Domestic disks for cars. Rating of Russian-made forged wheels

By popular demand, I decided to make a selection of modern wheel manufacturers and show, in my opinion, their most striking model.

I myself have already tried a Rays TE37 R17 replica, a Vossen VFS2 R17 replica. Now I'm waiting for the delivery of a set of original Konig Lightning R17. After them, I also looked at the Japanese Rays Gram Light 57Gainer R17.

The selection includes discs from Western, Eastern and domestic manufacturers.
The names are presented in alphabetical order.

1) 5-zigen
5-zigen was founded in 1987 and currently manufactures a wide range of aftermarket products for wheels and exhaust systems. Discs are made in Japan, they are distinguished by a larger assortment and excellent Japanese quality.

5Zigen Inperio Sports RS

2) Advan
The Japanese company Yokohama Rubber Co, which produces alloy wheels famous brands, including Advan, was founded in 1917. The Advan brand produces some of the best discs that are time-tested, of high quality and reliable. Great racers have won many competitions with these discs.

3) AEZ
Light-alloy wheels of the German company AEZ are produced according to a special technology, have a homogeneous material structure, and with light weight have a very strong thin rim, which gives the product additional style and the car - individuality. AEZ wheels are available in a variety of designs (from classic to exclusive) and fit all vehicles.

4) Alutec
The discs of the German company Alutec are recognized by experts as the most durable. In addition to having an international TUV certificate, the company's products successfully pass various tests, for example, for a cyclic load according to the ZWARP method, an impact test with an excess of the design load by 60%, and others. Ruler alloy wheels varied and will satisfy the requirements of any car enthusiast. There are also specially designed models for cars of auto giants such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen.

5) BBS
German discs have been known since 1970, when Heinrich Baumgartner and Klaus Brand from the German city of Schiltach organized a company with a name from the first letters of their names and their city. Now the BBS knows absolutely everything, and the patterned discs in the retro style are the calling card of the BBS.

6) DOTZ
The products of the German company Dotz are aimed at fans of an active driving style. The whole line is dominated by sports notes. For example, the popular Dotz Touge is specially designed for drifting fans. If you want a disc with a glowing effect, then Dotz Touge Blaze is just for you. The whimsical design of the company's alloy wheels does not prevent them from possessing the most important criteria: durability and reliability.

7) Enkei
Japan is home to many wheel manufacturers, but few have made it to this day. Enkei has existed since 1950 and has established itself as the best manufacturer from the East. They make all kinds of wheels: for tuning, for SUVs, for trucks and for cars of the old school of the 1970s and 80s.

8) K&K
K & K was founded in 1991 as a Russian-German joint venture at the facilities of the Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical Plant. The production of wheels from aluminum alloys was immediately chosen as the basis of production. The technology of low pressure casting, widely used in the world, has allowed to increase production, and at present the K&K range includes more than 60 designs and 400 standard sizes, and the production volume reaches more than a million wheels per year. The production of original rims for the Volzhsky and Gorky automobile plants has been launched. K&K products have passed state quality certification and are extremely popular with Russian consumers.

K&K Kalina-sport

9) Konig
Konig is one of the leaders in the US market for the production of alloy wheels for all vehicle classes. The company has been operating since 1983, and since then has been tirelessly improving not only the production technology, but also improves the qualifications of its employees. Thanks to a responsible approach, the company's products have become popular all over the world, and about its highest quality every car enthusiast knows.

Konig SH18 Afterburner

10) Kosei
Since the early 50s, the Japanese company Kosei has been active in the aviation industry. She was able to transfer the accumulated experience to the automotive industry, when she took up production alloy wheels... Japanese quality and reliability characterize the products of this company. Alloy wheels Kosei and their high performance were appreciated by the Japanese automotive giant Totota, who adopted them on the "armament" of their cars from the assembly line.

11) MAK
MAK light-alloy wheels are distinguished by a number of positive characteristics, among which the stylish, memorable design is especially worth noting. Italy is famous for its designers, it is thanks to their ability to generate fresh and relevant ideas that Italian furniture, clothing, perfumery, cosmetics and other types of products are in demand and deserved love of consumers in many countries of the world. Wheels from Italy were no exception: they attract the attention of car owners with their lightness, combined with reliability and ergonomic design.

12) OZ
Well, of course, the most famous company! Italians Silvano Oselladore and Pietro Zen (hence the name OZ) have an impeccable sense of style. In addition, since 1971, OZ Racing has supplied wheels to thousands upon thousands of sports and racing cars. Whether you have Formula 1 or Smart Fortwo, feel free to contact them - they will select the right wheels for you.

OZ Racing SUPERTURISMO GT

13) Rays
The Japanese company Rays produces wheels under several brands at once: Volk Racing (cool forged wheels), Gram Lights (stylish and light alloy wheels), Black Fleet (classic and exclusive forged wheels). In fact, they have a disc for absolutely any car. And these will be cool wheels.

14) Rial
RIAL alloy wheels are the standard of impeccable quality, which always meets the highest safety standards. In the RIAL wheel catalog you will find beautiful designs, a wide range of sizes and guaranteed applicability to most European, American and Asian cars. The RIAL wheels are made in Germany.

15) Rotiform
These wheels are loved all over the world and are equally chic for European tuning, Japanese exotic or American Stance styling. The California company is only 5 years old, but it seems that their discs have already taken over the world. You might say that a mass product stops being cool, but Rotiform wheels are a great exception.

16) Sparco
Sparco alloy wheels come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. The reliability and durability of the discs has been repeatedly confirmed in international racing competitions, where cars equipped with Sparco discs took part. Sparco discs are available in many countries. Car enthusiasts appreciate them for their original stylish design and reliability.

