Why is round tube better than square tube?
Although there is an ongoing debate on round tube vs. square tube, the following facts should be considered. Round tube weighs less than square tube for a given outside dimension. Round tube is available in stronger steel—rectangular tube is only produced in 1010—and 1020 DOM is approximately 30% stronger than 1010. To combat the twisting forces of a chassis (torsional stress), round tube has a much higher modulus of torsional rigidity. This is the reason why driveshafts are not square. It is also worthy to note that round tube is significantly more expensive than its square tube counterpart. We can only achieve the pinnacle of performance by using the best material for each application without cost being the determining factor.
