An Introduction to Alloy Wheels

Posted: Nov 10, 2020
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

Did you know that you can choose a lighter-weight and possibly safer option for the material of the wheels of your car? Alloy wheels are an alternative to traditional steel wheels that provide an evocative alternative to the savvy car owner. Not only do alloy wheels tend to be styled to provide that extra level of class to the appearance of your vehicle, but their added cost comes with additional performance benefits as well.

• Alloys made of combinations of metals, including aluminum or magnesium, are lighter than steel. For wheel performance, this can translate into faster braking, less chance of brakes overheating, and even quicker acceleration. These can all be useful features for a good driver.
• If steel wheels incur any damages, they can usually be bent back into place. Steel wheels are also cheaper to produce because of this difference in pliability. Partly due to their fancy design work and the fact that they are usually produced using casting methods, alloy wheels tend to crack when damaged and thus require a full replacement rather than being repairable like steel. However, steel doesn’t carry the luxury aesthetics native to the alloy wheels to begin with, and anything aesthetic usually costs more to replace.
• One possibly lesser-known benefit of choosing a car with alloy wheels or choosing them as an after-market option for your vehicle is that they are corrosion-resistant.