Racing Wheels & Rims

Racing Wheels must have certain specific qualities – strength, stiffness, and light weight. They must be strong enough to withstand the abuse of competition and make it through the race without failing, they must be stiff enough to withstand extreme loads without deflecting, and they must be light enough to have no adverse effects on suspension operation, braking and acceleration. Although forged aluminum 2-piece and 3-piece wheels, and 1-piece monoblock wheels are most commonly used for racing, there are also cast and flow formed alloy racing wheels, and some classes of circle track racing use steel rims.

Though their basic construction and material makeup may be similar, racing wheels vary greatly according to the type of competition. They may both be round but other than that a rim designed for rally car racing will be vastly different than one for a top fuel dragster. And while many racing wheels may look the same as aftermarket wheels you can buy for a street car, don’t let the similar appearance fool you. Racing wheels are typically manufactured using a much higher-grade aluminum alloy, and they’re computer designed to ensure strength in critical areas. Ordinary road wheels are engineered to handle the stresses of street use and would most likely fail in a racing environment.

Superior material and CAD design are just the beginning with racing wheels. Forged aluminum wheels are the go-to wheels for many types of competition because the heat and pressure of the forging process creates a stronger, stiffer wheel with less material, for a lightweight rim that can improve performance. Lighter wheels mean less unsprung weight so the suspension doesn’t have to work as hard, and less rotational mass, for faster braking and quicker acceleration. Flow forming is a process that creates a wheel that is almost as strong as a forging, at an affordable price, perfect if you’re racing on a budget. In this process a cast aluminum wheel is spun while rollers apply great pressure to the inside of the barrel, which changes the mechanical properties and grain structure of the cast rim, increasing strength and stiffness.

Forged monoblock aluminum wheels are preferred by racers who want to fit the lightest wheel for the ultimate in performance, but for many 3-piece forged alloy rims are more practical and economical. Even the strongest rims can get bashed at the track, and 3-piece wheels can be repaired and only the damaged part replaced. Their modular construction also means numerous offset and rim widths can be created with 3-piece rims. Steel racing wheels are made strong to perform in short track and stock car racing where contact with other cars is common. The wheel center is formed from high strength steel that is stamped, drawn and machined for hub fitment and brake clearance and cooling, and then welded to a thick steel rolled or spun steel barrel.

Innovation born out of necessity also differentiates racing wheels from road wheels. On road wheels inflation pressure keeps the tire on the rim. But combine massive horsepower with low inflation pressure, as is common in drag racing, and the tire can slip on the rim. Beadlock rims, which clamp the tire bead to the wheel, are now used in many types of racing. Racing wheels are routinely on and off the car during pit stops and when the car is repaired and prepped for an event. Steel lug nut inserts are used on some rims to prevent galling and ruining the aluminum alloy from repeated removal and installation.

Whatever kind of racing gets your adrenaline pumping - road racing, circle track, or drag racing; open wheel, sports car, or touring car; on the asphalt or off road in desert racing, closed course, or rallying; even vintage racing where classic racers battle - we’ve got the wheels in the offsets, widths and diameters that are right for any application. We carry all the top brands including BBS, Billet Specialties, KMC, König, Method Race Wheels, Weld Racing Wheels, and many more. We’ve detailed or racing wheels performance credentials, so besides size all you have to do when you shop with us is decide on the design, style and finish. We have chrome, polished, powder coating in black and other colors, as well as wheels with multiple colors to complement and contrast, and machined surfaces for eye-catching detail. But even you never get near a race track, you can count on these wheels to boost the curb appeal and performance of your street ride.