SEMA: RSR releases new light-weight muscle car wheel

It’s the forged magnesium wheel that turned heads last week at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

RSR claims its new one-piece forged magnesium 20x10, the R981, is the lightest weight 20-inch wheel there is on the market today at just 17.2 lbs.

RSR brand manager Cesar Urbina told Traction News the reaction from the SEMA crowd and industry had been great.

“We’ve had a lot of people walking over and literally picking up the wheel and they’re just so amazed at how light it is,” he said. “Typically if you want a lighter wheel you have to drop down the size but with our wheel you don’t. You can still have a big wheel that is lightweight which is not only going to look good, it’s going to perform good, too.”

Magnesium 30 per cent lighter than aluminum

At SEMA last week the R981 was displayed on a 2016 Ford Mustang, sporting a 5.0-liter engine, a full lowering kit by Eibach, Borla exhaust systems, Alcon brakes, a fully transformed Katzkin leather interior, and a staggered set of 20” Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (255/35 and 275/35).

RSR magnesium wheels are 30 percent lighter than aluminium, with the added bonus that magnesium specifically provides decreased rotational weight — allowing drivers to get up-to-speed faster and maintain speed longer with less stress on the engine. The company argues that magnesium has the highest vibration dampening rate of any of the structural metals, including aluminum, titanium or steel. It helps to absorb road shock while creating a more consistent contact patch for the tires — resulting in a smooth ride and more traction for better accelerating and cornering.

The wheels are custom order only, in any colour, and take 60 to 90 days to build. For more information check out the RSR website.

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SEMA: RSR releases new lightweight muscle car wheel