Widening Alloys

**dubbed** · 15-10-2008, 07:02 PM

Hey peeps,

So I had this a grand idea of widening my TT rims - 9-9.5" rears - to keep with the OEM theme and get a fatter stance with some stretch. I've just been searching the net only to find out that widening alloy wheels is not a good idea. Can someone confirm this? It's heart breaking news if it's indeed true (U)

Ta.

**Mrk_Mickey** · 15-10-2008, 07:09 PM

Hmmm I can understand the concept of widening steelies, but is it worth trying to widen designed alloy wheels? I'd imagine it would be no easy feat...

**Valver.** · 15-10-2008, 07:10 PM

Get some 3-piece rims and widen them! Can't go anywhere with a 1-piece alloy wheel

**Jarred** · 15-10-2008, 07:13 PM

get some spacers to pump out the stance and really fill those gaurds up.

good compromise imo.

**dubbed** · 15-10-2008, 07:15 PM

Yes it's worth it because I like these wheels and would like to do something a bit different

I like three piece wheels (BBS LMs) and also light weight wheels. Trouble is they're expensive and I don't know if I'm after some phat stretch or performance, not to mention the big outlay of moola for decent wheels argh.

I've thought about spacers too but it doesn't help with wider rubber. But maybe...

**Oneofthegreats** · 15-10-2008, 07:39 PM

There is a bloke who's done it before & done it succesfully, but with the cost involved you could just buy a new set of wheel's in the size's your after.

A side note to the sceptic's, the wheel's happened to be built for a 1800rwhp street car.

**rayray086** · 15-10-2008, 08:00 PM

I believe widening alloys is the same concept as widening steelies - have the wheel "centre" cut out, expose it in low temperature and expose the new (wider) barrel in heat and then fuse them together. Not all one-piece alloys can be widened this way though - the alloy wheel must be constructed in a similar way to steelies, whereby the centre piece is separate to the barrel, albeit permanently "stuck" to one another. Peter from OZwheels was talking about it when I enquired about widening steelies. It didn't sound like anything special either, as he asked me straight off whether my wheels were steel or alloy.

**Oneofthegreats** · 15-10-2008, 08:08 PM

The wheel I'm referring to weren't that style where you could turn out the centre.

This is what the rims look like. VS Clubposrt R8's widened to 10" on the back.

**dubbed** · 15-10-2008, 08:16 PM

Hey golfworx, some Holden crew did the same to some Maloo rims - made them 11.5" wide I believe haha. And I think they're VX GTS/Clubby wheels?

I've also just been reading that there is a high chance of cracking and fractures if you attempt to widen and weld alloy wheels