Top 10 Cast Wheel Manufacturers in the World

A cast wheel is the most popular aftermarket wheel. The wheel is manufactured by pouring molten aluminum into a mold to form a shape through low pressure or gravity. In this article, we will go over the 10 best cast wheel manufacturers in the world.

Since the 1970s, the casting process of cast wheels, forged wheels, aluminum wheels, and alloy wheels has changed a lot. There are also many types of casting methods such as low-pressure casting or gravity casting. Below we have given a list of the 10 best manufacturers of cast wheels:

CITIC DICASTAL CO. LTD

This company is the largest exporter and producer of cast wheels in the world. The products manufactured by CITIC DISCASTAL CO. LTD are typically used in mini, passenger, or light-duty vehicles. The company sold more than 54 billion cast wheels, alloy wheels, and gravity cast wheels.

CITIC DISCATAL CO. LTD is the leading cast wheel manufacturer in the world because has a manufacturing process that uses core technology.

Ronal Wheels

Ronal Wheels is a company that manufacturers low-pressure cast wheels, lightweight wheels, and regular cast wheels. The forging process of the company encompasses all production stages such as the engineering and tooling stages. The RONAL GROUP also owns the Speedline Truck and Speedline Corse brands.

The company employs more than 8000 employees worldwide, it has 13 production units and is present on 3 continents.

BORBET

BORBET was formed in 1962 and is a family-owned business. The company was founded in Germany and is the worldwide leader in the alloy wheel market. BORBET produces alloy wheels that are light weight. The tires manufactured by BORBET are characterized by innovative technologies, pioneering design, and perfect quality.

The company has become a major supplier for several major companies in the automobile industry. Today, BORBET has more than 46,00 employees in over 9 locations worldwide. The company uses different manufacturing methods such as low-pressure casting.

Enkei

Enkei is a tire manufacturing company that produces the latest alloy wheel designs. The tires manufactured by the firm are equipped with alloy technology such as casting processing. The tires go through a rigid testing process and go through strict JGTC standards. The Enkei group is currently active in Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Enkei also manufactures racing tires and has been the official supplier of Mclaren F1 since 1995. Due to consistent improvements in its manufacturing processes, Enkei continues to remain one of the best cast wheel and alloy wheel manufacturers in the world.

Superior Industries

This company was formed in 1957 and is one of the best lightweight cast wheels manufacturers in the world. Superior Industry is based in Southfield, Michigan, it has more than 9 manufacturing plants and over 8000 employees in Europe and North America.

IOCHPE-MAXION

IOCHPE-MAXION is a company that operates worldwide. The company is a world leader in the automotive tire industry and one of the biggest producers of structural components in The Americas. The company has more than 31 manufacturing plants in 15 nations and has employed over 15,000 employees.

IOCHPE-MAXION has received praise from customers worldwide, and the company uses molten aluminum to make one-piece cast wheels and cast wheels. IOCHEPE-MAXION also uses high-tech manufacturing methods such as low-pressure casting.

Alcoa Wheels

This company is the leader in forged wheels. The forged wheel is made of aluminum, and Alcoa Wheels manufactured its first aluminum forged wheel in 1948. The company entered the cast wheel and forged wheel businesses in 1948. This company undoubtedly produces one of the best-forged wheels in the world.

UNIWHEELS Group

UNIWHEEL Group is a large group of companies and a leader in the European market of alloy wheels. The company is also one of the biggest suppliers of wheels to the automotive industry. UNIWHEELS is an internationally renowned brand that produces wheels for all target groups.

Wanfeng Auto

Wanfeng Auto is a manufacturer of different varieties of wheels such as formed wheels, one-piece cast wheels, and forged wheels. Wanfeng Auto is the first Chinese company that was listed in the tire industry and produces more than 40 million wheels annually. The firm was founded in 2001 and was listed in 2006.

LIZHONG WHEEL GROUP

The Lizhong Wheel Group is a Chinese manufacturer of different wheels such as cast wheels, forged wheels, and more. The company produces more than 15 million alloy wheels annually and uses the perfect combination of art and technology to manufacture its wheels.

The company has partnerships with brands such as BMW, Suzuki, Nissan, Renault, SAIC, Great Wall, and more.

What are Spoke Wheel and Cast Wheel?

Spoke Wheel or Cast Wheel, which one is better? Well, it usually depends on the type of ride you are using. Usually, cast wheels are used for circuit-based purposes, whereas spoke wheels are used for off-road purposes. Here are some major differences between the two wheels:

Production Cost

Initially, all the motorcycles and cars came with spoke wheels. While spoke wheels are still common, they are common in different shapes. However, there is a massive difference between the produced costs of cast wheels and spoke wheels. Cast wheels are expensive since cast alloy needs costly procedures and materials.

On the other hand, spoke wheels are made of steel, and steel is an easily accessible material. Newer versions of adventure wheels are designed by using a combo of aluminum for the hubs and steel for the spokes.

Weight

Spokes wheels generally weigh a lot more than cast wheels. This is why you will always see rider bikes with cast wheels. Does the weight make the spoke wheel the stronger wheel? Not exactly. A lightweight wheel is easier to maneuver and handle.

If you have a spoke wheel installed in your bike, fit some magnesium alloy Marchesinis, it will make the bike more nimble.