Production forged wheels it is very difficult - it uses expensive equipment that has practically no analogues. That is why it is impossible to find more than 20-30 brands of forged wheels in the world, some of which are practically unknown outside their country. However, now the production of such automotive components is actively developing in Russia - today it is already possible to name 6 large factories that perform automated industrial forging of non-ferrous metal products. The reason for this is the availability of unloaded equipment at many manufacturing enterprises that produce military and aerospace products or dual-use products. Russian-made forged wheels are famous all over the world for their durability, reliability and minimal design - it was previously believed that their only drawback was irrelevant design, but in recent years, many newest stylish models have appeared.

World leader

The Russian corporation VSMPO, engaged in the production of titanium products, decided to expand its the lineup for sports cars. Initially, they were produced in small batches at a pilot plant, but after a couple of years, the concern's products received worldwide recognition. For example, some Japanese car manufacturers bought ready-made disks and blanks for their production from VSMPO - then they could be seen on dynamic cars produced by Nissan, Mazda, Honda and other famous brands. However, the best evidence of the quality of VSMPO forged wheels was the contract concluded with Rolls-Royce - according to its provisions, by 2025 the Russian company will supply titanium and light-alloy products, including wheel disks, worth more than $ 300 million.
Unfortunately, in 2012, the production of forged wheels under the VSMPO brand was officially discontinued - the company decided to focus on direct cooperation with manufacturers rather than retail sales. However, according to experts, stocks of finished products in warehouses will be enough until 2020, although every year the number of models available to the consumer will decrease. Russian-made forged wheels will be installed on domestic and foreign cars, although it will no longer be possible to find the name of a familiar brand on them.

VSPMO wheel disks are different - their deformation requires 5–10 times more effort than damage to a conventional cast wheel. One of their advantages is their extremely low weight, for example, forged wheels of the most popular R16 dimension weigh only 5-6 kilograms, depending on the model chosen. Each product is painted using powder technology, and the materials for processing are produced by the world famous company Akzo Nobel. The VSMPO model range includes more than 40 types of forged wheels available in various sizes - they are suitable for installation on ordinary cars, SUVs and sports cars. Discs can be equipped with a number of decorative and functional elements:

• Protective linings;
• Central wheel nuts with stops;
• Painting the hub and spokes.

From the world of motorsport

Back in 1992, the Russian company SLIK decided to start production rims by purchasing the appropriate equipment. Initially, a small factory focused exclusively on the needs of racing teams, but over time, forged wheels began to go on the free sale. Unlike VSMPO, this company does not have its own mining and metallurgical production, so it buys billets from the country's leading metallurgical plants. However, pressing, hot forming, as well as bringing the discs to the required parameters are fully carried out at the facilities of the enterprise located in Togliatti.

Today, more than 50 types of forged wheels are produced under the SLIK trademark, which differ in size and design. Appearance most of them cannot be called outdated or irrelevant - the discs have received a number of awards at international and Russian competitions, and have also been approved by some car manufacturers. SLIK forged wheels are made from a high-strength aluminum alloy containing impurities of magnesium, titanium and other non-ferrous metals - this allows them to achieve excellent strength with a minimum weight. All products can be painted in various colors, including gold, white, black, silver. The manufacturer also allows the decoration of the discs - for this you need to use special persistent dyes.

One of the best proofs of the quality of the forged wheels of the Russian company is their use in the racing series. In addition, they are bought by private racing teams that participate in competitions held at the world's largest race tracks. Unlike VSMPO products, SLIK forged wheels are easy to find in free sale - the company has its offices in the largest cities of Russia.

From aviation to cars

The discs of the Stupino Metallurgical Plant, which are sold under the SMK and M&K brands, have become very popular in many countries of the world. They are produced by one of the most high-tech divisions of the enterprise - SMK Aviatekhnologii, specializing in the production of aircraft components. Forged wheels are hot-formed and multi-coated for maximum durability. An alloy of aluminum with high-strength non-ferrous metals is used as a raw material for production.

Since 1996, such Russian forged wheels have been supplied to conveyors of leading car manufacturers, Germany, Czech Republic, USA, China and many other countries. Their worldwide recognition is evidenced by the use of Russian forged wheels by tuning studios Mansory and IFG. In addition, SMK forged wheels were sold under their own brands by OZ Racing, Regamaster, Starkar. The plant representatives consider the greatest achievement to be the delivery of their products to the conveyors of Aston Martin and Bentley. In addition, a special division of the metallurgical plant also produces high-strength motorcycle rims, which are purchased by Aprilia, Bimota, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi and others.

Polls of Russian motorists show that QMS disks are rated second only to VSMPO products, which are gradually leaving the market. However, a significant drawback of the company is the extremely limited model range, which is significantly inferior to the production program of the two above-mentioned enterprises. In addition, QMS Aviatekhnologii focuses more on wholesale sales, so there is a noticeable shortage of its products. The company's management promises to make large-scale investments to combat these problems, but we will be able to see many models of QMS forged wheels in retail only in a few years.

Number one in the world

Thanks to the presence of a powerful production base and technological developments from the military and aviation industries, Russia is gradually becoming the world leader in the production of forged wheels. The products of its enterprises are supplied to the conveyor belt of the largest car manufacturers in the world - from AvtoVAZ to Bentley and. In addition, it is in great demand among racing teams, tuning shops and fans of modifying their cars. Distinctive feature Russian forged wheels - excellent strength and reliability combined with minimal weight.