Wheels are not only a great way of improving the way your car looks, but they’re also an important part of the safety aspect, and the performance of a vehicle. Having a wheel that looks great, performs well, and is built properly is what Forgeline is all about. Wemet up with David Schardt from Forgeline Motorsports to discuss classic styling, modern trends and the infinite customization possibilities in the world of wheels.
Comprised of 6061-T6 aluminum, Forgeline’s AR1 fully forged split spoke one-piece wheel comes out of a 110 lb forging, allowing for a lighter weight but ensuring that it is structurally strong. Currently available in 18, 19, 20, and 21-inch diameters with a range of widths and offsets, it was developed to allow for large caliper clearance and extreme brake fitment.
Forgeline also showed off their Heritage Series at this year’s SEMA show. “We’ve been in business for over twenty years and the first wheels we started out making were the LS and the RS,”said Schardt. “The LS was a basket weave wheel and the RS was a five-spoke with rounded spokes. They were very popular and we made them for about ten years. Over the last few years we’ve had a lot of requests to bring those wheels back. Today’s standards are a lot different so we’ve done a modern version of the LS and the RS3.”
Schardt went on to explain the unique characteristics and benefits of a three-piece wheel. “You’ve got the outer, the inner and the centre which are bolted together to make the wheel so that gives you a little bit of contrast you wouldn’t get in a one-piece. They’re stiff and they look nice but if you want a little more customization then a three-piece is the way to go.”
Moving on through the Forgeline display, we also noticed GT3C wheel. “That’s made for probably more of an exotic but you could put them on anything just like all of our wheels,” says Schardt.
Applications and preferences obviously vary widely from project to project, so customization is key. Schardt explains that Forgeline wheels can be totally custom-made depending on your specifications and vehicle, including color and finish. “If you see a finish on any of our wheels that you like, you can apply it to any other wheel in the series.”