Are American Eagle wheels any good?

[BLAZERMAN]

I've been looking for a set of budd wheels and have come across some really good deals on American Eagle wheels. Most of the time low price means low quallity, had anyone had good or bad experiances with this brand?

[Pl4yboy]

I'm looking at the Series 025 in a 22". They sure look nice.

[orange72blazer]

I've had 3 sets of them on different trucks over the past 8 years or so. They have all held up great. If you shop around you can usually find someone that sells blems for $15-$20 cheaper per wheel.

[dan468]

I think this is my area : ) I worked at Discount tire for a while and I do like the AE. The polish has gotten even better the older the company got. Keep in mind even if you find some not so nice AEs they will polish right up with the best of them (sometimes they look better than the big names when you're done). I've never had any bad experiences with a customer coming back unhappy with their set.

[orange72blazer]

Originally Posted by dan468

I think this is my area : ) I worked at Discount tire for a while and I do like the AE. The polish has gotten even better the older the company got. Keep in mind even if you find some not so nice AEs they will polish right up with the best of them (sometimes they look better than the big names when you're done). I've never had any bad experiences with a customer coming back unhappy with their set.

When I had my rims people always asked me if they were chrome. I think I only had to polish them once in the 5 years I had them on the truck.

[jerry moss]

never used the budd version but my old K/20 had 16.5 x 9.75s and i hauled 3 yards of 3/8 pea gravel---1 1/2 yards in the truck and 1 1/2 yards in my trailer-- about 45 miles. i never had any trouble out of them and now i have a set of 15 x 8s on my blazer.

[67Fleet]

They make a nice wheel. The difference between them and the more expensive wheels like Budnik, Billet Specialties, Intro, etc. is that the AE wheels, like many other popular brands are forged aluminum whereas the high end wheels are billet aluminum. Forged wheels are made in a forged casting and the metal is melted down and poured into the casting. Billet wheels are cut from a solid "billet" or block of aluminum, then the hoop is welded on to the face. Billet wheels are usually lighter, and when brand new or freshly polished they shine up brighter, but require more effort to keep them looking good as the metal is generally more porous. Hope that helps.

[bigo181979]

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

They make a nice wheel. The difference between them and the more expensive wheels like Budnik, Billet Specialties, Intro, etc. is that the AE wheels, like many other popular brands are forged aluminum whereas the high end wheels are billet aluminum. Forged wheels are made in a forged casting and the metal is melted down and poured into the casting. Billet wheels are cut from a solid "billet" or block of aluminum, then the hoop is welded on to the face. Billet wheels are usually lighter, and when brand new or freshly polished they shine up brighter, but require more effort to keep them looking good as the metal is generally more porous. Hope that helps.

Your a little off, this is what I do for a living. There are 3 types of aluminum wheels, Forged, Cast, and Billet.
The strongest and lightest is a forged wheel, the forging process is similar to the casting process in where molten aluminum is pored in to a mold but in forging this is done under pressure creating a more dense material, which is stronger alowing for less aluminumto be used creating a lighter wheel, and it takes longer to make. Most drag wheels and racing wheels are made in this method, anything Weld wheels makes is manufactured in this process, hence why they are so much.

A cast wheel is the most common wheel out their, OE aluminum wheels are made in this method, as well as most of the 20's + that you see people putting on their suv's the majority of chrome wheels are cast. It is the easiest, and fastest method of manufacturing a wheel. These are usually the chepaest as well.

Lastly would be a billet wheel. Billet wheels are a solid chunk of aluminum that is placed into a CNC mill and cut into what ever shape that is designed, billet wheels are usually 2 piece allowing for different off sets and custom bolt patterns since each is individually maid to the customers specs, this is why the cost so much.

Hope that helps.

[poff]

The one thing I noticed about aluminum wheels is that a lot of the 8 lug wheels do not have a high enough weight rating for a lot of 3/4 & 1 ton trucks. Of course this only matter if you haul a lot.

[71chevylowrider]

I really like my Eagle polished wheels, They've been on the truck a few years now & they still look nice & shiny!

[Olden Days]

Originally Posted by bigo181979

forging is done under pressure creating a more dense material, which is stronger alowing for less aluminum to be used creating a lighter wheel,

I know nothing about forging or casting wheels, but am just curious how creating it under pressure and making it more dense uses less aluminum? seems to me the more dense something is the more material used and the heavier it would be.

[fastwillie 696969]

i like mine too

[bigo181979]

Originally Posted by Olden Days

I know nothing about forging or casting wheels, but am just curious how creating it under pressure and making it more dense uses less aluminum? seems to me the more dense something is the more material used and the heavier it would be.

We are talking on a molecular level here, by incresing the density you are also increasing the strength, this allows for the spokes to be thinner and the hoop and the pad so you end up with less weight.

The process of forging is quite a bit more complex than I made it sound, there are several ways to do it, just google forging process and you can find plenty of info on how it is done.

[jeff1vol]

and the only thing I can tell you for sure is that the forged aluminum was much heavier than the 3 pc billet milled ones. It could have something to do with the fact they were 3pc wheels (SUPER expensive)! The centers were the only actual part of the wheel that was "billet."

[bigo181979]

Yeah 3pc wheels are a hole different story.

[see ten]

Forged wheels are stronger than steel and lighter than cast. My K10 wheels are forged mickey thompsons. The Wheel Vintiques on my C10 are supposed to be some kind of cold forged billet (whatever the devil that means!).

[1969k10stepside]

Is American Eagle the same as Eagle Alloys?I think we are talking about the same company
They are basically a cheaper knock off of Mickey Thompsons.
Here is my Eagle Alloy 186 (I think...)Series 16x10 rims on my 71 shortbed

[67Fleet]

Originally Posted by bigo181979

We are talking on a molecular level here, by incresing the density you are also increasing the strength, this allows for the spokes to be thinner and the hoop and the pad so you end up with less weight.

The process of forging is quite a bit more complex than I made it sound, there are several ways to do it, just google forging process and you can find plenty of info on how it is done.

Not totally disagreeing with you, but in my personal experience I've never seen a forged wheel that was lighter than a 2-pc billet wheel.

[boraxman]

Check out the rotary forged process...interesting.

http://www.centerlinewheels.com/technology.php

[72 Cheyenne402]

I have been looking at the Center line Wheel specials 20X8.5? That is not much room for alot of rear tire. What is the largest width tire you can put on a 20x8.5? Does anybody have some pics?

[boraxman]

Originally Posted by 72 Cheyenne402

I have been looking at the Center line Wheel specials 20X8.5? That is not much room for alot of rear tire. What is the largest width tire you can put on a 20x8.5? Does anybody have some pics?

I would like to know this also as I couldnt help myself and ordered a set.