Advice on 17" wheels.

[gcassidy]

I'm finally making the move I've wanted to for awhile. I currently have 3 sets of wheels, stock '98s with rain tires, 17x9 Cobra Rs with shaved Proxie RA1s for the track, and a set of chrome Cobra R replicas that I bought real cheap just so I could have some street wheels. Well, the chrome is getting to me. :eek:

I'm looking for some 17x9 wheels in black with polished rims (wife said I can replace wheels if I get these). These will be my street wheels unless I find a great deal on some lightweight forged wheels, then they'll be my track wheels and my Cobra Rs will be my street wheels. My driving is split between track events and cruising with our Cobra club.

Do you think I can find any black wheels better suited for track use than Cobra Rs for say close to $800? Or am I likely to do better to stay with the Rs for the track, and just look for street wheels?

It's hard sometimes to find if wheels are cast, low-pressure cast, or forged. And I don't know if that matters more for strength, or just weight.

Any advise is appreciated.

[rheacerdave]

Cast are made by just pouring aluminum into a mold. Cheap way to do it. Not real strong.... Ok for autoX, maybe not best for track unless you check for cracks every time you change them.
Low Pressure the aluminum is squeezed into the mold. Makes for a denser, stronger wheel, so you can use less= Lighter. I'm hoping that is what Ford uses.
Forged wheels, the aluminum is smashed into the mold which makes them really dense and strong, even you have less metal in the mold= super light.
Think sand castle formed by pouring out of a bucket, low pressure forming with your hand and forged cramming into a pail and turning over.
Cast are the $100-$150 wheels, low pressure will be $200-$300 and forged just leave your credit card. You don't want to know, till they are already on the car and can't be sent back.
For racing forged are best because they are strong and light.
We mere mortals may get by with cast. Just watch them.