The weight of the wheelset in a high-performance car is important for several reasons, especially in terms of suspended masssince these are part of the vehicle components that support the suspension system and that They “steal” power from the engine.
Basically, The lower the weight, the easier the behavior will be. the power of the car, as it will have a faster, more natural and more accurate response to the driver’s commands, as well as better copy the surface of the land and benefit from acceleration and braking.
Las tires They are one of the elements that produce the most suspended mass and their weight translates into more or less work for the propeller which, in the end, is what has to move the wheels through the transmission. Have you read about The nature and benefits of magnesium about benefits?
Supercars like the current Aston Martin Valkyrie, the recent McLaren P1 or the famous Porsche 959 have magnesium wheels, but there are many more examples.
Magnesium wheels: a great development for the speed of the car that has almost a century of history
The first magnesium wheels were made there 30s of the last century, although at that time they were formed by casting and by now they have already forged Very close. They gained popularity between the 1950s and 1960s due to their lightness, which is why they began to be used entirely in competitive area.
After 1960, magnesium alloys They were replaced with aluminum for production models, as they were cheaper to manufacture and had fewer corrosion problems, although they were heavier. However, since 1990, several luxury and performance brands continued to produce forged magnesium wheels.
Whether we are referring to racing cars (also motorcycles) or motorcycle products, high performance suitable for driving on public roads, the use of magnesium meant one of the most important developments in the industry to reduce the sprung mass and create faster cars on the tracks and corners.
Currently, almost all cars used in top-level competition have forged magnesium wheels worth up to tens of thousands of euros installed.
A solution with many advantages, but also some limitations
Magnesium, when used in the manufacture of tires, has more benefits than harm. The ones that are built by forging (deforming bars are fabricated mechanically) are 50% lighter than the same aluminum. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s something more resistant to plastic.
Apart from being ores of the lightest metalsit is the eighth most abundant chemical in the Earth’s crust and the third most readily found in seawater, thus Its availability is very high. However, the price of these components is very high, the result of an expensive and unique production process.
And, of course, The only drawback of this type of tire is its price., since today its potential corrosion is the same as that of aluminum. For others, they have only good properties that vary from dynamics to efficiency, including durability and excellent heat dissipation.
Marvic, Washi Beam or SMW are some of the main manufacturers of magnesium wheels for cars, but there are several car companies that develop their own.