Q: What is a flow-formed wheel and why does it matter on a Model Y?

Flow-forming starts with a cast blank, then spins the barrel at high speed while rollers stretch and compress the aluminum over a mandrel. That aligns the grain structure and produces a barrel that’s lighter and much more impact-resistant than a conventional cast wheel. On a heavy EV that lives on rough roads and highway miles, that added strength is the point. These wheels even carry a load rating suitable for the Model X, Tesla’s heaviest passenger vehicle.