SSR wheels any good?
#1
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SSR wheels any good?
I just bought a set of SSR wheels, just want to see what people thinks of them. They are for racing purposes, 17x8 on a relatively stock vehicle running 245 slicks. Do TPMS fit on them?
#9
RX8 & RX7 owner
#12
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lol... Tanabe is well known suspension and aftermarket exhaust company. If it wasn't for them I think SSR would be history by now. They still offer the great wheels SSR had... and still making great wheels. And of course they just came out with NEW wheels!! SP3!!
http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ --- yummmm
http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ --- yummmm
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Not siding with anyone here... but you mean "heavier" are you referring to the weight of their wheels?
Volks and SSR are forged wheels I believe... they are finished products that are dense and very strong. Thus they can stand lots of abusing in tracks or street... Which I suppose they cost a bit more comparing to other wheel brands. If you look at SSR type C wheels they range from 14lb - 17lb (17 inch wheels)... I see these wheels more out on the track.
Volks and SSR are forged wheels I believe... they are finished products that are dense and very strong. Thus they can stand lots of abusing in tracks or street... Which I suppose they cost a bit more comparing to other wheel brands. If you look at SSR type C wheels they range from 14lb - 17lb (17 inch wheels)... I see these wheels more out on the track.
#16
So
SSR = Semi Solid Forged wheel, no idea what that means.
Volk Racing Monoblock series only, TE, CE, RE etc... = Press Forged and Spun. Higher standard
So basically the original SSR Competition, not the SSR Type C-RS, were much lighter as Team indicated.
Gen 1: "Competitions" were a one piece wheel.
Gen 2: "C-RS" are a 2 Piece welded wheel. This definitely adds weight.
I think this "fail" difference can only be argued on their "one piece looking", but 2 piece wheels.
The Fancy Vienna series and the old school stuff I believe is just the same as it always was.
I am grateful that Tanabe was able to step in and prevent one of the OG Japanese classic wheel companies from going defunct. But it does suck that their discounts are not good anymore and the manufacturing on some of the wheels has changed.
Rishie
SSR = Semi Solid Forged wheel, no idea what that means.
Volk Racing Monoblock series only, TE, CE, RE etc... = Press Forged and Spun. Higher standard
So basically the original SSR Competition, not the SSR Type C-RS, were much lighter as Team indicated.
Gen 1: "Competitions" were a one piece wheel.
Gen 2: "C-RS" are a 2 Piece welded wheel. This definitely adds weight.
I think this "fail" difference can only be argued on their "one piece looking", but 2 piece wheels.
The Fancy Vienna series and the old school stuff I believe is just the same as it always was.
I am grateful that Tanabe was able to step in and prevent one of the OG Japanese classic wheel companies from going defunct. But it does suck that their discounts are not good anymore and the manufacturing on some of the wheels has changed.
Rishie
#17
AHH INFO:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/ssr/ssr_info.jsp
"Further research led scientists to develop a process whereby mechanically agitating (stirring/mixing) alloys during the solidification process changed the original microstructure of the alloy from a branch-like structure to a globule granular structure. Alumax then perfected the aluminum stirring process, Magneto-Hydro Dynamics (MHD), and created the basis of SSF technology which results in a pure cylindrical alloy billet consistently free of non-metals, gasses, oxides and other impurities. This MHD billet, when heated to a specific temperature, attains a semi-solid form (consistency of soft butter). After pressed into a mold at a very high rate, the shaped product retains the preferred globule granular microstructure. The end product is very dense and strong allowing the manufacturer to use less aluminum alloy and still meet the engineering criteria for the intended use."
![](http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/manf/process1a.jpg)
![](http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/manf/process2a.jpg)
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/ssr/ssr_info.jsp
"Further research led scientists to develop a process whereby mechanically agitating (stirring/mixing) alloys during the solidification process changed the original microstructure of the alloy from a branch-like structure to a globule granular structure. Alumax then perfected the aluminum stirring process, Magneto-Hydro Dynamics (MHD), and created the basis of SSF technology which results in a pure cylindrical alloy billet consistently free of non-metals, gasses, oxides and other impurities. This MHD billet, when heated to a specific temperature, attains a semi-solid form (consistency of soft butter). After pressed into a mold at a very high rate, the shaped product retains the preferred globule granular microstructure. The end product is very dense and strong allowing the manufacturer to use less aluminum alloy and still meet the engineering criteria for the intended use."
![](http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/manf/process1a.jpg)
![](http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/manf/process2a.jpg)
![](http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/manf/process3a.jpg)
#18
So it appears that they:
1. Implement MHD Process which means they stir the alloy during the solidification process to change the molecular structure from branch like into globules.
2. Flow Form Forged of the Barrel
This is similar to what Enkei does.
1. Heat Treat the Face to elongate molecular structure
2. Flow Form Forged Barrel.
1. Implement MHD Process which means they stir the alloy during the solidification process to change the molecular structure from branch like into globules.
2. Flow Form Forged of the Barrel
This is similar to what Enkei does.
1. Heat Treat the Face to elongate molecular structure
2. Flow Form Forged Barrel.
![](http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/manf/conventional_structure.jpg)
![](http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/manf/ssf_structure.jpg)
#20
The wheels are still SSF, but i was pretty sure even before the tirerack days that the competitions were a real one piece, but it's been so long and i'm not getting any younger so i don't doubt my memory is failing me.
http://www.ssr-wheels.com/technology/
Rishie
http://www.ssr-wheels.com/technology/
Rishie
#21
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SSR switched to the heavier 2-pc design before Tanabe became involved, but then Tanabe turned around and made them heavier still. The original 1-pc SSR Comp wheels are still king in my book. I was fortunate to find a new, unused set of 1-pc SSR 18 x 9 Comp H wheels last year.
#22
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Either way, If Tanabe didn't come to save SSR, I think they would be gone by now.. or history. I been fan of the SP1 Series and stuff, I think it's great they took over... Not all changed they still stick to their roots.
Last edited by Spiritus Sancti; 12-24-2009 at 04:45 PM.