The Return of Magnesium Wheels

Remember when mag wheels were all the rage?

Well, they’re back, and Bill Koenig, executive vice president of MKW Alloy Inc., compares bolting a set onto your vehicle to getting the sort of power boost you would by supercharging your vehicle’s engine, without all the plumbing and other work beneath the hood.

Because of the reduced weight at each of a car’s four corners, “It’s like increasing power without a supercharger,” Koenig says of his company’s RSR line of forged magnesium wheels.

Based in Southern California, MKW Alloy launched in 1995 to export large-diameter chrome automotive wheels from the United States to South Korea and three years later began selling those wheels in the U.S. as well. It claims to have been the first, in 2004, to introduce a 26-inch wheel for sport utility vehicles.

Since its launch, MKW has grown into four separate divisions producing primarily cast aluminum wheels for niche and upscale applications.

RSR is one of MKW’s four divisions. RSR is short for Road+Street+Race. Another brand, Hostile, offers off-road wheels with names like Moab, Knuckles, Havoc, Hammered, Exile, Switchblade and Zombie. Avenue is another of the company’s on-pavement lines.

RSR launched in 2014 but added many more styles last fall.

“We’d been chasing magnesium wheels for 10 years,” Koenig said.

Koenig said the price of mag wheels had always been “ridiculous.” The solution, he said, was the cost-effective technology of forged wheels rather than cast. Not only did it bring down prices, but the wheels are stronger and more durable, he said.

Production is done in Japan. “The factory has proprietary magnesium alloy and 800,000 tons of pressure that pushes out the blank,” Koenig said, adding that the same factory produces the wheels for eight Formula One racing teams as well as for other high-end racers and for some high-end original-equipment automakers.

Continue reading on The Detroit News.

Introducing a New Magnesium Forged Porsche Wheel

Off-road racer, Arie Luyendyk, Jr. (Hostile Wheels) and Bill Koenig (Vice President, MKW Alloy, Inc.) join Alan Taylor and Jeff Allen on the Shell Pioneering Performance Stage and talk about Porsche, the debut of MKW Alloy's new super-lightweight magnesium one-piece wheels (RSR) and how Arie, Jr. got started in off-road racing.

Magnesium Wheel

RSR R980 Magnesium Forged Wheel

Bill Koenig is a long time Porsche owner and knows that light weight is the best horsepower you can give your car; he set out to do this without going over the top on price.

RSR introduced a new Magnesium wheel at SEMA that is Forged Magnesium for Porsche GT3 track guys in 19”. The wheels are made in Japan at the same factory that makes  IMSA LMP1 and 8 of the 10 teams wheels in Formula 1.

"It has been a long time since I had something high end that is also cost effective, but I think this is a product that is outstanding in quality and has a fantastic value." The plan is to roll out other sizes and applications during 2016 but RSR will start with the Porsche center lock program that will fit both narrow body and wide body cars in 997 & 991 body styles. The only car it will not fit is the 991 with the ceramic brakes.

RSR – 980 Forged Magnesium

1990 et47: 8.15kg = 17.96lbs
19120 et48: 9.35kg = 20.6lbs
1990 et53: 8.05kg = 17.7lbs
19120 et63: 8.15kg = 17.96lbs

Retail Cost: $2,200 per wheel or $8,800 for the set.

They take 90 days to build; RSR requires a 50% down payment to order; the remaining balance is to be paid upon completion. Standard colors are Black, White, Gold, Silver, Grey but RSR does offer custom colors as an option.

RSR forged wheels are produced by applying eight thousand times heavier pressure than casting. This process prevents porosity inside the material and creates homogeneous metal structure at the molecular level, helping the material achieve high rigidity and strength. The characteristics obtained by the process allows maximum milling capacity and enables it to reduce weight dramatically

Magnesium has the lowest specific gravity among metals for practical use – about two thirds that of aluminum. Moreover, magnesium has better precision in dimension due to its hardness and has a property to absorb shock and release heat. Lightness, precision, shock absorption, and heat release: it’s no wonder that the material has become the best weapon for races such as Formula One and Endurance Sports Car prototypes.

RSR R980 Magnesium Forged is filled with this Motorsport technology.

Magnesium Forged Wheels

NEWEST RSR (ROAD, STREET, RACE) 900 SERIES WHEELS AIM AT PORSCHE GT3 OWNERS

All-New One-Piece Magnesium Wheel Sets the Bar High at SEMA – Combining Light-weight Design with High Strength and Performance for Competitive Advantage



CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., April 18, 2016 – As the market continues to demand high strength, yet lower weight wheel design, California-based RSR (Road, Street, Race) Wheels are meeting and exceeding this demand with their all-new 900 series wheels – a “one-piece” forged magnesium alloy that makes an enormous difference in the overall performance of the car while providing less exertion to the engine.  Launching at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the Race 900 series line is aimed at performance vehicles such as the Porsche GT3, giving track day and race customers a competitive advantage.

According to Bill Koenig, executive vice president for RSR Wheels and parent company MKW Alloy, lightness is what makes magnesium wheels sought after.  “Saving weight is the number one priority,” said Koenig, “and pushing less rotating mass gives a car a competitive advantage against a similar equipped car with heavier wheels.”

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

From an environmental perspective, Koenig concludes that magnesium use within the transportation industries is growing alongside the demand for fuel efficient vehicles, and RSR is working to be on the forefront of the competition in regard to using lightweight exotic materials.  “In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, the full recyclability of magnesium additionally makes our wheels a very suitable selection.”  Light-weight vehicles are able to run on lower fuel levels which aid in lowering greenhouse emissions.  The reduced weight of the vehicle can also increase performance and durability allowing for an increased lifespan.