| Why
Center Line? |
| What
is the difference between a wheel manufacturing company
and a wheel marketing company? |
| Where
are the wheels manufactured? |
| How
is a rotary forged wheel manufactured? |
| What
are the benefits of Center Line's rotary forged wheel
vs. a cast wheel? |
| Why
is the weight of wheels important? |
| What
is the difference between a one-piece rotary forged wheel
and a two-piece rotary forged wheel? |
| How
do I know which series is right for my vehicle? |
| How
do I know which series is right for my budget? |
| Can
I buy direct from Center Line? |
| How
do I measure backspace? |
| How
do I identify my bolt pattern? |
| Does
Center Line sell tires or provide tire advice? |
| Is
there a limit on maximum tire size? |
| Does
Center Line build custom sizes or backspacings? |
| Does
Center Line offer a dually application? |
| If
the wheels I want are not in stock, how long does it to
take to build them? |
| Are
the polished wheels clear coated? |
| How
should I maintain my polished and chrome wheels? |
| How
often do I need to polish my wheels? |
| What
precautions should I take at the car wash? |
| Can
I run my wheels in the snow? |
| How
long is the warranty and what does it cover? |
| What
if I damage a wheel? |
| What
if I have an incomplete set of wheels? |
| &nsbpq; |
| Q: |
Why Center Line? |
| A: |
For over 30 years,
Center Line Forged Wheels has operated and manufactured
in the U.S. on the foundation of superior quality,
excellence in engineering and the introduction of
innovative styling.
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|
|
| Q: |
What is the difference
between a wheel manufacturing company and a wheel
marketing company? |
| A: |
Center Line is a
true wheel manufacturing company with our own production
and design facilities in Southern California. Many
of today's wheel companies are simply marketers
that import generic cast wheels from China and re-brand
the product.
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|
| Q: |
Where are the
wheels manufactured? |
| A: |
Center Line is proud
to have manufactured its wheels in the USA in Santa
Fe Springs, California, for over 30 years.
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|
| Q: |
How is a rotary
forged wheel manufactured? |
| A: |
Center Line has designed
a rotary forging press, the only one of its kind
in the world, to compress a solid billet of aluminum
with 4,000 tons of force, at 300 revolutions per
minute. Not only does this process rearrange the
aluminum molecules, but it also aligns them in a
circular pattern thereby adding strength. As a result,
the rotary forged wheel has a much tighter grain
structure and is significantly lighter weight than
a cast wheel which requires greater mass due to
its inherent porosity.
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top |
|
| Q: |
What are the benefits
of Center Line's rotary forged wheel vs. a cast
wheel? |
| A: |
| 1. |
WEIGHT: The most significant benefit is weight.
For your front-wheel drive car, we manufacture
15" wheels weighing approximately 13 lbs. For
your truck or SUV, we manufacture 20" wheels
weighing approximately 23 lbs (the same weight
as a 17" cast aluminum factory wheel!). See
the next question for info on the benefits of
a lightweight wheel. |
| 2. |
POLISH: Due to the density of the grain structure,
the polished forged wheel will maintain its
luster for much longer than a polished cast
wheel which is very porous. |
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|
|
| Q: |
Why is the weight
of wheels important? |
| A: |
Wheels are rotating
mass/unsprung weight. Every 1 lb reduction in
rotating mass is equivalent to an approximately 8
lb reduction in static weight. With lighter weight
wheels, you will benefit from increased fuel savings,
quicker braking, improved tire wear and better acceleration.
Always ask about the weight of wheels. Your vehicle
is not engineered for heavy wheels. Therefore, it
will not perform well if you effectively put four
anchors on it!
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|
| Q: |
What is the difference
between a one-piece rotary forged wheel and a two-piece
rotary forged wheel? |
| A: |
| 1. |
As the name suggests, our one-piece rotary
forged wheel is formed in one-piece with no
welding. After the billet of aluminum is rotary
forged, it is then split-spun to form the rim
- all out of the same piece of metal. You will
find one-piece rotary forged wheels in the following
series: Millennium, HT Comp, Dominator, Tomahawk,
Orbital 2000 and Phantom. |
| 2. |
The two-piece wheel is manufactured from a
billet aluminum, rotary forged center and a billet
aluminum rim. The center is then welded into
the rim. You will find two-piece rotary forged
wheels in the following series: Billet Wheels,
Sundance, Sundance Special and Extreme Duty. |
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|
|
| |
| Q: |
How do I know
which series is right for my budget? |
| A: |
|
|
| Q: |
Can I buy direct
from Center Line? |
| A: |
Discontinued styles
and stock adjustments are sold direct to the public
via Wheel Deals. If
you are looking for first-line wheels and your local
retailer does not carry Center Line, please contact
us at (800) 345-8671 x4.
