Alloy wheels or alloys are definitely “in” these days. Those shiny wheels that you see on most vehicles today are all alloy wheels and they are gaining more fans and popularity every day.
So what exactly are alloy wheels and how are they different from regular wheels? Are they better than normal wheels?
These are the types of questions I intend to answer in this article.
Alloy wheels perform the same function on cars as regular steel wheels, but they have certain additional features that make them different and possibly better.
Compared to steel wheels, alloy wheels are composed of aluminum or magnesium alloys, making them stronger and more durable, lighter, better performing, and most importantly, stylish. These wheels are manufactured either by the casting process or by forging metal alloys.
Forged alloy wheels are lighter and much more durable than cast alloys, but they are a bit hard on the pocket. These wheels are often the go-to choice for high-performance sports cars, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fit them on any other car. Comparatively, cast aluminum alloys are heavier, cheaper, and yet have almost the same style as wrought alloys.
However, there is another type of fancy wheels called Mag-Wheels. Magnesium alloys or mag wheels are forged or cast magnesium wheels used in racing cars as they are the lightest wheels available. Magnetic wheels have high performance and style.
The unmatched style is probably the main reason why most people now prefer alloy wheels for their vehicle. There is no doubt that alloys make the vehicle look stylish and add to its aesthetic appeal, but there are two other definite advantages to installing them on your car instead of regular steel wheels:
- Alloy wheels are lighter, which means your vehicle has less unsprung mass. This means your vehicle handles better and there is better road holding on most terrain. Obviously, a lighter vehicle will also perform better in mileage counting.
- They are also good in terms of balance. Your vehicle balances well reducing stress on other parts of your car like the suspension and axles.
On top of that, shall we talk about the flair an alloy set can add to your vehicle?
You no longer need those fuzzy hubcaps and you can definitely avoid showing off those ugly looking steel rims. No matter how fancy your car looks, if the wheels aren’t up to snuff, it could be a case of “no frills bride”. And in fact, the wheels are decorations, the ones that should be displayed with pride. Alloy wheels keep their shine for years (properly maintained) and shine with that metallic chrome finish, enough to make your neighbors blaze with envy.
One fact worth considering is that used wheels and alloy wheels are available on the market at a third of the price of new ones. You get the style and features of alloys without breaking the bank.
With all this information in hand, I’m sure you’re ready to search for the best set of wheels for your car and hit the roads in style.
james rodham
