Alloy Wheels Give Your Car A Clean & Classy Look
A range of alloy car wheels are now available to fit almost any car, truck or motorcycle. The wheels are normally manufactured from an alloy of aluminum, or an alloy of magnesium, or quite often, a combination of both of these metals. This makes the wheel lighter but just as strong. These metals also conduct heat more efficiently and they look good too.
Lighter wheels have the effect of improving the road handling capabilities of a vehicle by reducing its unsprung mass thus lowering the suspension to enable the tires to grip better. Alloy compositions are not always lighter however, than their counterparts in steel. An overall reduction of the vehicle mass may definitely contribute to better fuel utilization.
Braking systems may be improved because of the heat dissipation qualities of the alloys. Carrying away the heat generated by the brakes in unfavorable conditions, may prevent brake failures because of overheating.
Besides having an attractive appearance, the alloys used in the manufacture of the custom wheels are largely resistant to corrosion which means that they can be used with their natural metal finish and do not have to be painted or be fitted with covers. More intricate patterns can be utilized in the design. This is in stark contrast to pressed sheet steel wheels which are usually welded together with the welds clearly visible and which have to be painted and covered with hub caps to make them more aesthetically pleasing.
Galvanic corrosion, produced when two metals, such as those in certain alloys, react under certain conditions, is often a problem. If no steps are taken to check the corrosion, this may cause air to leak from the tires. Wheels made from alloys makes repairing them difficult, which is not really the case with the steel type. Because they are more expensive, repairing them usually works out better than replacing them. The decision on whether to repair or replace, rests, of course, with the owner.
The alloy wheel costs more to produce than a standard steel pressed wheel, and it is for this reason that they are not fitted as standard equipment on many vehicles. They are often marketed as optional accessories by vehicle dealerships. They are, however, being supplied as standard to a growing list of economy vehicles because they are so popular. They have been fitted as standard to many sports and luxury vehicles with the larger sizes being regarded as a sort of status symbol for the wealthy.
Unfortunately, because they are so valuable, they have been targeted by thieves and this has forced many manufacturers to supply wheel nuts that can be locked which, in turn, requires that a key be carried in order to unlock them. The majority of alloy wheels are cast, but many are forged. The forged wheels tend to be stronger and lighter than the cast type but they are also more expensive.
A great proportion of magnesium black alloy wheels, also called mags, are being fitted to vehicles by owners who not only want esthetically pleasing accessories, but are also looking for performance improvements. Some aluminum products are mistakenly being called mags by the uninitiated. Some motor cycle manufacturers fit tire wheels with disks cast from magnesium.
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