwise. The rim sections are bolted to the center and normally a sealant is applied in or on the assembly area to seal the wheel. This type of 3-piece construction was originally developed for racing in the early 1970s and has been used on cars ever since. The 3-piece wheels are most popular in the 17" and larger diameters.

There are now many options for 2-piece wheels in the market. The 2-piece wheel design does not offer as wide a range of application that a 3-piece wheel allows, however they are more common in the market and the prices start well below the average 3-piece wheel. Some 2-piece wheels have the center bolted into a cast or cast/spun rim section and other manufacturers press centers into spun rim sections and weld the unit together. When BBS developed a new 2-piece wheel to replace the previous 3-piece street wheel, they used the special rim-rolling technology (originally developed for racing wheels) to give the rim section the weight and strength advantages similar to a forged rim. On the high-end of the 2-piece wheel market you can find wheels using forged rims and forged centers. Since these are only sold in small volume and due to the high development and production costs associated with the forging process, they tend to be on the high end of the price scale.

High Light Technology (HLT)

The High Light Technology (HLT) process used in the manufacturing of O.Z. Racing's Alleggerita HLT and Botticelli HLT wheels, for example, uses rollers to compress and elongate the material along the barrel of a low-pressure cast aluminum wheel to obtain the desired profile. This process, which is directly derived from O.Z.'s experience in F1, produces wheels that are extremely light and strong.

The flow forming process and the HLT technologies combine to create mechanical characteristics similar to those of a forged wheel. This permits a dramatic reduction in wheel weight while enhancing structural rigidity vs. a standard cast wheel.

Recent Posts

  • Rotiform Finally made a lightweight Track wheel

    Product News01.05.2025
  • COMING SOON: Risper Premium Low-Line Aero Kit for Volkswagen Transporter T7 (2025+) – Available at Rtecshop.co.uk

    Product News31.03.2025
  • New 2025 Transporter T7 Modifications Launched – Wheels, Styling & Suspension Upgrades

    Product Information27.03.2025
  • Predator Custom Body Kit for 2023> Transit Custom mk2 Vans

    Product News18.02.2025
  • New Additions to the Ford Transit Custom Mk2 product line up

    Product News14.02.2025

Browse by Category

  • Build threads
  • COVID
  • Events
  • General
  • Motorsport
  • Packages
  • Product Information
  • Product News
  • Special offers
  • Technical
  • Videos

Browse by Date

  • May 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • March 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • April 2014
  • April 2013
  • April 2012
  • April 2011
Key Products
Alloy Wheels Tyres Air Filters Exhausts Suspension Brakes Search All Parts
Information
Our Services Privacy & Cookies Terms & Conditions Returns Delivery Info Contact Us
Prices are subject to change daily.
Robert Oldman is a credit broker, not a lender and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 755068) We do not charge you for credit broking services. Finance is introduced through the Omni Capital platform from a carefully selected panel of lenders. Omni Capital is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 720279). Omni Capital is a credit broker, not a lender and does not charge you for credit broking services. Whichever lender Omni Capital introduces you to, Omni Capital will typically receive a commission from them (either a fixed fee or a percentage of the amount you borrow). For your reassurance, all of the lenders Omni Capital works with could pay commission at different rates, but the commission received does not influence the interest rate you will pay. You will be offered the best rate available from Omni Capital's partner lenders, based on the lenders' decision policies.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter

A SCC Performance Company

Copyright of RTECSHOP.co.uk 2025 | All Rights Reserved
Developed & Hosted by DigtialFlare

A company owned by St Albans Car Clinic
Instagram - T&C - Privacy - Top
X

Offer