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Alloy Rims - For The Auto Aficionado

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Almost any vehicle on the road today can be fitted with 15 alloy wheels. The alloys used in the construction of the wheels, is usually either aluminum or magnesium and sometimes both. This results in a product which is lighter but loses none of its strength. These metals are good conductors of heat and have an appealing look.

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.

The efficiency of braking systems can be raised by the reduction of heat transference brought about by using alloy compositions under adverse driving conditions. The possibility of brake failure as a result of overheating is therefore greatly reduced.

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There is no doubt that these rims improve a vehicle's appearance, but not only that, their resistance to corrosion allows them to be used in their natural state not requiring paint or covers to improve their aesthetic appeal. They may be designed with bolder, more intricate patterns to make them appeal to a wider customer base. This contrasts sharply with the pressed steel sheet method of manufacture where the components are welded together with no attempts to conceal the welds, making it necessary to paint and cover the tire wheels with hub caps to improve their appearance.

An alloy, being a combination of metals, is prone to galvanic corrosion as a result of the metals reacting with each other when specific conditions are experienced. If preventative steps are not taken, this could result in air leaking out of the tires. Repairing damaged alloy wheels could prove to be difficult, but it may be cheaper to have them repaired than to replace them because of the cost factor. Depending on how badly damaged the wheel is and how the owner feels, to repair may be the better option.

Because the alloy types cost more than the steel, they are not normally fitted as standard on new vehicles. More often than not, they can be supplied as an extra option for new vehicle purchasers. Because of their popularity, this type of wheel is now being fitted as standard to a growing number of economically priced vehicles. For many years, high priced sports and luxury vehicles have been fitting them as standard, with exclusive large sizes being the preferred option.

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.

Mag wheels, as the magnesium alloy type are often called, are being increasingly fitted to racing vehicles in an attempt to improve their performance. Some rims manufactured from aluminum are mistakenly called mags. You see, alloy rims on motor cycles are manufactured from disks of cast magnesium.