What Are Alloy Wheels?
Everyone is talking about alloy wheels these days. It is the hottest accessory on a car be it a small car or luxury cars. Alloy wheels are the preferred decoration on a car for modification enthusiasts. All wheel technology has allowed hot rodders and muscle car enthusiasts to be encouraged to aspire for greater speeds. It has inspired a new generation of performance savvy- car drivers. Why are alloy wheels such a craze now!
Apart from their lightweight, alloy wheels improve steering and speed of car. They come with an endless choice of design too. They can be fit on any car, pick-truck or an SUV. Let us look into what is an alloy wheel.
The alloy wheels are formed or either aluminum or magnesium or sometime both the metals. The term alloy means the process of combining other raw materials to a specification to achieve a performance metal. Alloy wheels are better heat conductors than steel wheels, which helps improve heat dissipation from the brakes and helps reduce chances for brake failure in tough driving conditions.
Alloy wheels made of magnesium were popularized in 1960’s, however they were prone to flammability and offered poor corrosive resistance. That is when wheel manufacturers shifted to the more stable aluminum. Just like the steel wheels, alloys are formed by either casting or forging mechanism.
Advantages of alloy versus steel wheels
Steel wheel are standard type wheels sold in high volumes. Alloys offer exclusivity.
Steel wheels have limitation during high performance driving. Alloys offer better stability and strength during high performance driving.
The total weight of the wheels, tires, suspension and drivetrain equipments contribute to the weight of the car. This affects ride quality and traction during high speed driving. Since alloy wheel weight one third of steel wheels, they help reduced weight. They help improve acceleration, traction, and braking due to reduced weight. The unintentional but a definite advantage is that fuel economy increases.
Alloy wheels offer a more aesthetical appeal. Aluminum alloy can be used to produce a variety of wheel patterns. This flexibility has opened pandora’s box of creativity for one off designs or mass production wheels.
History of alloy wheels
Alloy wheels were created by drag racing innovator Romeo Palamides. He began utilized magnesium metal to develop lightweight custom wheels for racing. He founded the American Racing Equipment Inc in 1956, which marketed alloy wheels for muscle cars which were a huge craze then. Alloy wheels were used on the famous 1968 Mustang in movie Bullitt. Similar companies sprung up on the other side of the Atlantic in Europe. The growth of Sports cars and SUVs fuelled alloy wheel growth.
Some automotive companies like the General Motors, BMW and Mercedes produced their own custom wheels sold through their dealerships. Nearly all modern BMW, Mercedes, Audi and other luxury cars offer alloy wheels has standard equipment.
Alloy wheels are highly costly equipments. Alloy prices could start from Rs 5,000 onwards and can go up to several lakhs. Magnesium alloy wheels are more expensive, particularly if they are fitted in premium sports cars intended for racing. The price of alloy wheels is in addition to tires used for the vehicles.
Categories: wheels modification
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