Due to numerous requests, I decided to make a selection of modern wheel rim manufacturers and show, in my opinion, their most striking model.
I myself have already tried the Rays TE37 R17 replica and the Vossen VFS2 R17 replica. Now I'm waiting for the delivery of a set of original Konig Lightning R17. After them, I also looked at the Japanese Rays Gram Light 57Gainer R17.
The selection includes discs from Western, Eastern and domestic manufacturers.
The names are presented in alphabetical order.
1) 5-zigen
5-zigen was founded in 1987 and currently produces a wide range of products specializing in the aftermarket wheel and exhaust systems. The discs are made in Japan and are distinguished by a wider range and excellent Japanese quality.
5Zigen Inperio Sports RS
2) Advan
The Japanese company Yokohama Rubber Co, which produces alloy wheels famous brands, including Advan, was founded in 1917. The Advan brand produces some of the best discs that are time-tested, high quality and reliable. Great racers have repeatedly won competitions with these discs.
3) AEZ
Alloy wheels from the German company AEZ are produced using a special technology, have a homogeneous material structure, and are light in weight and have a very durable thin rim, which gives the product additional style and the car individuality. AEZ wheels are available in a variety of designs (from classic to exclusive) and are suitable for all cars.
4) Alutec
Discs from the German company Alutec are recognized by experts as the most durable. In addition to having an international TUV certificate, the company’s products successfully pass various tests, for example, cyclic load using the ZWARP method, impact test with a 60% excess of the design load, and others. Ruler alloy wheels is varied and will satisfy the requirements of any car enthusiast. There are also specially designed models for cars of auto giants such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen.
5) BBS
German wheels have been known since 1970, when Heinrich Baumgartner and Klaus Brand from the German city of Schiltach organized a company with a name from the first letters of their surnames and their city. Now absolutely everyone knows BBS, and patterned wheels in retro style are the calling card of BBS.
6) DOTZ
The products of the German company Dotz are aimed at lovers of an active riding style. The entire line is dominated by sporty notes. For example, the popular Dotz Touge model is specially created for drifting fans. If you want wheels with a glow effect, then Dotz Touge Blaze is just for you. The whimsical design of the company's alloy wheels does not prevent them from possessing the most important criteria: strength and reliability.
7) Enkei
Japan is the birthplace of many wheel rim manufacturers, but only a few of them have survived to this day. Enkei has been around since 1950 and has established itself as the best manufacturer from the East. They make all kinds of wheels: custom wheels, SUV wheels, truck wheels, and old school wheels from the 1970s and 80s.
8) K&K
The K&K company was founded in 1991 as a joint Russian-German venture at the facilities of the Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical Plant. The basis of production was immediately chosen to produce wheels made of aluminum alloys. Low-pressure casting technology, widely used in the world, has made it possible to increase production and currently the K&K range includes more than 60 designs and 400 standard sizes, and production volumes reach more than a million wheels per year. The production of original wheel rims for the Volzhsky and Gorky Automobile Plants has been launched. K&K products have passed state quality certification and are extremely popular among Russian consumers.
K&K Kalina-sport
9) Konig
Konig is one of the US market leaders in the production of alloy wheels for cars of all classes. The company has been operating since 1983, and since then it has been tirelessly improving not only production technology, but also improving the qualifications of its employees. Thanks to its responsible approach, the company's products have become popular all over the world, and its highest quality every car enthusiast knows.
Konig SH18 Afterburner
10) Kosei
Since the early 50s, the Japanese company Kosei has been active in the aviation industry market. She was able to transfer her accumulated experience to the automotive industry when she began producing alloy wheels. Japanese quality and reliability characterize the products of this company. Kosei alloy wheels and their high performance characteristics were appreciated by the Japanese automobile giant Totota, which adopted them for their cars off the assembly line.
11) MAK
MAK alloy wheels are distinguished by a number of positive characteristics, among which it is especially worth noting their stylish, memorable design. Italy is famous for its designers, it is thanks to their ability to generate fresh and relevant ideas that Italian furniture, clothing, perfumes, cosmetics and other types of products are in demand and well-deserved love of consumers in many countries around the world. Wheels from Italy are no exception: they attract the attention of car owners with their lightness, combined with reliability and ergonomic design.
12) OZ
Well, of course, a famous company! Italians Silvano Oselladore and Pietro Zen (hence the name OZ) have an impeccable sense of style. In addition, since 1971, OZ Racing has supplied wheels to thousands upon thousands of performance and racing vehicles. Whether you have a Formula 1 or a Smart Fortwo, feel free to contact them - they will select the wheels you need.
OZ Racing SUPERTURISMO GT
13) Rays
The Japanese company Rays produces wheels under several brands: Volk Racing (cool forged wheels), Gram Lights (stylish and lightweight alloy wheels), Black Fleet (classics and exclusive forged wheels). In fact, you will find a disc for absolutely any car. And these will be cool wheels.
14) Rial
RIAL alloy wheels are a standard of impeccable quality that always meets the highest safety standards. In the RIAL disk catalog you will find beautiful designs, a wide range of standard sizes and guaranteed applicability to most European, American and Asian cars. RIAL wheels are made in Germany.
15) Rotiform
These wheels are loved all over the world and are equally chic on European tuning, Japanese exotics or American Stance. The company from California is only 5 years old, but it seems their discs have already captivated the whole world. You might say that a mass product ceases to be cool, but Rotiform discs are an excellent exception.
16) Sparco
Sparco alloy wheels are available in a wide range of styles and sizes. The reliability and durability of discs has been repeatedly confirmed at international racing competitions, where cars equipped with Sparco discs took part. Sparco wheels are available in many countries. Car enthusiasts appreciate them for their original stylish design and reliability.
