High-performance　lightweight　composites　are　developed　by　integrating　metal　rubber　(MR)　into　a　zinc　alloy　(ZA8)　matrix　via　squeeze　casting.　MR,　comprising　304　stainless　steel　wires　(SSWs)　with　diameters　of　0.15　mm,　forms　3D　network　skeletons　with　volume　fractions　of　8.8　vol%　(S1),　11.1　vol%　(S2),　and　13.4　vol%　(S3),　respectively.　The　preparation　parameters　of　the　composites　are　optimized,　and　their　microhardness　is　investigated.　Special　attention　is　paid　to　the　ultimate　compression　and　shear　performance　at　25,　150,　and　250　degrees　C.　The　microstructure　and　failure　analysis　are　performed　via　scanning　electron　microscopy.　The　results　reveal　a　48.0%　increase　in　microhardness　at　composite　interfaces　relative　to　ZA8.　At　25　degrees　C,　S2　possesses　an　ultimate　compressive　strength　(UCS)　of　401.4　MPa,　which　is　33.7%　higher　than　that　of　ZA8.　At　150　and　250　degrees　C,　S3　exhibits　UCS　values　of　180.3　and　74.3　MPa,　exceeding　those　of　ZA8　by　61.7%　and　110.5%,　respectively.　Meanwhile,　the　ultimate　shear　strength　of　composites　slightly　drops　below　that　of　the　matrix:　the　corresponding　value　of　S1　specimen　(158.4　MPa)　at　250　degrees　C　is　11.5%　below　that　of　ZA8.　Therefore,　compression　and　shear　failure　mechanisms　of　MR/ZA8　composites　are　quite　intricate,　involving　SSW　separation,　necking,　and　ZA8　fractures.　High-performance　lightweight　composites　are　developed　by　integrating　3D　network　stainless　steel　wire　(SSW)　into　a　ZA8　zinc　alloy　via　squeeze　casting.　The　composites　achieve　a　porosity　of　0.8%　after　process　optimization.　At　150　and　250　degrees　C,　the　composites　ultimate　compressive　strength　is　enhanced　by　61.7%　and　110.5%　than　ZA8.　The　composites　failure　mechanisms　involve　SSW　separation,　necking,　and　ZA8　fractures.image　(c)　2023　WILEY-VCH　GmbH