APEX ARC-8 forged? powdercoat?

[asinapple8805]

Hey, i just picked up a set of APEX ARC-8 in 17x9 ET42 motorsport silver.

I was talking to a friend and he said that it is only the barrels that are forged and the rest of the wheel is probably cast. He says that there's no way you can get a fully forged wheel for that price.

according to the website it quotes, "Flow-Form (Roll Forged barrels) manufacturing provides an exceptionally light weight wheel for a mesh design (17lbs)."

http://www.apexraceparts.com/ARC-8-17x9-Wheel_p_17.html

How strong are these wheels and will i ever run into problems with deformation when hitting minor potholes, or the occasional larger one that catches me by surprise?

Also, second question, since the barrels are forged and have barely any material on it, does that mean that i should stay away from powdercoating these wheels in the future at the risk of decreasing the metal hardness?

[luke318is]

Roll forged basically means the same as Spun aluminium which is heat treated to T4 or T6 condition

so, no, it's not actually forged aluminium

centers maybe forged though, not sure, don't know Apex wheels

as for powdercoating, I'd advise against it

more weight, and if it cracks you can't touch it up

just paint them

[elliott95]

Yup^ powdercoating isnt all its cracked up to be....

[3MPowered]

Really? I was planning on powdercoating the centers of my Mitos. Would you advise against this too?

[luke318is]

Really? I was planning on powdercoating the centers of my Mitos. Would you advise against this too?

well centers don't flex like barrels and lips do, so it should be fine

buttttt there's the added danger of chipping around the boltholes while mounting/dismounting them

[will v]

I run them on my track car. Great wheel that is light and is holding up nicely.

I've never met curbing on the track I didn't like so I would say durability is not a problem.

Will

[3MPowered]

well centers don't flex like barrels and lips do, so it should be fine

buttttt there's the added danger of chipping around the boltholes while mounting/dismounting them

I thought powdercoating offered more durability than paint though, and that's why a lot fo people opt for it? Couldn't the same chipping occur on painted centers?
Sorry to kinda jacking the thread, but I saw an opportunity to have a few questions asked that weren't necessarily off topic :D

[kosta]

powdercoat is more durable than paint, it wont chip as easy

it all depends how the wheels were made, how much heat they are capable of withstanding

bbs told me not to powdercoat because the heat will weaken them, hre told me it's ok to do because they powdercoat their centers

i guess it all depends on the wheel