Do they have to be forged?

[X-10]

Still working on goodies for the new truck and been researching on new wheels. From past threads it looks like the consensus is that forged is better. But I see several people running Eagle's and just wondered if anybody has had any problems running cast wheels as long as they are rated at or above the 3000# range. How about American Racing wheels, Are they cast? Also it seems most of the backspacing is around 4. 5" on most 16 x 8s, does this hurt anything other than pushing the tires outward a bit further than stock? Sorry about so many ?'s but with the added weight of the cummins I don't want to be breaking wheels. Thanks for any replys,
Doug

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red 96 x-cab 2500 lbox v-10 5-speed w/4. 10s. ON ORDER - red 01 q-cab 2500 SLT 4x HO 6sp lbox w/3. 55s & most the goodies

 

[BLACKRAM]

Well I can't answer your questions about weights, but I can tell you about American Racing. The tire store ordered more than ten wheels trying to find one set that ran true. NONE OF THEM DID! All of the AR's were way out of round. We ended up with Eagle wheels, and had no problems. Yes, they do stick out slightly, and will sling dirt on the sides of the truck.

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1999 2500 4x4, auto, 3. 54 LS, HD241, Quad cab SLT, Blk Sport Pkg, 285 Bridgestone AT, Amsoil, 80/100w lights, Valentine One, DTT TC/vb, DD2's, DD TTPM, Isspro gauges.
1992 SC400
1978 Mooney 201 IFR

 

[Cooker]

X-10,

I was wondering the same thing. For piece of mind I'm going to stick with forged wheels. I've spent a lot of money on this truck because I wanted a real "Heavy Duty" truck not some damn_ 1/2 ton, and I rather put "Heavy Duty" wheels on it. I don't like the extra cost of forged wheels, but I figure I'm going to have them for quite a few years so what it an extra couple hundered bucks? (I know it is a lot of other BOMBing goodies). I would assume the non-forged wheels would be ok as long as you don't throw 2 tons of stones in the bed #ad


JMHO, Ryan

 

[RonaldLarson]

The best answer to your question is probably to examine the difference between the two. Castings have little tensile strength, and have a porous makeup; and therefore do not like much pressure put on them. Forgings are high in tensile strength because the metal is forced by the forging die into a directional molecular flow. Example: a bowl of sand has a casting molecular makeup, a piece of spaghetti has a forged makeup.
Have a friend who exploded a cast wheel simply by overloading it, not side force. The thing literally came apart. I've been in the American wheel plant many times, and saw the wheel test stand. It applies force against the wheel tire bead, not the sides, which satisfies the load test requirements.
Forged is the way to go.
Ron