Forgeline’s drag racing series wheels have been a hit since first launched in 2020, gracing a wide range of late-model muscle and sports cars. The wheels are a forged monoblock carved entirely from a single 6061-T6 aluminum forging. The precision-machined marvels inherit the proven success of forged monoblock technology from Forgeline’s high-level road racing, but tailored for straight-line racing.
One of the custom builders/tuners who has been dedicated to Forgeline’s wheels, and the new drag racing series in particular, is Georgia’s Cicio Performance — a shop known for ultra-high-horsepower exotics.
“Anything that has to do with drag racing, roll racing, or 1/2/-mile and mile racing, we use Forgeline drag wheels,” says Cicio’s CEO, Nathan Cicio. “Anything that’s raced and is a project or a build of any kind, we tell our clients we want them to put this wheel on in order for us to support it.”
“They’re the highest quality wheel there is, when it comes to quality control and fit and finish,” Cicio continues. “I don’t think there’s an equal, in my opinion, and other companies have tried a similar style of wheel and they’ve had subpar welding or fastening, and we’ve literally never had a failure or a problem Forgeline. Their roots are in racing, and it’s just the brand we trust. If they can make a wheel that goes on a road racing vehicle with some type of gnarly racing slick and takes the lateral G-force that something like that is going to throw at a wheel, then they’ve got my vote.”
Cicio’s 2,400 horsepower Audi R8 shop project is perhaps its greatest test of Forgeline’s drag racing wheels. This green beast is equipped with a 1016 Industries aero kit and the Cicio C1400 package, including the Cicio turbo kit by ETS, MoTec engine management, ETS billet intake manifold, Dodson full transmission build, and Dodson Promax clutch. It rides on Toyo Proxes R888R front tires on 18×8.5-inch Forgeline one-piece forged monoblock CF1 Open Lug wheels out front, and Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S rear tires on 18×12-inch Forgeline forged monoblock CF1R Beadlock wheels finished in transparent gold.
This machine has been 7.50’s at 197 mph to the 1/4-mile in full street trim — the car was driven to the track and even stopped at the grocery store on the return trip after clicking off a 7.5-second run. It also holds the Dragy record for the quickest 60-130 mph time for any street car in the world at 2.37 seconds, and has been 100-150 in 1.92 seconds. “It was a ride,” Cicio assures us of the shop-owned build.
Bill Calhoun’s incredible 2022 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R sports Cicio’s C1100 package. It’s powered by a 1,100 horsepower Cicio-designed and built LT2 upgraded engine with a Cicio twin turbo kit manufactured by ETS and upgraded fuel system. And it rides on Cicio lowering collars, Michelin Pilot Sport front tires on 19×9-inch one piece forged monoblock GS1R wheels, and Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S rear tires on 18×11-inch Forgeline forged monoblock GS1R Beadlock wheels finished in gloss black.
Calhoun, who lives in Arizona, had Cicio build the car at its Virginia facility, and then picked it up in-person and spent three weeks sightseeing the country in his new 1,100 horsepower C8, drag radials and all, on his trip back home.
Another standout is Jesse Silva’s 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Delta force. Jesse’s incredible Lamborghini Huracan STO C1400 was built by Cicio Performance and is equipped with their C1400 package and all-wheel-drive conversion. This car was an original “STO” model that was designed for road racing, and was therefore rear-wheel-drive from the factory. The car came directly from Lamborghini to Cicio’s shop ands was modified before a single mile was put on the odometer. It’s likewise a one-of-one car with the matte green paint from the factory.
The car is powered by a 1,400-plus horsepower Cicio-upgraded V10 engine equipped with a Cicio twin-turbo kit manufactured by ETS, Cicio custom intake manifold, upgraded Motec fuel system, and Dodson motorsport-equipped drivetrain.
The Huracan rides on 245/40ZR18 Toyo Proxes R888R front tires on 18×8.5-inch Forgeline one piece forged monoblock VX1R front wheels finished in gloss black and 345/35R18 Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S rear tires on 18×11-inch Forgeline forged monoblock VX1R Beadlock rear wheels finished in gloss black with custom green beadlock rings.
Mirza’s Audi R8 is equipped with Cicio’s C1000 package. It’s powered by a 1,200-plus wheel horsepower Cicio-upgraded V10 engine equipped with a Cicio twin-turbo kit manufactured by ETS and upgraded fuel system and drivetrain. It rides on Toyo Proxes R888R front tires on 18×9-inch Forgeline one-piece forged monoblock CF1 Open Lug front wheels finished in satin brushed bronze, and 345/35R18 Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S rear tires on 18×11 Forgeline forged monoblock CF1R Beadlock wheels finished in satin brushed bronze with brushed/cleared beadlock rings.
This car was converted to rear wheel drive, and the combination of the MoTec ECU and traction control system and the big ET Street’s helped to plant the horsepower.
Another 2022 Lamborghini Huracan, Kevin Stowe’s insane Huracan STO C2200 is equipped with Cicio’s C2200 package and all-wheel-drive conversion including a 2,200-plus horsepower Cicio-upgraded V10 engine equipped with a billet engine block, Cicio twin turbo kit manufactured by ETS, Cicio custom intake manifold, upgraded Motec fuel system, and Dodson Motorsport-equipped drivetrain. The car has a fully built, roll bar, and a fire suppression system. The car has been 7.70s at around 190 mph on a mild tune, and is driven the road regularly. “It is a gnarly, gnarly car,” Cicio says.
Stowe’s machine rides on 245/40R18 M&H Racemaster front tires on 18×8.5-inch Forgeline one piece forged monoblock VX1R front wheels finished in custom blue and 345/35R18 Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S rear tires on 18×12-inch Forgeline forged monoblock VX1R Beadlock rear wheels finished in a custom blue with matching blue beadlock rings.
Cicio displayed the customization that’s possible with Forgeline wheels on Stowe’s build, having the wheels finished in blue to match the paint scheme, and all the beadlock bolts powder-coated to match the car’s green hue.
Derived from the track-proven road racing wheels, the drag-race beadlock wheels have undergone a significant re-engineering, featuring a bolt-on outboard beadlock ring machined from forged 6061-T6 aluminum. This forged ring, secured by 21 lightweight titanium bolts, acts as a tire guardian, preventing slip against the wheel and maintaining tire integrity at extreme speeds. Departing from the GS1R’s open-lug hub center, the GS1 Beadlock embraces a traditional hub center design compatible with a standard press-in aluminum center cap.
Forgeline’s one piece forged monoblock beadlock wheel is available for immediate order in 17, 18, and 19-inch diameters, offering a range of widths and custom offsets. Engineered to accommodate shank-style lug nuts upon request, the wheel boasts a one-piece monoblock design devoid of welding or assembly bolts. Precision-machined to close tolerances, it ensures a smooth, vibration-free performance, coupled with exceptional deflection and structural stiffness. Generous brake clearance adds to its versatility.
The customization extends to finish options, allowing users to mix and match ring and wheel colors. Manufactured in the USA, these wheel embody Forgeline’s legendary quality and design, making them a standout choice for straight-line racing enthusiasts seeking performance and aesthetics.
