Project Great White APP Starburst II Forged Wheels

Nov. 01, 2000 By Patrick Chicas

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As the readers of Off-Road.com's project feature "Great White" know,the overall theme of our truck is of functionality and aggressiveness. You won't find a component on the vehicle that doesn't work as good as it looks. Of course, every good project needs to start from the ground up, and thats where the "Starburst II" Forged Aluminium Wheels from APP came in. In case you haven't heard of them before, don't feel bad. The APP Starburst II Forged Wheels are brand new. In fact, we recieved one of the first sets shipped for review. The APP wheel is forged from a single piece of aluminum and can support a hefty 3500 pounds, giving our truck an potential gross vehicle weight of 14000. FYI - APP load ratings are verified by a series of cornering fatigue, radial fatigue and impact tests. In english, they put them through the wringer, and will handle just about anything you'd ever want to throw at'em.

A perfect fit in style!

The eight spoke wheel pattern, sans the center covers, matches the functional look of our truck. The mirror finish of the wheels is show truck quality. I am glad that APP proudly engraves their logo in each wheel so that I don't have to answer the common "who made those" questions from the all too common admirers of APP's craftsmanship. APP also offers the wheel finished in satin aluminum, chrome or powder coated yellow, black silver or white editions.

Each APP wheel starts here, a solid bar of high strength aluminum

APP's massive forge turns the bar stock into the first resemblance of a wheel

Why "one piece"? Why "forged"? Our truck leads a hard, dual purpose life. Over a dozen times a year we prerun a portion of the race course of Southwest and Baja desert races. On any other weekend the truck will be expected to haul a huge load consisting of a "Toy Hauler" trailer and it's captured toys throughout the southwest. The increased impact load of aggressive, off-road driving one weekend then the shear, sustained axle weight imposed by the 38 foot trailer and accompanying load the next day has been demonstrated to crack or completely halve the more common two piece wheels. We simply can't have such a failure.

The basic wheel shape is placed into a custom built spin forging machine to forge the rim section. Computer controlled lathes and milling machines make the final wheel configuration.

The forging process used by APP to produce one piece wheels results in the highest quality wheel available for both trucks and automobiles. This process came as a result of over 35 years of service in the commercial and areospace forging arena.

Our Starburst II wheel ready for polishing.

Technically, the forging process uses high pressure and temperature, changing the weaker, loose structure of simple cast aluminum to the tight, high integrity structure of forgings. Various forging steps are made to place the greatest strength where operating loads are most severe in the wheel structure. Rocket science? Hey, you'd be surprised. As in the wheels we chose, APP Forged Wheels have the additional benefit of a polished mirror finish. This is achieved through the high integrity of the metallic structure produced by the forging process. APP Startburst II Wheels are available in: 17x8, 17x9.5 and 17x12 Sizes
8-lug 3500 lb. load rating
5 & 6-lug 3100 lb. load rating

STARBURST II Other vehicle fitments are available subject to inquiry. Finishes available: Polished, Satin, Chrome. Powder Coat Colors: Black, Yellow, White & Silver.
	Size	Bolt Pattern	Bore	Offset	Load Rating	Vehicles
	17x8, 17x9.5	8x170	4.94	0	3500 lbs.	Excursion, F250, F350
	17x8, 17x9.5	8x6.5	4.9	0.75	3500 lbs.	Suburban 2500, CK2500, CK3500, Dodge 2500, Dodge 3500
	17x8, 17x9.5	5x135	87.2	0.25	3100 lbs.	Navigator, Expedition, F150
	17x8, 17x9.5	6x5.5	78.2	0.75	3100 lbs.	Suburban 1500, CK1500