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Knurling on race wheels isn’t new and it’s becoming a commonly sought-after feature.
The problem with knurling is that it varies in design and effectiveness.
Some manufacturers may add knurling to their wheels just to check that feature box, regardless of whether it accomplishes its intended purpose.
Maintaining the effectiveness of our knurling was at the forefront of our minds when developing our new line of forged wheels.
During manufacturing, wheels often go through a grinding phase to remove burrs and other small imperfections in preparation for painting. If knurling is added before grinding, then it can lose its sharpness.The less sharp knurling is, the less it can grip a tire’s rubber bead.
The depth, width, and pitch of the knurling pattern also has a big impact on how much tooth is available to bite into a tire’s bead. Often, the pattern is narrower and shallower than ideal.
Painted wheels typically have multiple layers of paint that can become really thick when combined.
A gloss finish can have a base coat, color coat, and a clear coat. Spraying those three layers over knurling can fill in the grooves and round the edges off.
The combination of these production compromises can reduce the effectiveness of knurling and cause more tire slippage.
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