OK I'm going to get new rims but I have no idea what I'm doing. I want to get the best quality rims for the best possible price as I have limited $$$ to spend. I've found rims on Tirerack that are nice and will most likely fit as I'm only going with a 16x7 rim. However some are Low Pressure Cast, Some are Gravity Cast and although I now know what the different in manufacturing process is I have no idea if one is REALLY any better than another. I've found a Konig rim that I like that is a good price but it's only a gravity cast rim. I called discount tire and the guy on the phone told me that "the new technology of cast makes it just as good as LP cast" Is the guy just blow smoke up my @#* or what?

HELP!!

 

I can't help you on the manufacturing process, but I can offer another tip. Try to stay with the lighter weight wheels, to prevent suffering noticeable performance losses. Under 20 lbs is good, under 17 lbs is better, under 15 lbs would be excellent on a limited budget if you can find 'em. Once you get down into the under 11 lbs or so wheels get ready to take out a 2nd mortage. Now about those different casting methods. . . .anyone with a college degree out there????

 

In a gravity cast wheel, the molten aluminum is poured into the mold which is filled strictly by the weight of gravity forcing the metal into the mold.

In a pressure cast mold, additional pressure beyond that of gravity alone is used to force the metal into the mold. This results in a more dense, stronger casting with less possibility of internal voids than with gravity alone.

Whether or not modern casting techniques enable gravity casting to be as good as pressure casting I can't really say, but Konig wheels are good, reliable ones and you can't go wrong with them as long as you find a style you like.

Make sure you get wheels of the proper offset for your car. This is a more important consideration than the manufactuing technique used unless you are looking for the lightest possible weight in which case forged wheels are a necessity.

 

my only other input on this wheel/tire thing is that when you purchase light wheels and low profile tires, there is a higher risk of denting a wheel should you run into those...uhhh...unexpected pot holes

 

hey u need to gert da hook on dem new rims dey phat! ok hommie! peace and afro grease

 

How do you think I got into this mess to begin with. (sigh) I got run off the road while trying to merge. I hit one of those potholes that is off the edge of the pavement I know i bent the front one and I think I bent the rear as well. (grrrr) I want to stay with the stock rim diameter I just want to get a slight wider rim so I have better tire choices down the line. The rim I was looking at is around 17lbs. I'm just worried that if I get a cast rim that it will be more prone to damage, like the damage I've already got. (GRIN)

 

I just got my Enkei's and was basically looking for something that would match my car good. I originally wanted Konig Tantrum's but the place i was buying from didnt have them in stock, so i went with Enkei CDR9's. They seemed a bit heavy and it feels like the car is a little sluggish at the mid-range(i.e. in fourth gear around 60 or 70). They look really good though, and they grip a lot better than my stockers.

A guy i know had rims put on his car and hit one of those massive potholes on the main street of our town. He complained to the town and they actually bought him a brand new wheel, though the damaged rim was only chipped a bit and still held air. Now he has a set of five with one only slightly damaged. Nice luck if you ask me.