Japan’s RAYS TE37 vs. America’s Forgestar F14: A Classic Forged Wheel Showdown

Of course. This is a fantastic topic that pits two iconic, purpose-built forged wheels against each other. Here is a detailed breakdown of this classic showdown.

Japan’s RAYS TE37 vs. America’s Forgestar F14: A Classic Forged Wheel Showdown

This isn’t just a battle of wheels; it’s a clash of philosophies. On one side, you have the RAYS TE37, a legendary, time-attack-proven masterpiece from Japan that is as much a status symbol as it is a performance part. On the other, the Forgestar F14, a formidable American contender built on value-centric principles, offering a classic motorsport look at a more accessible price point.

Let’s break down the showdown.

The Contenders: A Quick Overview

Round 1: Heritage & Prestige

• RAYS TE37: The undisputed king. The TE37 (Touring Evolution) debuted in the 1990s and immediately dominated Japan’s Touring Car Championship. Its victory in the famous 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans race with the Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak prototype cemented its legendary status. Owning a set of TE37s is like owning a Rolex Submariner—it’s an instantly recognizable icon that speaks of performance heritage and impeccable taste.
• Forgestar F14: Forgestar is a younger brand, founded in the 2000s. The F14 draws its inspiration from classic motorsport wheels, particularly the multi-spoke designs seen on Le Mans prototypes. Its prestige comes from its aggressive style and its popularity in the American tuning, drifting, and muscle car scenes. It’s a modern classic, respected for its looks and performance, but it doesn’t carry the decades-long racing pedigree of the TE37.

Winner: RAYS TE37. You simply cannot compete with this level of history and motorsport provenance.

Round 2: Construction & Engineering

This is the most critical technical difference.

• RAYS TE37: Monoblock Forging. A single, solid billet of high-grade aluminum (often 6061-T6) is placed under immense pressure (thousands of tons) and hammered into the wheel’s shape. This process aligns the metal’s grain structure, creating a wheel that is incredibly strong and incredibly light for its size. It’s the gold standard for performance wheels.
• Forgestar F14: Flow Forming (Rotary Forging). This is a hybrid process. The wheel’s barrel is cast, but the outer face is forged. While the wheel spins, heavy-duty rollers press against the barrel, stretching and compressing the aluminum, thinning the walls and strengthening the material. The result is a wheel that is much stronger than a cast wheel and nearly as light as a fully forged one, but at a lower cost. Forgestar markets this as “semi-forged.”

Winner: RAYS TE37. True monoblock forging is a superior, more expensive process that yields the best strength-to-weight ratio possible.

Round 3: Design & Aesthetics

This is highly subjective, but each has a distinct appeal.

• RAYS TE37: The design is minimalist and functional. The six thick, tapered spokes are engineered for maximum strength with minimum material. Its beauty is in its purposeful, no-nonsense appearance. It looks fast even standing still. The classic “Volk Racing” stamp is a badge of honor.
• Forgestar F14: The design is all about dramatic presence. The 10 or 12 thinner spokes allow for an extremely deep concave profile, especially on wider wheels with the right offsets. This gives cars an incredibly aggressive, “hellaflush” or widebody look that fills out the fenders perfectly. It’s a wheel chosen to make a visual statement.

Winner: Tie. It depends entirely on the desired look: Iconic Function (TE37) vs. Aggressive Concavity (F14).

Round 4: Performance & Weight

• RAYS TE37: Consistently ranks among the lightest wheels on the market for any given size. Reducing unsprung weight (weight not supported by the suspension) is the single best modification for improving handling, acceleration, and braking. The TE37’s monoblock construction is the pinnacle of this philosophy.
• Forgestar F14: Also a very light wheel, especially compared to cast alternatives. However, due to its flow-formed construction and often more complex spoke design, it will generally be a few pounds heavier per wheel than a comparable TE37. For most street and even track day applications, the difference is minimal, but at the absolute limit, every pound counts.

Winner: RAYS TE37. It holds the objective advantage in minimizing weight.

Round 5: Value & Accessibility

• RAYS TE37: You pay for the name, the heritage, and the top-tier engineering. A set of new TE37s is a significant investment. However, they hold their value phenomenally well. A used set in good condition can often be sold for close to its original price.
• Forgestar F14: This is its knockout punch. You get a forged-level look and near-forged performance at roughly half the price of a set of TE37s. Forgestar also excels at offering custom widths and offsets off-the-shelf, making it easier to get a perfect, aggressive fitment without paying custom forged wheel prices.

Winner: Forgestar F14. It offers incredible bang for your buck, making a high-performance, great-looking forged-style wheel accessible to far more enthusiasts.

The Verdict: Who Wins the Showdown?

This isn’t a battle with one clear winner. It’s a showdown with two champions in different categories.

Choose the RAYS TE37 if:

• You want the absolute best in heritage, prestige, and engineering.
• Minimizing weight is your #1 priority for track performance.
• You appreciate the iconic, function-over-form design.
• Your budget is higher, and you view the wheels as an investment.

Choose the Forgestar F14 if:

• You desire an extremely aggressive, concave look for your build.
• Value is a primary concern—you want maximum style and performance per dollar.
• You need custom, aggressive fitments for a widebody or stanced setup without the custom forged price tag.
• You’re deeply involved in the American muscle, drifting, or “fitment” scene where the F14 is a staple.

Final Thought: The RAYS TE37 is the established legend—the wheel you buy when you have no compromises. The Forgestar F14 is the value champion—the wheel that proves you can get 90% of the performance and 100% of the look for a fraction of the price. Both are brilliant choices that have earned their passionate followings.