Win a Classic 1969 Pontiac Firebird and $5,000 for Your Next Road Trip!

 

Win a Classic 1969 Pontiac Firebird and $5,000 for Your Next Road Trip!

The AACF is hosting a charity sweepstakes offering a vintage 1969 Pontiac Firebird and $5,000 to improve your road trip adventures. Your ticket purchase helps support industry professionals facing hardships. Supporters get early access with 50% bonus entries before Oct. 31.

 

Highlights

• Win a meticulously maintained 1969 Pontiac Firebird in Champagne Gold Metallic, powered by a V8 engine.
• Receive an additional $5,000 to fund your next road trip in the Firebird.
• Every ticket purchased supports industry professionals and their families during times of crisis.
• Early access with 50% bonus entries is available to supporters until October 31.
• Visit AACF.org for more details and to participate in the sweepstakes.

The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation is holding a second charity sweepstakes. One lucky winner will drive away in a 1969 Pontiac Firebird in Champagne Gold Metallic.

Finished in gold on the inside and outside, the Pontiac Firebird is powered by a V8 engine and has been carefully maintained to ensure smooth driving. 

In addition to the Pontiac Firebird, the winner of the sweepstakes will also receive $5,000 towards a road trip.

Every ticket bought helps the AACF support industry professionals and their families during times of crisis. 

Valued supporters of the AACF will be the first to receive early access to this exciting sweepstakes with 50% more entries. This special bonus will end October 31.

To learn more about the sweepstakes visit: Automotive Aftermarket CharitableFoundationAACF.org

 

Forged Wheels vs. Cast Wheels

 

Forged (truly forged) wheels are manufactured by compressing and shaping a single (mono) block of metal under extreme pressure, making them stronger, denser, lighter, and more resistant to cracking and bending than cast wheels, which are made by pouring molten metal into a mold. While cast wheels are more affordable and more widely available option, forged wheels offer superior performance and durability, though at a higher cost. 

Forged Wheels

• Manufacturing Process: A solid (mono) block of metal is heated and subjected to immense pressure, which compresses the grain structure, creating a denser and more durable material. 

• Stronger: The dense, non-porous structure makes them more resistant to cracking and breaking under heavy loads or impacts.
• Lighter: Because of the strength, they can be made thinner and with less material, resulting in significant weight reduction, while not compromising strength.
• More Durable: The forged construction provides a longer, more durable lifespan and better resistance to wear and tear.
• Customization: CNC machining allows for highly detailed and complex designs, offering a wide range of aesthetic options. 

Best For: Performance driving, heavy-duty off-roading, and applications where extreme strength and light weight are critical. 

 

Cast Wheels

• Manufacturing Process: Molten metal is poured into a mold and allowed to cool and solidify into the wheel's design, then machined to its final finish.

Characteristics:

• More Affordable: The manufacturing process is less labor-intensive and more cost-

Effective (less expensive than forged wheels).

·         Heavier: They are generally heavier than forged wheels to achieve similar strength, often containing small internal air pockets (porosity).

·         Limited Designs: The options are limited to the available molds, and designs are less intricate than what is possible with forged wheels.

·         Varying Quality: While some high-quality cast wheels exist, they generally don't match the strength of forged wheels, nor do they match the overall integrity of forged wheels.

Best For: Budget-conscious buyers and drivers who don't require the absolute highest level of performance, strength or durability. 

Key Differences at a Glance:

 

	Forged Wheels	Cast Wheels
Manufacturing	High-pressure compression of solid metal	Pouring molten metal into a mold
Strength	Very high	Moderate
Weight	Lightweight	Heavier
Durability	Excellent resistance to cracking	More prone to cracking under shock
Cost	More expensive	More affordable
Design	Highly customizable and complex	Limited by mold availability

Why I Created MyWheelHaus.com

 

 

Why I created MyWheelHaus.com

 

Way back when 16x8 was the biggest plus size available, and there were only about 10 wheel manufacturers available, I got started in the “custom” wheel business…yup, you guessed it…with American Racing Equipment, or ARE. So yeah, I’ve been at this for a very long time!

The issue I found through the years, is that, although tires are a necessary product when selling or buying wheels, the two don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand. Which is rather odd…I’ll explain this later…which leads me to why I am creating this forum.

