Fantastic Plastic...Wheels

[exitspeed]

Source: Autoblog



Light-weight alloy wheels may one day be replaced by even lighter plastic wheels or advanced composite versions. A new testing system has been developed that will allow manufacturers to simulate tests for the wheels in the hope that they’ll one day feature on production cars. The benefits of plastic wheels are their lower costs and lighter mass.

plastic_wheel01.jpgPlastic specialists, who developed the wheels using glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) components some time ago, have never been able to test them to meet industry safety regulations. However, that may change with a new simulation developed by Europe’s Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft research facility.

According to a department manager at Fraunhofer, Andreas Büter, who spoke recently with reporters from Automobilwoche, the simulations use tomography imaging to determine the length, curvature and density of the glass fibers used in the wheel. Those parameters, he says, are crucial for the firmness and maximum stress of the material.

This will allow them to forecast how the wheel may react to impacts to a curb or from a crash, as well as long-term reliability. So far, some prototype examples have been tested successfully beyond 250,000km.

[S13-Silvia]

It would be funny if Works and Volks and such were made out of plastic in the future.

[drifting_changed_mylife]

i dont trust 'em

[azndoc]

^^^ Uh... no that wouldn't be funny. I would be quite upset if they do that.

[arkive43]

this would be awesome. lighter wheels means less rotating mass which should mean better gas millage, more power to the wheels etc.....

[exitspeed]

I don't have a problem with them as long as they are proven to be strong enough, which I expect they are.

The finishes are probably endless with plastic too.

I don't fear new technology if it's proven.

[ThatGuy]

In other news: LEGO and Sportmax have joined forces for some kind of Secret Project.

[azndoc]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

In other news: LEGO and Sportmax have joined forces for some kind of Secret Project.

LOLZ.

It's bad enough that sportmax makes crappy wheels that don't stand up to usage. But damn imagine if they knocked off big brand plastic wheels. I can't see how that could be even safe at all.

[exitspeed]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

In other news: LEGO and Sportmax have joined forces for some kind of Secret Project.

Aw hecky naw. I'll take some Space Lego wheels! Like those clear yellow windows from those sets when we were kids. Yea, that would be cool.

[Matej]

Sportmaxes are the realest wheels ever.

[Yuri]

Plastic would be awesome.

Metal wheels are ghey.

[MELLO*SOS]

hit a curb and... BOOM!

I like the idea of plastic wheels, they should be super lightweight and relatively strong. Less rotating mass is always a good thing especially on an underpowered KA... lol. I'd rock em, even in that ugly ass bowling-ball marble color haha

[tacotacotaco]

Hmmm i wonder if they can make it transparent so i can have it laid over my dead goldfishes to match the dead goldfishes in the heels of my pimp shoes.

[Yuri]

We already make clear plastic wheels.

[arkive43]

Originally Posted by Matej

Sportmaxes are the realest wheels ever.

thats only cause u have some :ghey:









i have 002's lolz

[DOOK]

no wheel stands up curbage

[MELLO*SOS]

while that may be true, at least they can usually be repaired
regardless I think this is good news that they're getting closer to releasing some lighter wheels...

[DOOK]

Originally Posted by mello88

while that may be true, at least they can usually be repaired
regardless I think this is good news that they're getting closer to releasing some lighter wheels...

apparently you haven't seen wheels after my wife hits a curb I'm talking lip touching the center cap lip and amazingly, no suspension damage.

[MELLO*SOS]

trust me I know what they can look like I have a 17x9 in the garage I still need to take to 'hubcap annie' haha. I wonder what they would say if you brought them a splintered and shattered plastic wheel hahaha

[bamaboy]

i think it's dope and that it will eventually make it to production.

[projekt_s13]

You can make a mold when you buy them. Then if you mess them up just melt,pour and reuse.

[infinitexsound]

probably the same plastic they use for bumper reinforcment.... rock it...

[wonkuuzenki]

That's fucking ill.
Imagine the possibilities!!

[mrmephistopheles]

As long as they can put a shiny lip on them, who cares?

[slothonaleash]

i don't like the idea... going over a pothole, running over a rock, and the idea that your wheels were snapped out of one of these frames:



would keep me from buying plastic wheels

plus i'd be afraid of over tightening lug nuts and cracking the plastic

[DOOK]

it won't be like the plastic you are talking about, it will be a plastic polymer, stronger than you think.

[wonkuuzenki]

Im pretty sure they would have to be stronger then that to pass Government standards.^

[chmercer]

They already made thoes one wheels out of lexan or whatever

[TheWolf]

fix curbed wheels in a minute with this awesome $20 plastic welder from harbor freight. Sportmax Lego wheels will be indestructable.

[mRclARK1]

Some composite plastics are stronger then most metals. Besides, plastic wheels was the next logical step if you think about it. Lighter, and probably cheaper when production lines get up and running. I remember seeing a thing on TV about plastic wheels on some comcept cars not long ago that were tested to be stronger then most aftermarket alloy wheels.