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|
| Q: |
How do I measure
backspace? |
| A: |
The easiest way to
measure backspace is to lay the wheel face down
onto the ground so the backside of the wheel is
facing up. Take a straight edge and lay it diagonally
across the inboard flange of the wheel. Take a tape
measure and measure the distance from where the
straight edge contacts the inboard flange to the
hub-mounting pad of the wheel. This measurement
is backspace. The following photo shows three wheels
with 2", 3", & 4" backspace.
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|
| |
| Q: |
Does Center Line
sell tires or provide tire advice? |
| A: |
Center Line does
not sell tires. As for advice, we do establish a
maximum tire diameter (see next question). However,
we do not provide specific tire advice. The best
place to go is a tire retailer.
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|
| Q: |
Is there a limit
on maximum tire size? |
| A: |
Yes. The limit varies
by wheel so refer to the relevant technical specifications
for each wheel detailed in the "Wheels - Catalog"
section of this website.
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|
| Q: |
Does Center Line
build custom sizes or backspacings? |
| A: |
We only build the
part numbers listed in the catalog and on the website.
You will find the most sizing flexibility in the
Billet Series and Sundance Series.
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|
| Q: |
Does Center Line
offer a dually application? |
| A: |
No. We do not manufacture
dually wheels.
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|
| Q: |
If the wheels
I want are not in stock, how long does it to take
to build them? |
| A: |
Two to three weeks.
Slightly longer for chrome.
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to top |
|
| Q: |
Are the polished
wheels clear coated? |
| A: |
No. Center Line's
high polish wheels have a natural, mirror-like finish
that will require periodic polishing to maintain
(see next questions for maintenance tips).
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to top |
|
| Q: |
How should I maintain
my polished and chrome wheels? |
| A: |
Washing your wheels
with mild soap and water on a weekly basis will
help to maintain them. Wash wheels when they are
cool to prevent spotting. You will also want to
periodically polish the wheels with a non-abrasive,
aluminum polish (some recommendations: Eagle One,
Mothers, Meguiar's). Absolutely no ammonia-based
or acid cleaning solutions on the wheels (or the
tires for that matter). Helpful hint from Ron in
the Sales Dept: A light coat of car wax on the wheels
diminishes the amount of surface contaminants adhering
to the wheel.
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|
| Q: |
How often do I
need to polish my wheels? |
| A: |
We recommend regular
maintenance. If you allow the wheels to dull too
far, it will require extra work to get them back
to their original luster. Polishing frequency depends
on:
| 1. |
Wheel finish: Polished wheels require more
polishing - hence the name! Chrome wheels require
very little polishing if you regularly wash
them. |
| 2. |
Weather conditions. |
| 3. |
How often you wash the wheels with soap and
water. |
| 4. |
How you use the vehicle. |
| 5. |
Proximity to the ocean. |
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|
|
| Q: |
What precautions
should I take at the car wash? |
| A: |
Verify that they
will not be using any chemicals, including ammonia-based
or acid cleaning solutions, on the wheels (or the
tires for that matter).
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|
| Q: |
Can I run my wheels
in the snow? |
| A: |
We strongly
recommend against running the wheels where road
salt is used. The salt will surface pit the wheels.
If you have to run the wheels under such conditions,
immediately wash them down. If the wheels pit due
to negligence, there is no warranty.
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to top |
|
| Q: |
How long is the
warranty and what does it cover? |
| A: |
The warranty is three
years from the date of purchase and applies to the
original purchaser only. Proof of purchase is required
so hang on to your receipt. The warranty covers
workmanship and manufacturing defects.
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|
| Q: |
What if I damage
a wheel? |
| A: |
There is no warranty
on damaged wheels. In some cases, minor damage can
be repaired at a local wheel repair shop (some of
these shops advertise in the back of magazines).
For wheels featured in the Tomahawk Series only,
Center Line offers limited curb damage repair. If
you damage a wheel beyond repair, refer to the next
question regarding an incomplete set of wheels.
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|
| Q: |
What if I have
an incomplete set of wheels? |
| A: |
To ensure that you
buy the proper wheel(s) to complete your set, you
need the exact part number. The 9 or 10 digit part
number can be found on a white label on the outside
of the rim (you will need to dismount the tire).
If your local retailer is unable to locate the wheel
you need using this part number, feel free to contact
Center Line at (800) 345-8671 x5 to check our inventory.
We may have parts available to make the wheel you
need.
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|
|
| &nsbpq; |
