Whats in Alloy Wheels?
Alloy wheels are automobile (car, motorcycle and truck) wheels which are made from an alloy of aluminum or magnesium metals (or sometimes a mixture of both).
Alloy wheels differ from normal steel wheels because of their lighter weight, which improves the steering and the speed of the car, however some alloy wheels are heavier than the equivalent size steel wheel.
Many steel wheels were initially painted steel rims with a chromed wheel nut, later steel wheels had plastic wheel covers. By contrast, the alloy wheel itself is shiny and/or has an intricate design, so there is no need for paint or wheel covers for cosmetic purposes.
Alloy wheels are also better heat conductors than steel wheels, improving heat dissipation from the brakes, which reduces the chance of brake failure in more demanding driving conditions.
Alloy wheels are more expensive to produce than standard steel wheels, and thus are not included as standard equipment on base models of many non-luxury vehicles, instead being marketed as optional add-ons or as part of a more expensive trim. Alloy wheels are included as standard equipment on higher-priced "luxury" or "sport" models, with larger-sized or "exclusive" alloy wheels being options. The high cost of alloy wheels have made them attractive to thieves; to counter this, automakers have issued wheel locks where one of the wheel nuts require a special key to remove.
Alloy wheels are prone to Galvanic corrosion if appropriate preventive measures are not taken, which can in turn cause the tires to leak air. Also, alloy wheels are more difficult to repair than steel wheels when bent, but their higher price usually makes repairs cheaper than replacement and even severely damaged wheels can often be repaired to like new, though this depends on how badly the owner wishes to salvage the wheel and its intrinsic worth or availability.
Many steel wheels were initially painted steel rims with a chromed wheel nut, later steel wheels had plastic wheel covers. By contrast, the alloy wheel itself is shiny and/or has an intricate design, so there is no need for paint or wheel covers for cosmetic purposes.
Alloy wheels are also better heat conductors than steel wheels, improving heat dissipation from the brakes, which reduces the chance of brake failure in more demanding driving conditions.
Alloy wheels are more expensive to produce than standard steel wheels, and thus are not included as standard equipment on base models of many non-luxury vehicles, instead being marketed as optional add-ons or as part of a more expensive trim. Alloy wheels are included as standard equipment on higher-priced "luxury" or "sport" models, with larger-sized or "exclusive" alloy wheels being options. The high cost of alloy wheels have made them attractive to thieves; to counter this, automakers have issued wheel locks where one of the wheel nuts require a special key to remove.
Alloy wheels are prone to Galvanic corrosion if appropriate preventive measures are not taken, which can in turn cause the tires to leak air. Also, alloy wheels are more difficult to repair than steel wheels when bent, but their higher price usually makes repairs cheaper than replacement and even severely damaged wheels can often be repaired to like new, though this depends on how badly the owner wishes to salvage the wheel and its intrinsic worth or availability.
Magnesium alloy wheels, or "mag wheels", are sometimes used on racing cars, in place of heavier steel or aluminum wheels, for better performance. The wheels are produced by one-step hot forging from a magnesium alloy known as ZK60, AZ31 or AZ91 (MA14 in Russia). Cast magnesium disks are used in motorcycle wheels.
The mass of typical magnesium automotive wheel is about 5–9 kg (depending on size).
Magnesium wheels are flammable and have been banned in some forms of motorsport in the UK following fires which are very difficult to extinguish. Mag wheels have been known to catch fire in competition use after a punctured tyre has allowed prolonged scraping of the wheel on the road surface.Some variants of Magnesium alloy wheels may have low corrosion resistance.
They have the disadvantages of being rather expensive and not practical for most street vehicles. Aluminium wheels are often mistakenly called "mag wheels".
The mass of typical magnesium automotive wheel is about 5–9 kg (depending on size).
Magnesium wheels are flammable and have been banned in some forms of motorsport in the UK following fires which are very difficult to extinguish. Mag wheels have been known to catch fire in competition use after a punctured tyre has allowed prolonged scraping of the wheel on the road surface.Some variants of Magnesium alloy wheels may have low corrosion resistance.
They have the disadvantages of being rather expensive and not practical for most street vehicles. Aluminium wheels are often mistakenly called "mag wheels".
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