Are Plastic Wheels Coming to Production Cars?

Light-weight alloy wheels may one day be replaced by even lighter plastic wheels or advanced composite versions. A new testing system has been developed that will allow manufacturers to simulate tests for the wheels in the hope that they’ll one day feature on production cars. The benefits of plastic wheels are their lower costs and lighter mass.

plastic_wheel01.jpgPlastic specialists, who developed the wheels using glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) components some time ago, have never been able to test them to meet industry safety regulations. However, that may change with a new simulation developed by Europe’s Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft research facility.


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Carboy - 6/21/2007 8:57:34 AM

+2 Boost

Then wouldn't our cars look like crap with plastic wheels?

dannyboy2 - 6/21/2007 9:54:27 AM

+4 Boost

No the wheels could be painted or powder coated like a lot of the aftermarket alloys wheels already on sale.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 6/21/2007 9:26:24 AM

+1 Boost

Watch that language kid.

pacotacolol - 6/21/2007 9:34:49 AM

-4 Boost

shut up sevorbeupstryisback

Rupert - 6/21/2007 11:03:47 AM

+2 Boost

"And we're not treated like we're Jews or something".


I can't believe that there is someone as stupid as you.
Do you have any idea how offensive you are?

pacotacolol stay out of it, you have no idea what Toyotaman has said (nuke all the Europeans, kill the Germans, and at least the Japanese were honourable in the war, amongst other things). He as no idea what he is talking about, and neither do you.

Racial or ethnic insults have no place on autospies.

Jmiller44 - 6/21/2007 11:04:51 AM

+2 Boost

My JEWISH family has only driven german cars for the last 10 years, during this time we have never had a car break down, and the quality is unmatched, the dealerships have always treted us incredibly, and beleive it or not they have Never asked us our religion.

Will_ - 6/21/2007 4:45:55 PM

+2 Boost

Wow. They NEVER asked you your religion? At the Lexus dealership they ALWAYS ask my religion, just to get scoffed at for being Christian...

sewingmachine - 6/21/2007 10:54:06 PM

+1 Boost

i thought all dealerships ask what ur religion is?

EnnNorak - 6/22/2007 11:20:28 AM

+1 Boost

Toyotaman: you are full of beans; why does Lexus short-change customers by having a steel spare wheel in the RX mounted under the vehicle exposed to winter salt and slush instead of providing a matching alloy spare in a proper wheel well inside the vehicle. Now who builds crap?

t_bone - 6/21/2007 9:36:11 AM

+3 Boost

I'm sure they will take over, just like they have in the high-end bicycle world (there, not so much for the actual wheels as everything else like frames, cranks, handlebars, etc). Lighter weight will improve every aspect of performance...but look out for those curbs!

No reason they couldn't be painted silver just like many alloys are.

BMW995 - 6/21/2007 10:48:56 AM

+2 Boost

Toyotaman,
Ethnic slurs don't have any place on this forum. I'm sure you wouldn't like it if one was made of your religion.

snatchandgrab - 6/21/2007 12:22:53 PM

+2 Boost

Off with his head!!!!

gsh23 - 6/21/2007 2:24:19 PM

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yah i missed the ethnic slurs. cant find it, someone help me out?

Caddyman07 - 6/21/2007 2:37:47 PM

0 Boost

The "BLING-BLING" scene already has plastic wheels. Check this site and video out. Pretty unique and kind of ridiculous but I guess the wow factor out weighs the silliness of them:

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/12/video-30-inch-clear-wheels-can-burn-rubber-glad-to-know/

Will_ - 6/21/2007 4:43:38 PM

+2 Boost

I don't see the big deal, as long as they find a way to make them look decent. It WOULD reduce weight...

EnnNorak - 6/22/2007 11:15:52 AM

+1 Boost

I don't trust plastic. Give me real metal any time. Anything that I've ever owned that is made of plastic has eventually broken or cracked due to the effect of solar radiation or just plain deterioration in the atmosphere. I sometimes cut corners too close to the curb and do not want my wheel to shatter if I hit the curb.

2007Tahoe - 6/29/2007 1:50:59 AM

+1 Boost

Hmm.. plastic wheels... What, have they forgotten about metal?