Custom billet wheel prices

[jp455]

Hi all, well, like the title says I'm looking for prices on custom made billet wheels. Rather, I'm looking to see what you guys WOULD pay for a wheel like this. I've never bought billet wheels, and the last set of expensive wheels I bought were a set of Kinesis so not the same thing.

So if you guys could purchase a set of completely custom billet wheels, what would you pay? By completely custom I mean the whole spectrum, from a set design made to your specific backspacing and size, to a totally one off design specifically for you. Heres an example of one that has already been done. This one is a completely custom one off in 19.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/100_3655-1.jpg

[1offwizard]

So is that a 1 piece wheel? Milled out of a solid chunk?

[syborg tt]

Okay you've peaked my interest.

A couple of factors

One Piece Cast

Two Piece

Three Peice

So would I buy a one off wheels - Yep

[jp455]

Hi guys,

Well Jason has the right idea...it is a one piece chunk of billet. Or at least it was before the CNC process. So no casting of any sort. What would be available would be something like this, a solid billet, or something in three pieces.

In any case it would be possible to make a one off wheel specifically for a customer in a way that only that 1 set would be made. Of course wheels in series will be made also.

Right now we are trying to figure out what the first design will be, the one pictured is already made for a customer. Of course...if someone has a design in mind, then it would be no problem to do up the CAD and have them made.

[1offwizard]

WOW! What does that run in material? I'm guessing around 1K each, maybe more just for material.

[syborg tt]

I'm still interested - where are you guy's located ??


Hi guys,

Well 1offwizard has the right idea...it is a one piece chunk of billet. Or at least it was before the CNC process. So no casting of any sort. What would be available would be something like this, a solid billet, or something in three pieces.

In any case it would be possible to make a one off wheel specifically for a customer in a way that only that 1 set would be made. Of course wheels in series will be made also.

Right now we are trying to figure out what the first design will be, the one pictured is already made for a customer. Of course...if someone has a design in mind, then it would be no problem to do up the CAD and have them made.

[jp455]

Well Jason, all I can tell you is that its less than that. When buying metal in bulk prices come down quite a bit. We can get titanium billet too...hence my other thread.

Marty, we are located in Spain, in Valencia to be exact. If you have ever heard of Avus wheels then you already know us. Recently the company was split in two. The name Avus stayed with one partner but he no longer makes wheels, he became a wheel wholesaler, any brand of wheel. The other half kept all the machines and machining knowhow. That being said I should mention that right now we are also making wheels for F1, and some major German tuners. Can't say what team or tuner, but I might be able to post pics.

Right now we are trying to get into the US market. Thats why I'm throwing the feelers out there to see what you guys would be willing to pay for a wheel like this. But I do think we can be competitive price wise.

[Flash68]

Love that design.

[jp455]

Thanks! Those are already going on a car. Its actually for the scratch built supercar that I talk about on another thread. Which is progressing by the way....so far we have the rolling chassis, engine/gearbox setup, and some body panels in carbon fiber. You should see these wheels filled with 380mm carbon brakes! Sweeettt....I'll post that picture in the car thread.

I think taste wise things won't be a problem as far as the one off wheels go, because, well, they are one offs made just tha way you want them! :yeah:

Now pricing has to be figured out...

[1offwizard]

Good stuff Manuel! I also do 1-offs but we only do 2 piece wheels. Our general price starts out at between 4-5k depending on diameter and width and goes up from there.

[jp455]

Hey Jason,

Cool! So do you do those on your own or through a company? Theres a ton of competition but I think people are always on the look out for something thats completely unique/custom.

So anyone else out there interested in having something unique made up?

[TwinSting]

Those dont look like they are from a solid block of billet rather they are a one-piece forging that you then CNC (like used by HRE for the monoblock style wheels). Very nice looking though.

[jp455]

Well...even IF that was the case, which its not, how in the world would you be able to tell the difference? In any case, there is a post machining finish on that, its "sand blasted" with tiny metal balls. It still has to be anodized so I'll post pics when it comes back from that with some color.

[TwinSting]

I was not try to say a one piece forging was bad but rather it is a better way to keep cost down on a wheel of that style. The only difference is that the forging would limit backspace and design of the wheels. When you mentioned that your price was under a $1k for material on that wheel you would never get that here in the USA except in a forged one piece blank. DO you have any pics of the wheels in process of production?

[Flash68]

I love my HRE P40 monobloks on my Porsche. If you could duplicate those for a significant discount to the buyer, you would have some definite interest!

[jp455]

Well that one pictured is the first one in production. I will post pics of it anodized later on. As for the next one thats what I'm trying to come up with now.