The production of forged wheels is very difficult - it uses expensive equipment that has practically no analogues. This is why it is impossible to find more than 20–30 brands of forged wheels in the world, some of which are practically unknown outside their country. However, now the production of such automotive components is actively developing in Russia - today we can already name 6 large factories that perform automated industrial forging of products from non-ferrous metals. The reason for this is the presence of unloaded equipment in many manufacturing enterprises that produce military, aerospace or dual-use products. Forged wheels Russian production are famous all over the world for their durability, reliability and minimal design - previously it was believed that their only drawback was their outdated design, but in recent years many new stylish models have appeared.
World leader
The Russian corporation VSMPO, engaged in the production of titanium products, decided to expand its the lineup for sports cars. Initially, they were produced in small batches at a pilot plant, but after a couple of years the concern’s products gained worldwide recognition. Thus, some Japanese car manufacturers purchased ready-made wheels and blanks from VSMPO for their production - then they could be seen on dynamic cars produced by Nissan, Mazda, Honda and other famous brands. However, the best evidence of the quality of VSMPO forged wheels was the contract concluded with Rolls-Royce - according to its provisions, by 2025 the Russian company will supply titanium and alloy products, including wheel rims, worth more than $300 million.
Unfortunately, in 2012, the production of forged wheels under the VSMPO brand was officially discontinued - the company decided to focus on direct cooperation with manufacturers rather than on retail sales. However, according to experts, the stocks of finished products in warehouses will last until 2020, although every year the number of models available to consumers will decrease. Russian-made forged wheels will be installed on domestic and foreign cars, although it will no longer be possible to find the name of a familiar brand on them.
VSPMO wheel rims are different - to deform them, 5–10 times more force is required than to damage a regular one cast wheel. One of their advantages is their extremely low weight; for example, forged wheels of the most popular size R16 weigh only 5–6 kilograms, depending on the chosen model. Each product is painted using powder technology, and the materials for processing are produced by the world famous company Akzo Nobel. The VSMPO model range includes more than 40 types of forged wheels, available in various sizes - they are suitable for installation on regular cars, SUVs and sports cars. Discs can be equipped with a number of decorative and functional elements:
- Protective pads;
- Central wheel nuts with locks;
- Painting the hub and spokes.
From the world of motorsport
Back in 1992, the Russian company SLIK decided to start production rims, purchasing the appropriate equipment. Initially, the small plant focused exclusively on the needs of racing teams, but over time, forged wheels began to go on sale. Unlike VSMPO, this company does not have its own mining and metallurgical production, so it buys billets from the country's leading metallurgical plants. However, pressing, hot forming, and bringing discs to required parameters are completely carried out at the enterprise's facilities located in Togliatti.
Today, more than 50 types of forged wheels are produced under the SLIK brand, which differ in size and design. Appearance Most of them cannot be called outdated or irrelevant - the wheels have received a number of awards at international and Russian competitions, and have also been approved by some automobile manufacturers. SLIK forged wheels are made from high-strength aluminum alloy containing admixtures of magnesium, titanium and other non-ferrous metals - this allows them to achieve excellent strength with minimal weight. All products can be painted in various colors, including gold, white, black, silver. The manufacturer also allows for artistic decoration of discs - for this you need to use special permanent dyes.
One of the best confirmations of the quality of forged wheels from a Russian company is their use in a racing series. In addition, they are purchased by private racing teams that participate in competitions held at the world's largest circuits. Unlike VSMPO products, SLIK forged wheels are easy to find on the open market - the company has its representative offices in the largest cities of Russia.
From aviation to cars
Wheels from the Stupino Metallurgical Plant, which are sold under the SMK and M&K brands, have become very popular in many countries around the world. They are produced by one of the most high-tech divisions of the enterprise - SMK Aviation Technologies, which specializes in the production of aircraft components. Forged wheels are processed using the hot stamping method, as well as multi-layer powder painting, which allows them to achieve maximum reliability. An aluminum alloy with high-strength non-ferrous metals is used as a raw material for production.
Since 1996, such Russian forged wheels have been supplied to the assembly lines of leading automobile manufacturers in Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA, China and many other countries. Their worldwide recognition is evidenced by the use of Russian forged wheels by tuning studios Mansory and IFG. In addition, SMK forged wheels were sold under their own brands to OZ Racing, Regamaster, and Starkar. Representatives of the plant consider the delivery of their products to the assembly lines of Aston Martin and Bentley to be their greatest achievement. In addition, a special division of the metallurgical plant also produces high-strength motorcycle wheels, which are purchased by Aprilia, Bimota, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi and others.
Surveys of Russian motorists show that SMK wheels are rated second only to VSMPO products, which are gradually leaving the market. However, a significant drawback of the company is its extremely limited model range, which is significantly inferior to the production program of the two enterprises listed above. In addition, QMS Aviation Technologies focuses more on wholesale, therefore, there is a noticeable shortage of its products. The company's management promises to direct large-scale investments to combat these problems, but we will only be able to see many models of SMK forged wheels in retail sales in a few years.
Number one in the world
Thanks to the presence of a powerful production base and technological developments from the military and aviation industries, Russia is gradually becoming a world leader in the production of forged wheels. The products of its enterprises are delivered to the conveyor largest producers cars of the world - from AvtoVAZ to Bentley and . In addition, it is in considerable demand among racing teams, tuning studios and fans of modifying their cars. Distinctive feature Russian forged wheels - excellent strength and reliability, which are combined with minimal weight.
