Aftermarket Rims, attempt #2

[nukefission]

I posted this question in the general tech forum but go no response -- I guess I should have used the correct forum! Anyway, here goes: can someone explain to me the differences between one, two, and three piece aftermarket rims? Are there advantages/disadvantages to either?
Also, does anyone use American Racing wheels and have good (or bad) things to say about them?

[greenstreak]

Personally I would stay away from American Racing rims. I have seen them on quite a few cars with rust on them around the edges. You get what you pay for and with american racing rims you will get rusty rims in about a year. I think they are trying to improve their image but I am still weary.

[Talonted]

I gotta agree with the streak, American Racing wheels are junk IMO. The difference between 1, 2, and 3 piece wheels (besides the fact that there are more pieces) is weight. 2 piece wheels should be lighter than 1 piece and 3 piece wheels should be the lightest. This has something to do with the build process and being able to forge the parts of the wheel seperately. That is all I have to say about that.

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- Trent

[Quest]

The lightness of the rim comes at the cost of strength however. In most cases (not all cases) 1 piece rims are stronger than 3 piece rims. But this never really comes into play unless you like driving over potholes at high speeds. BTW 3 piece Rims are usually WAY more expensive than 1 piece rims.

[Cazzo]

Niche 2pc wheels are heavy- I'm suffering huge from these wheels.

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HKS EVC IV
Greddy Power Extreme
Greddy BOV
K/N
Free Mods
Nich Bella 2pc 19" w/nt555's 235/35 ZR 19
T-Too small for bumper cars
http://www.zing.com/picture/pdaa947b6e549a139e69e393742de0e42/ff457d83.jpg.orig.jpg

[tsixr]

those 19" look huge, but nice..i have 18" racing hart evo's on my car and they are 1-piece, they weigh about the same as my stock 17's, plus the 3 piece version of the same rims cost about $1300 more, so with all that money i saved i'm going to go out and buy myself a big 16G turbo and still have money left over to buy some more riceboy mods..haha=P
97 tsi awd
http://www.geocities.com/tsixr/myride3.JPG

[Cazzo]

ok tsixr i have been waiting to see a nice, aluminum or other, wing like yours. can you tell me who makes that and where did you buy it from. thx

[tsixr]

cazzo,
its an apr aluminum wing, i got it from wholesalehyperformance. they are pretty rare over here on the eastcoast so pretty much anywhere i go people stare..=) some people love it, some hate it...but i like it and thats all that matters

97 tsi awd
mods:
rsr 3" down pipe, rsr 3" exhaust, hallman boost controller, buschur upper i/c pipe w/1G bov, k&n aircharger, greddy turbo timer, tenzo strut brace, rsr downsprings, 18" racing hart c5 evos,



http://www.geocities.com/tsixr/myride4.JPG