TSW's Rotary Forged/RF Technology – An Evolution of Strength
BY: TSW Wheels
Choosing the right wheel is a daunting task. There are a multitude of mission-critical factors to consider: design, compatibility, price, and (of course) the construction of the wheel itself.
TSW simplifies this process by developing select wheel lines guaranteed to be compatible with your vehicle. By eliminating distracting guesswork from fitment and compatibility calculations, TSW allows you to fully engage with choosing the perfect wheel to complement your vehicle’s aesthetic canvas.
At TSW, our approach is that each of our wheel lines should be a careful and succinct curation of designs engineered to illuminate the essence of the vehicle’s native elements and defining bodylines.
Founded by former Formula One driver Eddie Keizan, TSW’s pedigree is deeply rooted in the performance demands of F1 racing – a high-standard philosophy that continuously evolves with the pace of today’s technology.
This is showcased in TSW’s Rotary Forged wheels - a manufacturing process that produces wheels with strength capabilities similar to those of custom forged wheels, while maintaining a lightweight wheel profile (as light as 17 pounds per wheel).
In order to convey the significance of TSW’s Rotary Forged technology, a brief overview of today’s common wheel manufacturing processes are outlined below.
Cast Wheels Explained
Gravity Cast Wheels
This is the most common manufacturing process and is available in two varieties: Gravity Cast and Low-Pressure Cast.
Gravity casting is achieved by pouring molten aluminum into the wheel mold from the top, using gravity as the factor of ensuring the mold is fully encased. It is one of the most common cast wheel manufacturing processes due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Low-Pressure Cast Wheels
Low-pressure cast wheels are manufactured by injecting molten aluminum from the bottom of a pressurized mold. The positive pressurized environment assists in reducing the amount of microscopic air cavities found in the alloy structure.
TSW Alloy Wheels
Both methods are used to manufacture TSW wheels depending on the end purpose of the wheel’s design, but rest assured that all TSW wheels are engineered and manufactured to meet and exceed any and all OEM aluminum wheel standards.
In addition, strict roundness and balance tolerances are adhered to in order to ensure a smooth and vibration-free ride. Cast wheels have proven to be a time-tested solution for all vehicle applications including: street, off-road, and road course demands.
Rotary Forged/RF Wheels Explained
Rotary Forged® manufacturing is a proprietary production technique refined by TSW to develop a lightweight wheel that has the strength characteristics of forged wheels – all while avoiding the high cost of a custom forged wheel.
Originally a technology pioneered during racing development, Rotary Forging is now a technique incorporated into many of TSW’s wheel lines.
How does Rotary Forging work?
1. TSW’s Rotary Forged wheels begin with a low-pressure cast wheel.
2. This wheel is then spun on a special high-speed rotary machine that heats the rim to an exact temperature.
3. High-pressure steel rollers then forge the rim from the outside.
The synergy of heat, pressure and rotational inertia condenses the molecular structure of the alloy – resulting in a high-quality wheel that is stronger and lighter than a traditional cast wheel at a comparatively modest price point.
From these industry leading advances, Rotary Forged wheels see weight reductions up to 25% when compared to a traditional cast wheel of the same size.
Utilizing this ultimate hybrid wheel manufacturing method, Rotary Forged wheels are the ultimate bang for your buck and are available for a wide range of users – from daily driven performance vehicles to track-dedicated racecars and even off-road vehicles.
Forged Wheels Explained
Forged wheels are engineered and manufactured with absolutely no compromise. Starting from a solid piece of billet aluminum, it is then formed between two forging dyes that compress the single billet piece into the desired wheel shape by using using extremely high forces.
The result is an extremely strong and lightweight wheel, suitable for the road-racing and off-road applications that demand the pinnacle of performance and reliability.
As such, forged wheels require their own dedicated and specific tooling, which can create lengthy production times and high costs.
However, TSW’s forged wheel program brings all the benefits of a fully forged wheel without any of the long production times or high prices typically associated with a custom wheel.
Offering forged wheels for Cray Corvette Wheels, Victor Equipment Porsche Wheels and Black Rhino Truck Wheels, TSW utilizes its expertise in vehicle-specific applications to offer our own forged wheels straight off the shelf and ready for installation to perfect your vehicle’s setup or upgrade list.
Current TSW lines include:
- TSW Alloy Wheels
- Beyern BMW Wheels
- Black Rhino Truck Wheels
- Cray Corvette Wheels
- Coventry Jaguar Wheels
- Genius Smart Car Wheels
- Lumarai Lexus wheels
- Mandrus Mercedes-Benz Wheels
- Level 8 Motorsport Truck Wheels
- Petrol Wheels
- Redbourne Land Rover Wheels
- Ruff Wheels
- Status Alloys
- Tuff A.T. Truck Wheels
- Victor Equipment Porsche Wheels
- XO Luxury Wheels
If you have other questions, drop by your local Discount Tire or make an appointment online! (Customers who buy and book an appointment online wait less time in-store!)
For more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.