Why are 3 and 4 piece rims better? | FerrariChat

Why are 3 and 4 piece rims better?

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by furious_ferrari, Nov 27, 2011.

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  1. furious_ferrari

    furious_ferrari F1 Rookie

    Nov 25, 2005
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    Phil
    Wouldnt a 1 piece rim be better because its a solid piece? I don't get why higher end cars have expensive 2-4 piece rims.
     
  2. solofast

    solofast Formula 3

    Oct 8, 2007
    1,773
    Indianapolis
    The advantage of a multi piece wheel is that each part can be made using an optimal process.

    The center section of the wheel is forged, and this provides substantially higher strength to weight than a cast material.

    The rim is usualy spun from a tube, and again it can be made thinner because the tube material is stronger than the typical casting.

    Three and four piece wheels can be stronger and lighter than a one piece casting. The disadvantages are sealing the pieces, and transferring the loads to the center section, which does add weight, but if done correctly they are lighter than a casting of similar strength.
     
  3. normv

    normv F1 Rookie
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    Hello very good points, plus you can customize offsets and widths easier.
     
  4. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
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    #4 toggie, Nov 27, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
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    Typically, the 3 piece wheels aren't lighter than a similar one piece wheel, and not necessarily stronger either - forged is forged, to make a huge generalization. However, you have much more flexibility to adjust width and offset/backspacing and to create staggered sizing easily, so for the manufacturer it allows them to offer many more size/offset combinations for much less than with one piece wheels.
     
  6. willrace

    willrace Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 21, 2006
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    For street cars, it's ALL about marketing the "Racing Look". They typically are heavier than a one piece, especially forged, wheel. All of those neat-o fasteners weigh something, even in Ti.

    In racing, the flexibility in offsets provided by picking your halves (as normv and GordonC noted) could tune handling. These days, once that's established, notice that most teams have a bunch of single-piece units made, thanks to CNC being everywhere.
    Alternately, when a rim (proper use here - it's NOT the whole f'n wheel, yo!!) is damaged, it can be swapped out without tossing out the entire wheel.
    A "good" end-result of this is that eventually, you'll kill a center, and you can make a neat table out of two of the wider halves and a thick piece of glass.
     
  7. fastback33

    fastback33 Formula 3

    Mar 8, 2004
    1,851
    They aren't superior they are garbage, hence why you don't see them in racing.

    Okay, maybe not garbage but they are not superior.
     

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