HRE Wheels, manufacturer of some of the highest quality wheels on the market, has one-upped their already-lightweight R101 model to make them even lighter, and you’ll never guess the name – it’s the R101 Lightweight. This wheel is a feat of engineering bespoke to every car a set is fitted to. But what makes them so impressive, and worthy of the new title?

The engineers at HRE went to great lengths to shave all the unnecessary surface area (and thus weight) off of the existing R101 while maintaining the structural integrity of the wheel. This reduces the weight of these particular BMW F82 M4 wheels by a large margin:

  • Fronts: 20×10 et18 / 17.7lbs (8.02kg)
    • Unsprung weight savings over R101’s*: 2.2lbs (0.99kg)
    • Unsprung weight savings over stock wheels*: 4.5lbs (2.04kg)
  • Rears: 20×11.5 et38 / 18.35lbs (8.32kg)
    • Unsprung weight savings over R101’s*: 3lbs (1.36kg)
    • Unsprung weight savings over stock wheels*:  5.85lbs (2.65kg)

 

*Note: Original R101’s and BMW 437M wheels were only available in 19″. As such, the weight differences listed were the result of a simple calculation to simulate the R101’s weight in 20″ diameter. The 437M’s weights were not altered, as there is no reference point to a 20″ version, and they are one of the starting points for all F82 owners. 

 

How is this achieved? In a word, I-beams.

All of the spokes on the R101 LW resemble the I-beam structure used in steel construction for its incredibly high strength and structural integrity, while maintaining a surprisingly low mass. If you look closely at the R101 LW’s spokes, you can clearly see this design cue – the inner side of the spokes are concave, making an “I” shape with the wider spoke faces. This is huge when it comes to weight reduction – the wheel’s mass is decreased by a substantial amount by removing unnecessary material, but the strength of the wheel remains the same.

I-beams also play a big role in vibration management. Using the right stiffness and mass, I-beams can greatly reduce vibrations throughout a structure, something that is obviously very important in wheel construction.

The surfaces around the center of the wheel have been further carved out from the spokes, making a deeper concave, and, you guessed it, reducing the wheel’s mass.

All of these traits make the R101 LW an incredibly high-performance wheel.  Starting at a mere 16lbs, the R101 LW is a seriously track-worthy wheel that will give other performance wheels a run for their money.

We were fortunate enough to have a set of these in the shop for our friend Austin, who installed them on his far-from-stock Mineral Gray F82 M4, so enjoy these additional angles we photographed of his R101 LWs.

And if you’re interested in getting a set of HRE R101 Lightweights for your own car, get in touch with our Mod Expert team today at (714) 582-3330, or e-mail sales@modbargains.com, to order the perfect fit and finish. If you’re local, let us handle the install! Schedule an appointment at Mod Auto by calling (714) 582-3330 to get it done right the first time.