The secret behind the high quality and exotic shapes of DUB Wheels lies in the advanced forging processes used by the company. The forging process changes the shape and the molecular structure of metal. Forging processes combine heating of metal and applying high pressure to it. This can be done by rolling, hammering, pressing or a combination thereof.
Forging creates a stronger metal structure, and by shaping the blanks in the most advanced forging machines available, DUB can create stronger, more lightweight and elegant wheels than companies using conventional wheel manufacturing technologies.
"Monoblock" is the industry term for a 1PC forged wheel. These wheels are made from round bar stock of lightweight aerospace quality 60/61-T6 aluminum alloy.
The forging process starts by heating a round flat billet of alloy and pressing it to a rough shape in a forging press. The piece coming out of the forging press is called a "blank". The blank is put into a flow-forming machine, to form the barrel of the wheel. The wheel barrel is heated and then formed with high-pressure rollers in a rotary forging process.
The rollers "flow-form" the barrel, changing not only its shape, but also the structure of the metal. The rolling process aligns the metal grain structure to create a stronger hoop. Following the flow forming of the barrel, the blank is put into a CNC milling machine for milling of the wheel center to the exact predetermined shape. The wheel is then sent through the finishing processes needed to achieve the final design – plating, polishing and painting.
Monoblock Forged Wheels are lighter than wheels manufactured by other methods and thus they are a perfect option for customizers who are prioritizing low weight and performance.
2PC Forged wheels are made from two aluminum billets. One billet is pressed to the shape of the center of the wheel, given its final shape by CNC machining and then finished by polishing, plating, painting, etc. The barrel is made from a separate billet, which is forged to its final shape in a rotary forging process. The barrel is also finished in the desired surface treatment before final assembly. Bolted 2PC Wheels are easy to give advanced finishes, as the center and the barrel are finished separately. The barrel of a Bolted 2PC wheel has an internal flange, to which the center is bolted in the final stage of manufacturing. Some manufacturers join the barrel and the center by welding. This makes advanced finishing more difficult and the wheels more difficult and expensive to repair. One of the advantages of bolted 2PC construction is that the barrel is easy to replace if the wheel is damaged. 2PC wheels are also inherently airtight as the barrel is made in one piece and does not have a joint that needs to be sealed.
3PC Forged wheels are made the same way as the 2PC wheels, but with the barrel made in two pieces. In the 3PC wheel construction the wheel is made up of the center (face), the outer lip (hoop) and the inner barrel (hoop). The three parts are bolted together after the finishing.
A silicone seal makes the joint between the two hoops airtight. Mounting of tires on 3PC wheels should be trusted to experienced shops to ensure that the seal is not accidentally punctured. By choosing different combinations of outer and inner hoops, DUB can offer a wide variety of rim widths and offsets. Customers can combine hoops and centers to achieve the exact measurements they require.
3PC Forged wheels are the most desired by discerning customers looking for the most precise stance and fitment and a truly customized look, as the 3PC wheels have a number of features that make them easy to individualize.
The DUB Spinners and Floaters are built on a one-piece cast base wheel. A disc is attached to the wheel hub, supported only by a first class bearing, so that the disc can rotate independently of the wheel rotation.
Spinners have carefully balanced discs, which makes the discs want to stay rotating at the same speed they presently have. If a car starts with the spinners being stationary, it takes quite some time before the spinners rotate with the wheels, making the car look as if it is sliding off on stationary wheels. When the spinners are up to speed, most of them create a blur, with only the back plate showing. This can make the wheel look as if it is changing color when the car gets up to speed. At stops, spinning spinners continue to spin, making the car look like it is standing still with the wheels wildly spinning.
With a good quality bearing, a spinner disc can keep going for several minutes before it is slowing down due to friction. Floaters and skirts are spinner discs that are given a weight bias to make them hang in a stationary position from the wheel hub.