Size and Metallurgy for 96 Wheels

[DrumrBoy]

Are 1996 OEM wheels, 17's or 18's and are they forged or cast?

 

[RX VIPER]

17's for sure. They went to 18's in 2000.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Definitely 17"...18's didn't come OEM until 99'. Not sure about forged or cast

 

[Steve-Indy]

17"...cast...with welds that can break.

DO NOT use them on the track.

 

[Steve-Indy]

...and, you really need to read this LONG (several pages) thread from MannyC:

http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-g...off-high-speed-into-turn-video-taped-all.html

 

[KERS-VPR]

17"...cast...with welds that can break.

DO NOT use them on the track.

I have seen the spokes break, not the welds

 

[99 R/T 10]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but the difference is that the cast wheels were stamped out of aluminum and not very strong. Forged is cut from a single block of aluminum. This it why the cast wheels will break more readily than the forged. I have seen many 96 wheels break with the hub coming apart from the barrel of the wheel.

 

[harley56]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but the difference is that the cast wheels were stamped out of aluminum and not very strong.

I'm no expert, so I will welcome correction myself, but cast is not stamped but rather a casting, aluminum poured into mold, resulting in porosity and weakness relative to forged wheels.

 

[Username]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but the difference is that the cast wheels were stamped out of aluminum and not very strong. Forged is cut from a single block of aluminum. This it why the cast wheels will break more readily than the forged. I have seen many 96 wheels break with the hub coming apart from the barrel of the wheel.

Forged are actually "stamped", as you put it, from a single slug of aluminum. It's a lot more than stamping, it involves hundreds of tons of pressure and cold rolling, the result is a very strong, lightweight rim not prone to cracking but will eventually develope stress cracks after many thousands of cycles. Forged rims are probably the best type available and more expensive.
Cast are what the name implies...molten aluminum is poured into a cast, cheaper to produce but not as strong or light as forged.Gravity cast is the cheapest form.
Milled rims are also an option...very expensive as each rim can take many hours (days even) to machine from a billet slug. I don't know about their strength but I'm sure not as good as forged.

 

[DrumrBoy]

17"...cast...with welds that can break.

DO NOT use them on the track.

Thanks. That's exactly why I was asking. I run forged 18s with Hoosier slicks and have been happy with them, looking to pick up another set but wanted to avoid the cast issues.

Not to say that they'll all break..... but nobody wants to be the one that experiences the fun posted in the video.

 

[PDCjonny]

One of the improvements made in the '97 over the '96's.
Plus they are shinier.