The right tires can make a difference on the track, and the racing wheels that support them are just as important. Racing wheels are engineered to carry heavy loads, endure long days, and hold up under intense pressure. Street, OEM, and aftermarket wheels don’t meet the strength and balance requirements for track racing; their shortcomings can jeopardize the safety of a race car. When you’re ready for your next set of racing wheels, explore our buying guide to learn about materials, configurations, SFI certifications, and how to find the right style for the best track performance.

How To Choose the Right Race Wheels

The most important aspects of a racing wheel are the quality and construction. A high-quality racing wheel is built in sturdy, reliable materials and safety-certified by SFI to meet the requirements of the sanctioning body track rules. Choose a racing wheel based on the type of race track you’re running. While street stocks need a heavy, more durable style wheel, bigger does not always mean better—lightweight wheels work best on late model race tracks.

Racing Wheel Size

Currently, both e cars with bigger brakes need large wheels and rims to accommodate the discs. Choose a wheel between 17 and 18 inches to support the typical 13-inch racing brake discs found on most race cars.

Steel vs. Alloy Wheels

Most wheels are either steel or alloy, and both offer a range of benefits. Steel wheels are strong, durable, and cost-effective. They work great on cars that carry a heavy load, but the extra weight of a steel racing wheel can drag a car down and hinder acceleration. Lightweight alloy wheels make acceleration and handling a breeze—important in racing applications—but are slightly less durable.

Are forged or cast wheels better?

While cast wheels are made by pouring molten metal into a pre-shaped mold, forged wheels come from a solid piece of metal that is pressed and formed. In general, forged wheels are less porous than cast, which makes them stronger and more durable, ideal for high-performance race cars.

What type of wheel is best for racing?

The best wheel for racing is forged aluminum. Forged aluminum wheels are formed and pressurized for added strength and durability. Wide 5 wheels offer the dual benefits of strength and lighter weight for superior performance on any track.

Beadlock vs. Wide 5 Wheels

The original beadlock wheel was designed for use on military trucks, but came to the race track in the 1970s. Dirt track tires have a coarse tread and low air pressure to get more surface contact, so it needs a tight connection to the wheel. Like its name implies, a beadlock wheel locks in and secures the tire to the rim.

Wide 5 wheels are strong and lighter in weight than a traditional style. They feature a large diameter and bolt circumference with the mounting studs located by the rim, and are typically used in Dirt Late Model, Stock Car, Pro Stock, and Asphalt racing. An advantage of wide 5 wheels is that they reduce rotating mass and allow you to run on a bigger tire.

Difference Between One, Two, and Three-Piece Wheels

The main difference between one-, two-, and three-piece racing wheels is the number of parts in the unit, but the component construction and fine details vary.

• One-piece racing wheels are formed and pressed out of one solid piece of material. These racing wheels have a simple design and are manufactured very quickly and easily due to the uncomplicated design.
• Two-piece wheels include a forged centerpiece with spokes plus a rim. Two-piece wheels are usually more flexible than one-piece styles.
• Three-piece wheels include a centerpiece and two separate rim halves. Most three-piece wheels are custom-built and common on high-performance sports vehicles, but not as common in racing applications.

SFI Certification for Race Wheels

Like other race car components, from the brakes to the head and neck restraint, racing wheels must undergo meticulous testing to gain certification. SFI works with independent laboratories that use the same machines to perform the same tests for every part. Each wheel that hits the track must pass specific strength and endurance tests to gain SFI certification.

• Drag Race Drive Wheels. SFI Spec 15.1. Tests include dynamic concerning fatigue, dynamic radial fatigue, and deflection.
• Stock Car Steel Wheels. SFI Spec 35.1. Tests include dynamic concerning fatigue and dynamic radial fatigue.
• Heavy Duty Stock Car Steel Wheels. SFI Spec 35.2. Tests include dynamic concerning fatigue, dynamic radial fatigue, bending strength, and mechanical properties.
• Alloy Stock Car Wheels. SFI Spec 35.3. Tests include dynamic concerning fatigue, dynamic radial fatigue, mechanical properties, and deflection.

Race wheels that meet the criteria for SFI certification will receive conformance labels stamped with the manufacture date and a serial number. The SFI conformance label is placed on an area of the wheel where it’s visible when the tire is mounted. Racing wheels must be evaluated every 12-24 months based on the SFI specification to ensure continued compliance.

Note: Beadlock racing wheel falls under SFI 15.4.

What Are WELD Racing Wheels?

WELD Racing designs and manufactures strong, high-performance racing wheels at its facility in Kansas City, Missouri. WELD wheels are lighter than standard styles, and their exclusive design process removes air pockets that can weaken the rim. Every new racing wheel style that WELD produces goes through rigorous testing so they can refine designs and create dependable products before they ever leave the facility.

WELD Oval Track Racing Wheel Guide

WELD Magnum Micro Sprint Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Sprint Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt pattern: 27-spline
Finish: Black center with a polished shell
Sizes available: 10x8, 10x9, 10x10, 10x12, 10x14

WELD Magnum Midget Sprint Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Sprint Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt pattern: 27-spline
Finish: Black center with a polished shell
Sizes available: 10x8, 10x9, 10x10, 10x12, 10x14

WELD Magnum Sprint Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Sprint Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt patterns: 42-spline; 6x5; 6x5 LM; 6x5 CL; 6x127
Finishes: Black; gold center with a polished shell; black center with a polished shell; black center with a black shell
Sizes available: 5x8, 15x10, 15x11, 15x12, 15x13, 15x14, 15x15, 15x16, 15x18

WELD Micro Direct Mount Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Sprint Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt patterns: 4x171.45; 4x6.75
Finishes: Black; polished shell
Sizes available: 10x6, 10x7, 10x8

WELD Midget Direct Mount Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Sprint Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt patterns: 5x247.65; 5x9.75
Finishes: Black; polished shell
Sizes available: 13x7, 13x8

WELD Sprint Direct Mount Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Sprint Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt patterns: 5x9.75; 5x247.65
Finishes: Black; polished shell; black shell
Sizes available: 15x7, 15x8, 15x9, 15x10, 15x11

WELD Wide 5 HS Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Wide 5 Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt patterns: 5x10.25; 5x260.35
Finishes: Black; polished shell
Sizes available: 15x8, 15x10, 15x12, 15x13, 15x14

WELD Wide 5 XL Racing Wheel
Series: Oval Wide 5 Wheels
Material: Forged Aluminum
Bolt patterns: 5x10.25; 5x260.35
Finishes: Black; polished shell
Sizes available: 15x10, 15x12, 15x13, 15x14, 15x14.3, 15x15, 15x16, 15x17

How To Maintain Racing Wheels

Damage can occur slowly over time, so routine inspection of race wheels is critical. At the end of every race after the wheels cool, remove and clean both the front and back of the wheel. Give wheels a once-over and check for cracks, impact damage, and runout. If the wheel is bent or cracked, no matter how slight, replace it. A damaged wheel can cause trouble on the track.

How long do racing wheel accessories last?

Lug nuts, bolts, studs, and other wheel accessories can last the life of a street vehicle, but a race car endures more stress, action, and tires installation and removal cycles. Inspect wheel hardware and accessories regularly and replace them periodically.

Whether it’s a new cover, beadlock kit, wheel spacer, or a set of racing wheels, trust Behrent’s Performance Warehouse to provide everything you need to hit the track and run well on race day.