Resistance

Steel is an incredibly elastic material, which makes the material more suitable for tires. All mud bikes or adventure motorbikes come with spoke wheels, but these wheels are unable to give the bikes mobility at high speeds. This is the reason why some bikers replace their spoke tires with cast wheel tires.

What is Better Cast Wheel or Forged Wheel?

Wheels are designed in various ways and two of the most popular tires are forged wheels and cast wheels. Each wheel has a different manufacturing method and comes with pros and cons. Here are pros and cons of both wheels:

Cast Wheel

Pros

Casting wheels offer great value for a wheel while being lighter in weight and maintaining strength. These wheels are easier to produce and save costs. There are also other varieties of cast wheels such as a gravity cast wheel.

Cons

When producing a cast wheel, the solidification process will only take place once the aluminum cools which can lead to oxidation in the wheel and cause cracking. With solidification not taking place before the aluminum cools, the integrity of the wheel will decrease and lead to many problems.

Forged Wheel

Pros

Forged Wheels are less porous than cast wheels due to the forging process. The forging process gives the wheel strength and stability. The process also makes the wheels durable, and resistant to oxidation and corrosion. The structural integrity is not compromised during the manufacturing process.

Forged wheels offer an incomparable value to the customers, enhance fuel efficiency and improve the performance of the vehicles.

Cons

The forging process is time-consuming, which makes the process extremely expensive for customers. Cast wheels on the other hand are high-quality tires, so customers might opt for them over forged wheels. However, forged wheels are more durable than cast wheels.

How to make Cast Wheels?

The manufacturing process of cast wheels involves using or pouring a vacuum to insert molten aluminum into a mold. The mold is in the form of a wheel and has different dimensions. To move the aluminum in the mold as soon as possible, positive pressure is used. The aluminum is then cooled, and minor modifications are made to the tire through trimming and drilling. This process leads to a fully formed wheel, which is the finished product.

The manufacturing process of cast wheels is preferred over other manufacturing methods. The process is cheap and fast-paced. The cast wheel manufacturing process is also less complex than other manufacturing procedures.

What is Gravity Casting?

The gravity cast wheel is a manufacturing procedure and involves pouring molten aluminum into a mold that uses the earth’s gravity and pulls the molten liquid towards it. Gravity casting is often cheaper than other production methods and is perfect for casting designs that are visually oriented.

Are Low-Pressure Cast Wheels Good?

Yes! Low-pressure casting wheels offer a good value to the customers, maintain good strength, and their low weight makes them more durable than other cast wheel varieties. However, the manufacturing method of these tires is expensive so they often come with a hefty price tag.

Are Flow Formed Wheels Goods?

Flow-formed wheels are high-quality tires, but whether you choose other wheel varieties depends on the car you drive. The manufacturing process of a flow-formed wheel is different than other wheels. Also, these wheels have a different structure, stiffness, and load capacity compared to other tire varieties.

How can you tell if a rim is cast or forged?

There are two methods that are used to make forged wheels: mold-forming forging and machine forging. Nearly all the commercial varieties of machine forged wheels in the market are made through the machine forging method. In this method, a chuck of billet aluminum and other subjects and exposes to several tonnes of pressure.

This pressure creates a structure that is compressed and is stronger than a piece of billet aluminum. The large billet aluminum piece is then cut into different shapes. This is the traditional method of making forged wheels.

On the other hand, cast wheels are made by pouring molten aluminum into a mold where it is formed into a shape. Once the molten aluminum in the mold cools down, the drilling and trimming process takes place. Unfortunately, in the production process of cast wheels, there is usually one major flaw.

That flaw is porosity, which is the physical space in a material when it cools down. Porosity allows for weak points to form in the material. So, the main difference between cast or forged rims is that cheaper vehicles typically use cast wheels. High-end cars usually use forged varieties of wheels.

How are wheels made today?

Here is how aluminum wheels are made nowadays:

Casting

Casting is a procedure that uses mold and molten aluminum. There is also another method of casting called gravity casting, which uses the earth’s gravity to mold the aluminum into different shapes. Once the aluminum cools down, it is removed from the mold, and the desired tire shape is made from the metal.

The casting process is typically monitored by computers or robots. The computers check the process during the cooling and pouring stages. During these, gas pockets can form in the metal and weaken it. This casting method produces high-quality wheels that are used for different purposes.

Forging

In the forging process, a solid piece of metal, typically aluminum, is shaped into a wheel through compression or force. High-pressure machines are utilized and they change the shape of the metal once it is treated in heat. Once the final shape is produced, the machine buffs and smoothens the wheel.

Rolled Forging

This process is similar to the forging process discussed above, however, in this process, the aluminum is run through wheels or heavy stamps. The pressure created by the rolling forces the material into the required thickness and shape.

Which is the best Wheel Brand?

There are many wheel brands in the market that produce high-quality wheels, so it is difficult to choose one. However, always look for wheel manufacturers that tick all the boxes. Here is a list of some of the best wheel brands in the market:

• TSW
• AODHAN
• Enkei
• Kansei
• BBS
• COSMIS

However, before buying a wheel, you should always approach the manufacturer, have a discussion and then make the decision. The type of wheels you purchase will depend on the type of vehicle you drive.

Conclusion

This article discusses the 10 best cast wheel manufacturers in the world. We discussed all 10 brands in detail. We also went over several queries related to the topic, such as which are the best wheel brands in the market. How are wheels manufactured today? Etc.