Looking for Recommendations for Wheels

[olyelr]

no help here, most aftermarket wheels are ugly IMO. Aftermarket wheels are a great way to make a classy looking vehicle look blah. Quite hard to pull it off and actually improve the looks

Agree. But i feel like we are the minority. Seems most would much prefer aftermarket wheels on their ride.

 

[R32driver]

Agree. But i feel like we are the minority. Seems most would much prefer aftermarket wheels on their ride.

This is true. Lots of folks want to stand out, I much prefer to blend in with the crowd. Less is more

 

[sanman28]

no help here, most aftermarket wheels are ugly IMO. Aftermarket wheels are a great way to make a classy looking vehicle look blah. Quite hard to pull it off and actually improve the looks

They look cheap

 

[PsyZek]

Do your best to not add weight. Going heavier than the stock wheels is no good.

 

[DenaliCountry]

Everything is made in China, even OEM….

Aren't stock wheels forged, which is what drives the price VS cast aluminum which is how most aftermarket wheels are made? I personally would be looking for a forged option. Every aftermarket wheel I have had almost always falls out of balance over time and never true up like a stock forged wheel.

 

[sanman28]

Aren't stock wheels forged, which is what drives the price VS cast aluminum which is how most aftermarket wheels are made? I personally would be looking for a forged option. Every aftermarket wheel I have had almost always falls out of balance over time and never true up like a stock forged wheel.

For sure. It’s a more expensive manufacturing process. I have OEM/GM accessory wheels I know are made in china though. Is what it is.

 

[PsyZek]

Highly unlikely that the stock wheels are forged on these.

Forged wheels are much more expensive and usually only found on higher-end performance cars or when an OEM sources from BBS or the like.

Most OEM wheels are cast.

The best bet for consumers is to try to look for a wheel with a forged barrel and cast face, sometimes called Flow Formed.

A forged 18" wheel (like in my profile photo) weighs 18lbs and for a car range from $800-1000 each - for an SUV even more.

I bought a set of 18x9 RPT1s for my 22 Yukon, they are flow formed. Enkei calls their Flow Formed manufacturing process Most Advanced Technology (M.A.T) and they were about $500'ish each and weigh 23lbs (2105 load rating). Mounted on a 275/70/18 Michelin Defender LTX MS each wheel weighs 75lbs versus the 20" factory wheels/tires for an SLT coming in at 81.4lbs. Most of this weight is tires (52lb each).

Look up the effects of unsprung weight on vehicle dynamics, saving 6.5 lbs a corner is nice, even for a heavy SUV. Doing the opposite is a no bueno. Combined with a low rolling resistance tire I expect to pick up a couple of MPG overall.

I'm going to do a thread on everything I've done with the truck once it's done.

 

[PsyZek]

no help here, most aftermarket wheels are ugly IMO. Aftermarket wheels are a great way to make a classy looking vehicle look blah. Quite hard to pull it off and actually improve the looks

I'm hoping to prove you wrong, my friend! (at least for mine).

 

[CMoore711]

Aren't stock wheels forged, which is what drives the price VS cast aluminum which is how most aftermarket wheels are made? I personally would be looking for a forged option. Every aftermarket wheel I have had almost always falls out of balance over time and never true up like a stock forged wheel.

Stock GM wheels are for sure not forged. As others have mentioned even GM OEM wheels are cast in China. In previous generations or model years there was time when they were cast in USA, but that manufacturing process has really become few and far between inside the states and has moved off-shore for even GM OEM wheels.

GM just drives up the price because their OEM wheels are still stamped "GM" on the back side of the spokes. Even the wheel manufacturers that are offering factory or OEM replica wheels; Most are cast in China

Most of the aftermarket wheel offerings from companies like DUB, Fuel, Niche, KMC, Status, etc. are all going to be cast in China and are arguably no better/different of quality construction and finish than OEM wheels to be honest.

A 22" x 9"/9.5" cast wheel whether it's from GM or some of the other aftermarket companies above is going to weigh 45 lbs. +/- with no tire.

There are a few wheel manufactures that offer a flow form forged wheel or "hybrid forged" wheel that combines the process of cast with some forged wheel barrels for a slightly stronger and lighter wheel than 100% cast construction. Of course these wheels are more expensive also.

There are companies that offer forged aluminum wheels for our trucks; They are significantly more expensive than a equivalent cast aluminum wheel. But also significantly lighter weight and stronger.

How much lighter? I have forged monoblock wheels from Rennen (in my profile pic) that are 24" x 10" and they weigh 36 lbs. per rim with no tire. That's almost 10 lbs. lighter than a 22" cast aluminum wheel and it's a larger wheel.

 

[DWSmoot]

You can always think about going the replica wheel route. Maybe I’m lucky, but have had them in 3 vehicles with no issue. Balanced out great. 1/2 the price of OEM. These are 22x9 +24 offset. With a 285/55 they sit flush with the fender well.