HRE Wheels more than bling Article
03-14-2013, 07:20 AM
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HRE Wheels more than bling Article
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Expensive HRE Wheels more than bling
By Larry Edsall
Special to The Detroit News
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HRE Wheels developed a new FlowForm wheel that meets its internal standards, but also is less expensive. (Larry Edsall / Special to The Detroit News)
For many readers, the thought of paying around $3,000 for a set of four automobile wheels will seem, well, outrageous. But for driving enthusiasts, learning that HRE Wheels has developed a set of rims it sells for that price, or actually a little less than that price, will be big and perhaps even exciting news.
Founded 35 years ago to import wheels for American motorsports enthusiasts, HRE soon was manufacturing those wheels here, and not only for aftermarket applications but as original equipment for such supercars as the Saleen S7, SSC Ultimate Aeros and Gumpert Apollo.
HRE Wheels typically sell for more than $1,000 per wheel, usually for much more. For example, a set of its new Carbon Series CF2 supercar wheels, made from aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber, retails for as much as $22,000.
And while they are attractive, HRE Wheels are not mere bling. For one thing, they are produced only in sizes up to 22 inches in diameter. For another, they are built for much more than show, whether they're winning the Global RallyCross championship or setting records on the run up Pikes Peak, dealing with highway and track-day stresses while bolted to an exotic sports car, or handling the abuse provided when an owner takes a Ford Raptor pickup truck off pavement.
HRE Wheels is a made-in-America company that does design, engineering and all production in its facilities in Vista, Calif., which is just north of San Diego. HRE's reputation for producing lightweight but strong and durable wheels is such that "40 percent of our business is export," said company president Alan Peltier. (To meet the demands of European clients, HRE opened a distribution center in Germany in 2011.)
While its wheels are light but strong, they also are expensive. Recently, however, the company has developed a new FlowForm wheel that is designed, engineered and produced by HRE to meet its own internal standards, but also to be less expensive.
"The FlowForm line is something we wanted to create for HRE brand enthusiasts who have aspired to own a set of HRE wheels, for those who have wanted to experience being a part of the HRE family, but simply couldn't afford it," said Peltier, an engineer who helped develop the exotic, delta-shaped B-2 bomber at Northrop Grumman before taking his expertise in lightweight materials to HRE.
Peltier joined HRE as an engineer in 1999, became vice president for production, and company president in 2009.
"Instead of having to settle for an inferior brand, now they can buy a genuine set of HREs and know they can trust the quality and know that HRE will stand behind them just as we do with our most exclusive products," Peltier added.
While previous HRE wheels were produced through a forging process that starts with a cylinder of solid metal, FlowForm wheels are made with casting technology that uses a high-tech but low-pressure cast flow-forming process to provide, the company says, the precision, strength and detail expected of an HRE wheel.
The design of the initial HRE FlowForm wheel was inspired by HRE's iconic P40SC wheel. Initially, they are available in 19- and 20-inch sizes, which HRE says will work on the "most popular" European, Asian and American vehicles. Gloss silver and satin black finishes are available, as are custom finishes. Additional wheel designs and sizes will be added in the future.
Base price for a set of four 19-inch FlowForm wheels is $2,900.
While HRE specializes in wheels for exotic sports and muscle cars (and has just launched a line of wheels in conjunction with the famed Ring Brothers custom car builders), its wheels also fit much less exotic vehicles, such as the Honda Fit, which is what Peltier drives, albeit his rides on lowered suspension and red-finished HRE wheels.
For more information, visit the www.hrewheels.com website.
Larry Edsall is a Phoenix-based freelance writer. You can reach him at ledsall@***.net.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz2NVnhi4tc
Expensive HRE Wheels more than bling
By Larry Edsall
Special to The Detroit News
0 Comments
Purchase Image Zoom
HRE Wheels developed a new FlowForm wheel that meets its internal standards, but also is less expensive. (Larry Edsall / Special to The Detroit News)
For many readers, the thought of paying around $3,000 for a set of four automobile wheels will seem, well, outrageous. But for driving enthusiasts, learning that HRE Wheels has developed a set of rims it sells for that price, or actually a little less than that price, will be big and perhaps even exciting news.
Founded 35 years ago to import wheels for American motorsports enthusiasts, HRE soon was manufacturing those wheels here, and not only for aftermarket applications but as original equipment for such supercars as the Saleen S7, SSC Ultimate Aeros and Gumpert Apollo.
HRE Wheels typically sell for more than $1,000 per wheel, usually for much more. For example, a set of its new Carbon Series CF2 supercar wheels, made from aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber, retails for as much as $22,000.
And while they are attractive, HRE Wheels are not mere bling. For one thing, they are produced only in sizes up to 22 inches in diameter. For another, they are built for much more than show, whether they're winning the Global RallyCross championship or setting records on the run up Pikes Peak, dealing with highway and track-day stresses while bolted to an exotic sports car, or handling the abuse provided when an owner takes a Ford Raptor pickup truck off pavement.
HRE Wheels is a made-in-America company that does design, engineering and all production in its facilities in Vista, Calif., which is just north of San Diego. HRE's reputation for producing lightweight but strong and durable wheels is such that "40 percent of our business is export," said company president Alan Peltier. (To meet the demands of European clients, HRE opened a distribution center in Germany in 2011.)
While its wheels are light but strong, they also are expensive. Recently, however, the company has developed a new FlowForm wheel that is designed, engineered and produced by HRE to meet its own internal standards, but also to be less expensive.
"The FlowForm line is something we wanted to create for HRE brand enthusiasts who have aspired to own a set of HRE wheels, for those who have wanted to experience being a part of the HRE family, but simply couldn't afford it," said Peltier, an engineer who helped develop the exotic, delta-shaped B-2 bomber at Northrop Grumman before taking his expertise in lightweight materials to HRE.
Peltier joined HRE as an engineer in 1999, became vice president for production, and company president in 2009.
"Instead of having to settle for an inferior brand, now they can buy a genuine set of HREs and know they can trust the quality and know that HRE will stand behind them just as we do with our most exclusive products," Peltier added.
While previous HRE wheels were produced through a forging process that starts with a cylinder of solid metal, FlowForm wheels are made with casting technology that uses a high-tech but low-pressure cast flow-forming process to provide, the company says, the precision, strength and detail expected of an HRE wheel.
The design of the initial HRE FlowForm wheel was inspired by HRE's iconic P40SC wheel. Initially, they are available in 19- and 20-inch sizes, which HRE says will work on the "most popular" European, Asian and American vehicles. Gloss silver and satin black finishes are available, as are custom finishes. Additional wheel designs and sizes will be added in the future.
Base price for a set of four 19-inch FlowForm wheels is $2,900.
While HRE specializes in wheels for exotic sports and muscle cars (and has just launched a line of wheels in conjunction with the famed Ring Brothers custom car builders), its wheels also fit much less exotic vehicles, such as the Honda Fit, which is what Peltier drives, albeit his rides on lowered suspension and red-finished HRE wheels.
For more information, visit the www.hrewheels.com website.
Larry Edsall is a Phoenix-based freelance writer. You can reach him at ledsall@***.net.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz2NVnhi4tc
