Vossen Rims in Singapore: What Hybrid Forged Construction Means

You're looking at two wheel listings side by side. Both are alloy, both come in the size you want, but one is Vossen Hybrid Forged. What is actually different between them?

Vossen rims in the Hybrid Forged range start as a cast alloy wheel. Vossen then heats the wheel on a drum and stretches the barrel with hydraulic rollers. This is called flow forming. According to Vossen, this improves the grain structure of the aluminium and makes a stronger, lighter barrel, similar to a forged wheel. It is not the same as a fully forged wheel, which starts as a solid block of aluminium. Below is how the constructions differ and which designs the range includes.

What Are Vossen Hybrid Forged Wheels?

Vossen Hybrid Forged wheels are cast aluminium wheels that get a second manufacturing step. Heat and pressure stretch the barrel, which improves the aluminium's grain structure. Vossen says the result is a stronger and lighter barrel, similar to a forged wheel.

Vossen describes the process in four steps on its HF-5 wheel page:

1. A cast wheel is mounted on a flow forming drum and heated.
2. Hydraulic rollers press on the barrel and stretch it.
3. The material is stretched and compressed until the barrel reaches the width needed.
4. The stretched aluminium has a better grain structure, so the barrel ends up stronger and lighter.

How Do Vossen Hybrid Forged Wheels Differ From Cast Alloy Wheels?

Hybrid Forged wheels are still aluminium alloy wheels, so the useful comparison is with cast alloy wheels rather than alloy wheels in general. Most alloy wheels are cast: molten aluminium is poured into a mould and left to set. A Vossen Hybrid Forged wheel starts the same way, then gets flow forming on top. Vossen says that extra step reworks the barrel so it comes out stronger and lighter than the cast barrel it started as.

Wikipedia's overview of alloy wheels notes that casting is the common method, with forging used for a smaller share, and that forged wheels tend to be lighter and stronger than cast ones. Hybrid Forged sits between the two in construction.

Hybrid Forged is not full forged. Vossen makes both.

Which Designs Are in the Vossen Hybrid Forged Range?

The Hybrid Forged range includes the HF-1, HF-2, HF-3, HF-4T, HF-5, HF-7 and HF-8. All use the same flow forming construction, so the choice between them comes down to design, finish and sizing. As an example of the sizes on offer, Vossen lists the HF-5 in diameters from 19 to 24 inches and widths from 8.5 to 12 inches on its HF-5 page.

Is Hybrid Forged Right for Your Car?

Hybrid Forged suits drivers who want a wheel that is lighter and stronger than cast in the larger diameters Vossen offers, without moving up to full forged. Lighter wheels can reduce unsprung mass, which lets the suspension follow the road surface more closely, as the same alloy wheel overview explains. If you only want a new look at your stock size, a cast alloy wheel can do that.

Pitstop Auto Club is an authorised Vossen Wheels dealer in Singapore and imports original stock directly from the US. Original stock takes about three weeks to arrive once ordered, and credit card, Atome and Grab PayLater payments are subject to a surcharge. To check which Hybrid Forged design fits your car, WhatsApp us with your car's model and year for a quote. The Vossen Wheels page lists the Hybrid Forged designs Pitstop offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Vossen Hybrid Forged wheels?

They are cast aluminium wheels whose barrels are heated and stretched by hydraulic rollers in a process called flow forming. Vossen says this gives a stronger and lighter barrel, similar to a forged wheel.

How are Vossen Hybrid Forged wheels different from cast alloy wheels?

A cast alloy wheel is poured into a mould and left as is. A Hybrid Forged wheel is cast first, then flow formed, which reworks the barrel for greater strength and lower weight, according to Vossen.

Are Hybrid Forged wheels as strong as full forged wheels?

Not quite. Full forged wheels start as a solid block of aluminium and are generally the lightest and strongest option, with Hybrid Forged sitting between cast and full forged.

Where can I buy Vossen rims in Singapore?

Pitstop Auto Club is an authorised Vossen Wheels dealer in Singapore and imports original stock directly from the US.

How long does it take to get Vossen wheels?

Through Pitstop Auto Club, original stock takes about three weeks to arrive once ordered, so it isn't a same-day purchase.