BEWARE!
This specimen is an exact example of an advertised “FORGED HYBRID, LIGHT & STRONG “BRANDED” Wheel. There were complains of high-speed vibration, the wheel was taken out and sent for a rotational analysis. The unfortunate results were obvious to the naked eye when the wheel was rotating on a balancer, it was WARPED, in simple terms, it became oval, instead of round.
We sent the wheel to our laboratory and cut out a sample metal specimen for metal elongation testing. Results showed that the YES, the wheel is indeed made from an aluminium metal alloy compound. HOWEVER, the testing results suggested that it was made from “MOLTEN CASTING” A356 aluminium, a very far cry from what was being advertised as “AEROSPACE 6061-T6” “FORGED FLOW HYBRID”. To further justify the results and suggestive claims, we flipped the wheel and saw a tiny embossed “MADE IN TXXXXX”. Flow foamed wheel or cast wheel, in engineering reality; there is nothing “FORGED” about them. Scientific testing statistics do not tell lies.
Ever wondered why are some wheels so CHEAP? A fraction of the price often comes with a fraction of the quality. Has it ever crossed your mind that they are “REFURBISHED” items? No? Well, here is the painful truth. We have all these photos taken in real life over the course of all these years. Some of the shops or retailers even take the trouble to repackage them into new carton boxes selling them as “NEW” wheels.
(Scroll down for Photos)
The FACT is, to the untrained eyes, it is ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to spot a “refurbished” wheel after given a new coat of paint. YES, it does look and feel new. However, the entire structural integrity of the wheel is compromised, without the innocent victim knowing it.
The biggest “REDFLAG” to take note is when you are quoted a price ONLY AFTER you have reviewed the model of vehicle you are purchasing for. DO NOT BE SILLY, BE VIGILANT, DO NOT BE VICTIMS OF SUCH SALES TACTICS.
In life, be it in business or personal life. It is totally acceptable to make mistakes, make the wrong choices, buy the wrong products, trust the wrong people, get scammed or conned, or even choosing the wrong life partner. But what makes the difference is to learn from the wrong, accept the facts or changes and look forward. “It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters, you will not know what is good until you meet the bad.”
Another recent trend that is happening in the world is the emphasize on the weight of the wheel. Many “BRANDED” companies upsell and promote their products through the weight of the wheel. Be EDUCATED & ENLIGHTENED before making a purchase. Using the process of “FLOW FOAMING” can manufacture wheels which are extremely light. (18-Inches under 7kgs / 15.4 Lbs) this is very suitable for light race cars and super bikes. However, it is worrying that people are buying at prices which are overpriced, thinking that the wheels are made out from a “FORGING” process.
Here, is another HURTFUL truth, a “CAST WHEEL” or a “FLOW FOAMED” wheel can be replicated to LOOK like a forged wheel. “CAST WHEELS” & “FLOW FOAMED WHEELS” Often, a “FLOW FOAM” wheel will be subjected to additional CNC works to replicate the looks of a “FORGED WHEEL”. In the recent trend, words like “LIGHTWEIGHT”, “HIGH PERFORMANCE”, “FLOW FOAM FORGED” will be used to upsell these inferior products for greater profits.
A “FLOW FOAMED WHEEL” uses only around 30% MATERIAL to manufacture as compared to a “FORGED MONOBLOCK WHEEL” Hence creating an extremely light weight wheel, however, the tensile strength is HIGHLY COMPROMISED. (Testing Shows) It is recommended for lightweight vehicles, but not high performance or heavier continental vehicles.
The same “Apple to Apple” comparison (Designs, Offset & Width) between a “FLOW FOAMED WHEEL” & a “FORGED MONOBLOCK WHEEL”, the flow foam wheel will be lighter, However the barrel thickness of a “FLOW FOAMED WHEEL” is roughly around 3mm thick, while a “FORGED MONOBLOCK WHEEL” is over engineered to have a thickness of at least 5mm. (Photos attached) Thicker does not necessarily always mean better, however, a FORGED metal has extremely dense compacted construction as compared to a “FLOW FOAM” or “CAST” metal. The tensile strength of a true FORGED MONOBLOCK is at least 3-5 TIMES GREATER.
It is very easy to utilize a CNC machine to a CARVE SIMPLE WORDS or LETTERS on the surface of the finished “CAST WHEEL” or “FLOW FOAM WHEEL” to REPLICATE and RESELL/MARKET them as “FORGED WHEELS”.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST clear OBVIOUS REDFLAG method of knowing how the wheel made is to look and feel the wordings or the letters ON THE WHEEL itself. “CAST” and “FLOW FOAM” wheels have EMBOSSED (PROTRUDING) words or letters. (Photos attached) A true “FORGED” piece of Monoblock wheel will have VERY DEEP RECESS/CNC carving on every word or letters, the finishing on the wheel is also extremely different when seen in real life. (Photos attached)
In summary, a cast wheel or flow foam wheel can be replicated to look like a genuine “FORGED WHEEL”. In engineering reality, there is nothing “FORGED” on a “FLOW FOAM”, “FLOW FORGED”, “FORGED FUSION” advertised wheel. REPLICA WHEELS ARE DANGEROUS. (Scroll down for Photos)
Another RED FLAG to take note is that a forged wheel goes through multiple tedious process to manufacture. (6 WEEKS AT LEAST) If any “BRANDS” out there tell you it can be done in just a couple of weeks, BE VIGILENT.
We HIGHLY RECOMMEND looking for wheels made by manufacturers that publish verifiable evidence that have their products TESTED and AUTHENTICATED like we do.
Please refer to our “DR TECH” to understand more on the types of manufacturing process for wheels.
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THIS IS DANGEROUS AND WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS,
EVEN THE LOSS OF LIVES.
Cunning Sellers → Price Quoted Based on Model of Vehicle → Tactics to Increase Selling Price → Profit-Orientated → Quality Questionable → Safe to Use?
Crafty Sellers → Lying About Domicile of Final Product Produced → Tactics to Increase Selling Price → Profit-Orientated → Safe to Use?
Unreputable Sellers → No Certifications → No Mark of Authentication → Quality Questionable → Safe to Use?
Fraudulent Sellers → Using Unfamiliar Engineering Terms (Flow Forged, Forged Fusion, Forged Hybrid) → Tactics to Increase Selling Price → Profit-Orientated → Quality Questionable → Safe to Use?
Treacherous Sellers → Products Priced Extremely Cheap → Refurbished Damaged Products → Safe to Use?