That HRE suggestion is a good one...I LOVE their wheels, and the older Kinesis too. But I am trying to come up with something original. Of course as a one off sort of thing anything can be done.

[jp455]

Hi all...well, heres the wheels with the anodized finish. We did the two colors cause we just couldn't make up our mind. The car will be pearl white so they both fit color wise. The olive green ones are different so maybe we'll go with those just to be original. And yes, we make the center caps too.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/100_3994-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/100_3993-1.jpg

[BRIAN]

They look great but I am guessing you would be offset limited?? Vette style deep offset only? Otherwise how would you set into barrel?

There is a Co that advertised in one of the vintage race mags that does one off magnesium rims if that helps you out? I would assume you would have to do a small run. I could dig up name if you have interrest. MA? something is the name.

Brian

[1offwizard]

They look good Manuel! I like the olive one best. How is caliper clearance on those? Good job!

Jason

[wortec]

Email sent...............

[jp455]

Thanks Brian, that would be really helpful! Caliper clearance is tight to the rim, but theres pleenty of space to the spokes. Thing is we are using gigantic 6 piston calipers. Heres a crappy pic of the caliper to rim clearance, and one of the caliper itself for scale. Those are 380 mm carbon discs

Offset with this particular model might be limited, but this design is already spoken for. They will be exclusively for the project I'm also working on. Any other wheel made can either be made to any backspacing required, or if a client wants a very specific design that doesn't allow a lot of dish or curvature then those might be limited somewhat. But then again, since those would be for a specific car anyway then that wouldn't be a problem. The wheels I will be making will be very car specific, non of that "one wheel fits all cars" sort of thing.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/100_3697-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/100_4025-1.jpg

[RUFAZZ]

I am interested, what would the pricing and the turn around be??

Adrian

[silver69camaro]

What knuckle is that? Appears to use C6 hubs. Are those monoballs on there too? Love the carbon brakes.

[jp455]

Those are C6 hubs, good eye Matt. The knuckles are custom made solid billet, actually machined on the same machine that does the wheels. The balljoints were just put on in that assembly to make sure everything on the knuckle was as designed. Yeah, the carbon brakes are siiicckkk!!:seizure: I'm dreaming of putting those on my Pontiac...could stop aalll day long at the track with no fade! Then again I'm also dreaming of making some custom knuckles for my Pontiac too! jeje

As far as cost and turn around Adrian, you would have to give us something to start with, 10 grand would do it. Send it to Nigerian bank account 11111. haha! I'm kidding I'm kidding! Seriously though...it depends on a couple of factors.

1) What size wheels do you want?
2) Do you want one that will be exclusively your design, and will never be sold to someone else, or do you want something that once it is done will be sold to anyone who asks for it? Of course if its yours exclusively than the price goes up since all the CNC programing etc will be a one time use only.
3) How complex is the design? The more complicated, the more machining, thus more expensive. If its a flat disc you could get the relatively cheap.
4) Do you want the wheels certified for road use? We also do the TUV certification, which is the German process that certifies BBS, all the german tuners etc etc. If you do, then for each given size an extra wheel has to be made to have it physically tested to destruction to verify load capacities, and ability to absorb impacts. Of course if you want a wheel to race, and or just have on a show car then we wouldn't do that certification.

That being said we do FEA analysis on EVERYTHING made! Just because it does not go to the TUV does not mean it is not safe. The TUV process just gives it a stamp of approval by a government entity.

To start the process we require a rough sketch, or a good sketch!, and from there a CAD model can be made, tweeked to have it just as the customer wants it, and then a cost and delivery estimate can be made.

[Nine Ball]

Being a wheel dealer, I'm always glad to see more wheels become available to the buyer. As for pricing, I suppose you could just baseline the prices on what similar 1-piece forged wheels are selling for. Examples that I know of:

iForged "track" series: www.iforged.com
18x10 = $750 each
19x12 = $850 each

CCW "SP" series: www.ccwheel.com
18x10 = $675 each
19x12 = $750 each

Then just add in any fair cost for doing the design, CNC programming, and analysis.

Tony

[jp455]

Thats a great refernce Tony! I guess we have to see exactly how "custom" our wheels will be. Basically how many of each type we will make. I know for sure some will be complete one offs.

Thanks

[BRIAN]

Took a while to find link for magnesium wheel site. They also do other suspension parts.

WWW.MACASTINGS.COM

989 879 2222

[jp455]

I haven't kept up to date with magnesium alloys lately but I think the cnc'd aluminum wheels are much stronger. Plus its certainly quicker to design and machine wheels rather than cast them.

Looks like a good place for those vintage racers looking for spares though!