When you want the lightest wheels for taking on the track, the lightweight magnesium wheels from Lightspeed Racing can bring you the checkered flag.

Have you ever seen a company zig where others zag? Most companies are researching how to build the lightest vehicle wheels to be used on race cars at the track, and regular cars on the road might not look into magnesium. Typically, carbon fiber is the lightest material to use, but it’s much more expensive than magnesium. Still, there are some common drawbacks to magnesium, but Lightspeed Racing figured out the right solution.

The right solution for amazing lightweight magnesium wheels

While pure magnesium isn’t a fitting material for building car wheels, an alloy with a percentage of this lightweight metal combined with other metals, such as aluminum, makes for an amazing product. Lightspeed Racing has created a proprietary forged magnesium alloy that outperforms forged aluminum in tensile strength and fatigue strength while being naturally lighter.

How does it do compared to carbon fiber? The RS5 monoblock forged magnesium wheels from Lightspeed are actually lighter than the OEM full carbon fiber monoblock wheels of the same size. The result is improved performance on the road and track, thanks to the incredibly light and durable wheels.

Pioneering forged magnesium wheels

Formula 1 cars use forged magnesium wheels, and after several attempts to find the right material that would be more cost-effective than carbon fiber, but also light enough, Lightspeed Racing began building forged magnesium wheels. This has led to them being the pioneers in this market with the lightweight magnesium wheels that constantly prove they can outperform others in the market.

The trouble with magnesium wheels in the past

Magnesium wheels aren’t new to the automotive industry, but they have a mired history. Wheels made of this material were around in the 1960s as cast models that were not alloyed with other materials. Magnesium is prone to corrosion, rusting, and durability issues, which lead to cast versions being phased out. Also, when cars with magnesium wheels are in collisions, wheels tend to spark and ignite because they spark and catch fire very easily due to the low flash point.

Thankfully, forged magnesium alloy wheels have solved all of these issues. In fact, Porsche has used magnesium wheels on some of its premium 911 models in the past, but no other company is doing what Lightspeed Racing has done for these wheels.

Porsche and Corvette have responded well to lightweight magnesium wheels

Lightspeed Racing wheels have become popular in the Porsche and Corvette markets. Many customers of high-performance versions of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and ZR1 are looking for lighter wheels that outperform aluminum and carbon fiber. Those customers are turning to Lightspeed Racing for the high-performance, lightweight wheels that get the job done.

Although most customers are from high-end sports car markets, the Lightspeed team has made wheels for some regular vehicles that you might not expect, such as a Toyota RAV4 and a Toyota Prius. The lightweight magnesium wheels aren’t only made for on-track performance, but also improve the performance and efficiency of every vehicle they are made for.

Understanding the process for EVs

While most wheels made by Lightspeed Racing are built to rack use, no customer is turned away. Some drivers are looking for the longest driving range they can get out of their electric vehicles, and that means adding lighter, but still strong, wheels to them. Because EVs are heavier, have a lower center of gravity, and require stronger wheels than most gas-powered cars, Lightspeed takes these factors into account to ensure wheels built for EV customers will stand up to the daily grind of commuting.

Are lightweight magnesium wheels strong enough?

Every Lightspeed racing wheel starts with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) computer load simulations to fine-tune the design. This means analyzing the thickness, radius size, and joint intersections of every wheel. The wheels are tested at a third-party testing facility to ensure they exceed the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards. Once this testing is complete, the real fun begins.

Drifting proves these wheels are amazing

Once the wheels have passed initial testing, each set is tested at drift tracks by professional drift teams. This is the true test of durability and performance for these wheels that are tossed about on a drift course. Lightweight magnesium wheels from Lightspeed Racing are extremely durable and have proven themselves time and time again on the drift track.

Endless color and finish options

Every set of lightweight magnesium wheels and aluminum wheels made by Lightspeed Racing are custom-made from start to finish. This allows every customer to have the color and finish option they desire. Every color can be finished in gloss or satin and can be made to match the car or the customer’s desires perfectly. The styles, using multiple spoke options and designs, can give you a set of wheels that are unique, light, and ready to deliver amazing performance.

If you want a set of wheels that can deliver excellent performance, improved style, and better fuel mileage, you’ve got to have the lightest wheels on the market. Right now, those wheels are lightweight magnesium wheels from Lightspeed Racing.