If you are thinking about buying new rims, then you probably spend most of your time wondering what they will look like. Of course, the external beauty of a car is an important aspect. But when choosing rims, it is much more important how strong and reliable they are.
Casting versus stamping
Alloy wheels look very presentable and overall significantly improve vehicle performance by reducing unsprung weight and improving fuel economy.
But stamped discs are much cheaper and have another important advantage - they are easier to straighten in case of damage. Using a hammer, you can fix the dent and the steel rim will look like new. But the cast wheel can be irreparably damaged if the wheel flies into a pothole or curb. Even minor deformations may require work that can only be carried out in a specialized workshop.
So that you can choose the best stamped wheels for your car, we will tell you about the most famous manufacturers offering these products on the Russian market. And if you prefer the beauty of casting, then we suggest taking a look at rating of the best manufacturers of alloy wheels.
7. Trebl
The ranking of the best brands of stamped discs is opened by a Chinese manufacturer that has been producing inexpensive stampings since 2006. Initially, production was in Asia, but in 2016 a stamped disc plant opened in Russia. This full-cycle enterprise creates products both for the Russian market and for export to the CIS countries and Europe.
What is good about stamping from Trebl is its budget price - in the range of 900-2000 rubles, depending on the size. In addition, you can easily find Trebl wheels specifically for your car. All these stamped products meet the requirements of GOST-R50511.
But as for the quality, it is also, let's say, budget. Many car enthusiasts complain about poor-quality disc painting (due to which rust can appear already in the first year of operation), rough welds and soft metal. However, the disks are balanced without problems, and their low cost allows them to be replaced at least every year.
pros: price, widest range.
Minuses: soft metal, rust quickly.
6. KrKZ
This abbreviation stands for Kremenchug Wheel Plant and, accordingly, KrKZ stamped disks are produced in Ukraine and supplied to Russia.
These discs cost a little more than Trebl, but the quality of metal, painting and welding is often better. They are quite solid and very good in their budget segment. However, the downside of the strength of stamped KrKZ disks is a lot.
pros: affordable price, durable, good quality paintwork.
Minuses: heavy.
6. Eurodisk
The Fergana Mechanical Plant (a joint venture between Switzerland, Great Britain and Uzbekistan), as well as a plant in the Leningrad Region, produce affordable stamped discs under the Eurodisk brand.
Russian car owners praise them for their high corrosion resistance and paintwork quality, as well as easy balancing.
But the softness of the metal of these discs leaves much to be desired, as well as its processing.In some places of the disks, you can find "burrs". Therefore, if you want to buy Eurodisk rims, do not be lazy to carefully examine them before purchasing.
pros: wide assortment, good painting.
Minuses: metal is not always well processed.
5. Dotz
This German brand is famous for its high-strength wheel rims. All Dotz drives are stress tested with 200,000 load cycles prior to shipment. Impact tests are also carried out to simulate curb impact.
When grinding the surface, the smallest ceramic balls are used, thereby eliminating the appearance of holes.
Dotz stamped discs have only one drawback - high price. So, one disk of the popular standard size R15 will cost 3000 rubles or more.
pros: excellent corrosion resistance, strong, durable.
Minuses: expensive.
4. Magnetto Wheels
The products of the Italian company Magnetto appeared in Russia not so long ago - in 2011 - and quickly became popular due to their good price / quality ratio.
The stamped rims manufactured by Magnetto Wheels are quite strong, well balanced and rust resistant. And given the low price (about 1,500 rubles for the R15 size), it would be possible to give the Italians a solid top five. But! Some car enthusiasts complain that the factory-supplied wheel bolts did not fit the Magnetto Wheels replica. As a result, you had to fork out to fix this problem.
pros: slow to corrode, lightweight.
Minuses: Bolt patterns from original and Magnetto Wheels wheels do not always match.
3. Kronprinz
If quality is your priority when choosing stamped wheels, we can safely recommend the products of the German brand Kronprinz. It is part of the Mefro Wheels concern, whose production facilities are located in Europe, China and Russia. BMW, Fiat, Peugeot-Citroen, Daimler, Renault-Nissan and others are equipped with Kronprinz disks.
The stamped discs of this manufacturer are lighter than those of the closest foreign competitor - KFZ. Many car enthusiasts take this fact positively, given the rather large weight of the tires.
Many positive reviews about Kronprinz products are associated with excellent anti-corrosion properties and high quality workmanship. These German rims are not cheap, but it's not a pity to pay for the quality, right?
pros: Highest quality, lightweight yet durable.
Minuses: expensive.
2. TZSK
Togliatti Steel Wheel Plant produces some of the best stamped discs available on the Russian market. The quality of this manufacturer's products is evidenced by the fact that it supplies wheels for Ford, Volkswagen, AvtoVAZ and other well-known car manufacturers.
Motorists praise TZSK wheels for very high-quality painting, affordable price and good quality. According to some drivers, these discs can be used for a couple of seasons and they will be as good as new.
pros: high quality Russian stamped wheels, durable.
Minuses: counterfeits are common.
1. KFZ
Having studied reviews on various automotive resources, we gave the first place in terms of price-quality ratio of stamped wheels to the Austrian brand KFZ.
It belongs to the German holding ALKAR Stahlrad, and the discs are produced at a Swiss factory located near the city of Lugano. And undergo very strict quality control.
KFZ wheels have an excellent reputation among Russian car owners for their corrosion resistance, rigidity and perfect balance. So if you need high-quality and reliable stamped discs, but for some reason you don't want to take Russian or Chinese ones, then there is no alternative to KFZ.
pros: excellent value for money, very durable, slow to rust.
Minuses: no.