A brand that has stuck to its core throughout its existence is hard to find and one perfect example of this is American Racing. Founded by Romeo Palamides, a true drag racing legend, back in 1956. Dedicated to the production of making wheels and only wheels, has been the recipe for success for this now, nearly 70-year-old brand.
Their most iconic wheel ever is the Torque Thrust which was made back in 1963 and it’s also their longest-running product. The simplicity of American Racing’s design is what has kept them alive and kicking in the business and their selection of products is the proof for that.
Types of Wheels
Steel
The strongest and most affordable wheels you can get from American Racing are steel wheels. If you don’t care about looks that much but want to have a set of wheels that are going to last you a long time. That’s because steel American Racing wheels for sale have good impact resistance and are much heavier too.
Alloy
With alloy wheels, you certainly get a more visually appealing solution. Alloy wheels are found made in many different designs and they’re much easier to maintain than steel wheels. Alloy wheels are lighter too and have better corrosion protection. Their lightweight design is what helps make for a more efficient drive.
Chrome
What you can do with both steel and alloy wheels is to have them plated with a chrome finish. This way you will make them shine without having to compromise either style or longevity, depending on the type of American Racing wheel for sale you go for. A chrome finish also makes them stronger and more durable too.
Important Wheel Factors
Diameter
No matter if you go for a steel or alloy wheelset you should ensure that it fits the size of your tires. Unless you want to change that too, you should buy American racing wheels with the same size as that of the tires. If you plan on changing your tire size, going larger is going to make things more comfortable and stable and going smaller makes your ride more efficient and with less noise. It’s up to you what you favor more.
Bolt Pattern
Another factor that affects compatibility is the bolt pattern of your wheels. The number of bolts found on the wheel should match the holes on the wheel hub. You can change that too but it will cost you a lot more than just getting a set of wheels as you have to change the bolt pattern of the hub too.
Offset
The amount of offset on the wheel will affect its appearance. Wheel offset refers to the space between the center of the wheel and the mounting surface that goes on the hub. For instance, if a wheel has a negative offset it means the mounting surface is before the center line of the wheel. If you buy an American Racing wheel with positive offset, it means its mounting surface sits after the center line. Zero offset means that the mounting surface sits dead center.
Width
A wide wheel means you can put wider tires on it and narrower wheels are just more limiting really. What you should remember is that typically the wider the tires the less sidewall there is which could be a good and a bad thing depending on what you want more from your tires. If it’s grip and better turning then yeah more sidewall is better but if you want stability and comfort better, having less sidewall is the way to go.
Manufacturing Process
The way a wheel is manufactured affects its lifespan and price.
- Cast wheels are made by pouring molten aluminium into a mold and then the wheel is shaped by pressure casting it, hence the name.
- Machined wheels are made by undergoing different processes such as spinning, heating, casting and pressurisation. They are more expensive than cast wheels but they are much more durable.
- Forged wheels are produced by molding a solid piece of aluminum with high pressure and heat. This makes for a dense, light and strong wheel as well as the most expensive solution.
Load Rating
The load rating of a wheel depends on its manufacturing process and determines how much weight it can bear without getting damaged. The wheel’s bolt pattern also has an effect here but it’s not as great as that of its manufacturing process. But if you combine both a higher number bolt pattern and a forged wheel you’ve got yourself a high load rating.
Center Bore
The hole found in the middle of the wheel is what’s known as the centre bore and it’s determined by the bolt pattern as well as the size of the hub. Obviously, these two should match, however, if you want to fit a full-floating axle or fit the wheel over a locking hub you should mind the gap. In this case, you’ll need a wheel with a larger centre bore and thus one with a higher load rating and a new hub, of course.
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