The number of tire specific publications and news outlets is tremendous and yet, there are very limited publications dedicated to the wheel industry, and I can’t think of ANY that are solely dedicated to the wheel industry. Tire publications such as Tire Review, Modern Tire Dealer, Traction News, Tire Business, Rubber World (and there are many more) rarely, if ever, address anything at all about the wheel business; and yet, every tire needs a wheel.

MyWheelHaus.com is here to address this void in the media. While every wheel needs a tire, that media segment is very well covered. In the meantime, every tire needs a wheel and that’s where MyWheelHaus.com comes in. Think of us as Modern Wheel Dealer, Wheel Business, or Wheel Review.

While we will occasionally talk about other aspects of the industry such as performance suspension and car audio and yes, tires too, the main focus here will be on the many different facets of the aftermarket wheel industry. According to SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) the wheel, tire and suspension segment of the aftermarket represents $12.38 billion, approximately 25% of the $51 billion aftermarket as a whole! That’s billion…with a B! That’s a whole lot of wheels, and we’re here to talk about it, report about it, complain about it and praise about it.

Think about how many different segments there are in the wheel industry…you’ve got basic black steel wheels, OE replicas, aftermarket replacement wheels, plus sizing for cars, functional truck wheels and overlanding wheels, dually wheels, cast aluminum wheels, mono-block forged wheels, multi-piece forged wheels and 300+ different manufacturers available today.

Hopefully, we will be able to fill this niche in the media world sufficiently and thoroughly. If you have a specific topic, trend or just want to send a comment, please click here to submit your comments.

 

Rock ‘n Roll

When Will the Shipping Crisis End??

Although I find (personally) that Modern Tire Dealer does not pay much attention to the wheel industry, they do provide us with a ton of industry information that can be extremely helpful. In this case, this article addressing the world-wide supply chain issues and how it effects us in our businesses was very informative and explains just what the heck is going on...in terms we can understand. One suggestion recommended here to help plan is to bring in more inventory, place advanced orders etc. While this works well for tires, especially replacement tires, wheels can be a bit more challenging to predict. Although there a few part numbers you can count on being able to move...so if it works for you, you have the funds to keep a few sets of wheels in stock and you rely on us to help guide you through the most popular wheels...it might be wise to stock up on wheels too. In any case, I recommend you read this article to help understand what we are going through as one of your suppliers and to understand what the tire manufacturers are going through as well. I hope it's helpful...rock on!! Click here for the full article from MTD.

VW Ends Beetle Production...WHAT????

~~~This article originally appeared on The Shop Magazine website~~~~

After its multi-generational run as a brand mainstay and global automotive phenomenon, the Volkswagen Beetle is ending production. The final car produced by Volkswagen de Mexico’s Puebla plant—a Denim Blue coupe—will remain displayed at Volkswagen’s local museum in Puebla as a lasting tribute to the automobile’s rich and storied heritage.

Volkswagen de Mexico will soon shift resources to produce a North American market-focused compact SUV that fits in the manufacturer’s lineup below the Tiguan.

“It’s impossible to imagine where Volkswagen would be without the Beetle,” said Scott Keogh, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “From its first import in 1949 to today’s retro-inspired design, it has showcased our company’s ability to fit round pegs into square holes of the automotive industry. While its time has come, the role it has played in the evolution of our brand will be forever cherished.”

Introduced to America as the Type 1, Volkswagen sold nearly five million Beetles in the U.S., and a worldwide total of 21.5 million cars. In 1998, the New Beetle—an early automotive adopter of modern retro design language—re-introduced the familiar silhouette to a new generation of drivers, and sold more than 1.2 million cars between 1998 and 2010. In 2011, the third, and current generation of Beetle went on sale in the U.S. as a 2012 model, and more than 500,000 have been built since.

Sold in both coupe and convertible variants, the second- and third-generation of Beetles have collectively been produced in 23 different exterior colors, 32 interior trims, 13 varying engine configurations and 19 special editions, including the Dune, Denim, Coast and #PinkBeetle. All second- and third-generation Beetles have been built by Volkswagen de Mexico, Puebla, and have been sold in 91 markets worldwide.
    
The end of Beetle production will allow Puebla’s resources to shift production to a new compact SUV tailored to the North American market, slotting into the lineup below the Tiguan.
After its celebration, the final Beetle will be displayed at Volkswagen’s museum in the city of Puebla, Mexico. The last cars built for the U.S., a pair of Kings Red vehicles with custom dashes, keys and quilted seats, will join Volkswagen of America’s collection of historic vehicles.