Titanium rims? Anyone know of some?

[Monkeyman]

I am trying to find the lightest 17" rims I can (to lower the reciprocating mass) and I would think that Titanium would do it (plus they would almost never dent, they would crush a curb before denting). I sill want them to look cool, but be lighter than anything else made. If they are not availible I will have to settle for Avus AF-901 (see pg.50 of Modified Mag July/05).
Help!

[Jackass-Jeff]

The lightest rims are forged aluminum. Titanium will not be stronger than aluminum because the forging process has to be created. If you want light rims that are strong, look at the TE37 rims. They survive WRC races and 18x8 only weight about 16 lbs.

If you want the lightest rims, you may want to look into 16" TE37. 8 lbs if I remember correctly... or you can look at the TRD Magnesium Forged rims (by Rays Engineering).

I hope you're not talking about the test where they hold a rim and smash it against a curb... and drive w/o tires on it, etc... because the physics of you and me throwing a rim is different when there is 3300 LBS of car on it...

[Monkeyman]

I wasn't referring to a specific test, just what I know about Titanium (I am a chemisrty student at UMass). Forged aluminum is very light, trouble is it can be weaker when made in multiple pieces (I was hoping for a 2 or 3 piece rim as curbs and I seem to meet far too often) because of the bolts (bolts are best in grade 8 steel, but aluminum and steel are a pain in the *ss to separate after some time has passed).

15 pounds is the kind of weight I was hoping for though, and the Volk TE37 wheels you suggested certainly fit the bill.
Thanks Jeff