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What is the lightest metal for wheels?  The lightest metal for wheels is ‌aluminum‌, which is widely used in automotive and cycling applications due to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio‌1. However, for even greater weight reduction, ‌carbon fiber composite materials‌ (CFRP) are now being employed, offering up to ‌35% lighter‌ wheels compared to the lightest aluminum alternatives‌.

Key

 

Comparisons:

1. ‌Aluminum Wheels‌

   • Common in mid-range cars and electric vehicles (EVs) for balancing weight, cost, and recyclability‌1.
   • Extrusion processes for aluminum alloys continue to improve, enhancing structural performance‌.

2. ‌Carbon Fiber Wheels‌

   • Achieve ‌20–35% weight savings‌ vs. aluminum wheels, improving vehicle dynamics and accesleration‌2.

   • Used in high-performance applications (e.g., Lightweight’s MEILENSTEIN ART road bike wheels, weighing only ‌1,190g‌)‌.

For extreme lightweighting, ‌hybrid designs‌ (e.g., CFRP rim beds with aluminum spokes) combine the benefits of both materials