Jongbloed 15x8, 15x9 and 15x10 wheels
#63
All of the OEM's get their wheels made in China and Taiwan, a few from other sources. The trick is having materials auditing and Tier 1 level QC protocol and inspections of every batch. We have done it but it's difficult for a small company. Or previous supplier Gen 2-3 is now the worlds largest forged wheel supplier based in Taiwan.
Jongbloed and Dforce look to be doing things right with their high quality China sourced but USA designed wheels. Before anyone balks at China as a source for light weight race wheels, go no further than the flawless OEM forged wheels on your $60K luxury car to see what's possible. The 20 lbs 17x8 8 lug OEM polished forged wheels on my Ram 2500 Cummins- China. The LPC-FF (Low pressure Cast, flow formed) OEM wheels on my C6 Z06, China. Gen 4 6UL's are being made in China. That will allow us to bring a higher tech wheel at a lower price than ever before. In the mean time, hats off to Jongbloed for taking the ball and running with it. I've been referring folks to FM for wheels for a bit now since the Gen 4's won't be here until probably late summer.
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#65
Makes sense.
Other wheels I have are Enkei Racing brand (RPF-1 on the Silver Miata and PF01 on the G8). They're Made in Japan and are really nice -- but don't come in the 15x9 size I wanted for my 95R clone.
Still wish we had trade policies that favored employment in the US and environmental policies that had a more balanced approach. It wasn't that long ago that US industry saved the world. But I digress.
Looking forward to 6ULs being available again.
Other wheels I have are Enkei Racing brand (RPF-1 on the Silver Miata and PF01 on the G8). They're Made in Japan and are really nice -- but don't come in the 15x9 size I wanted for my 95R clone.
Still wish we had trade policies that favored employment in the US and environmental policies that had a more balanced approach. It wasn't that long ago that US industry saved the world. But I digress.
Looking forward to 6ULs being available again.
#66
Makes sense.
Other wheels I have are Enkei Racing brand (RPF-1 on the Silver Miata and PF01 on the G8). They're Made in Japan and are really nice -- but don't come in the 15x9 size I wanted for my 95R clone.
Still wish we had trade policies that favored employment in the US and environmental policies that had a more balanced approach. It wasn't that long ago that US industry saved the world. But I digress.
Looking forward to 6ULs being available again.
Other wheels I have are Enkei Racing brand (RPF-1 on the Silver Miata and PF01 on the G8). They're Made in Japan and are really nice -- but don't come in the 15x9 size I wanted for my 95R clone.
Still wish we had trade policies that favored employment in the US and environmental policies that had a more balanced approach. It wasn't that long ago that US industry saved the world. But I digress.
Looking forward to 6ULs being available again.
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#68
Ah, my bad. There is an Enkei cast FF wheel that was made by a factory in Taiwan that I was talking to at one point. Assumed it was the RP-F1. The RP-F1 is actually gravity cast then the outer is roll formed. Probably the only large scale produced aftermarket wheel with that unusual manufacturing process. Virtually every cast wheel that is flow formed whether OEM or aftermarket is low pressure cast, not gravity cast.
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#73
Huh ... I imagined the bolting points to be further inboard, i.e., not mucking up the spoke design to the degree the rendering suggests.
As an industrial designer I find myself cringing a bit. This said, as a miata enthusiast, I still applaud Flyin' for sourcing an affordable and robust wheel for the performance minded crowd. Market competition isn't a bad thing.
Now if only Emillio would start pumping out more wheel sets, the used sets wouldn't hold their value so well.
-Zach
As an industrial designer I find myself cringing a bit. This said, as a miata enthusiast, I still applaud Flyin' for sourcing an affordable and robust wheel for the performance minded crowd. Market competition isn't a bad thing.
Now if only Emillio would start pumping out more wheel sets, the used sets wouldn't hold their value so well.
-Zach
#76
I think what he's getting at, is that the lug hole is placed very close to the edge. I noticed this too,and wondered if this is a possible failure point. I already placed my order so i hope that this was thought through and my investment is safe in the hands of the FM folks.
For me, it's merely an aesthetic compromise. It's apparent the wheel was not designed for a 4x bolt pattern. Most won't care, but as a designer I spend much of my day making engineering/manufacturing constraints look resolved ... so when it is apparent something was designed for different constraints, well, it niggles me a bit.
Doesn't mean I wouldn't buy a set for track rubber.
#78
Eh, I wasn't trying to create fear or concerns around the design. I can only assume the manufacturer does a fair bit of structural and moldflow analysis.
For me, it's merely an aesthetic compromise. It's apparent the wheel was not designed for a 4x bolt pattern. Most won't care, but as a designer I spend much of my day making engineering/manufacturing constraints look resolved ... so when it is apparent something was designed for different constraints, well, it niggles me a bit.
Doesn't mean I wouldn't buy a set for track rubber.
For me, it's merely an aesthetic compromise. It's apparent the wheel was not designed for a 4x bolt pattern. Most won't care, but as a designer I spend much of my day making engineering/manufacturing constraints look resolved ... so when it is apparent something was designed for different constraints, well, it niggles me a bit.
Doesn't mean I wouldn't buy a set for track rubber.