Aluminium, the base of many of these alloys, is a considerably lighter metal, and the additional metals that it is alloyed with, like nickel, titanium, or magnesium to name a few, are added to strengthen it. Once these aluminium casting improvements were more widely adopted, the aluminium wheel displaced the magnesium wheels as the go-to, low cost, high-performance wheels for motorsports.Ĭompared to their steel counterparts, alloy wheels are lighter. Till the 1960s, most aluminium wheels suffered from low ductility, usually ranging from 2-3% elongation. More experimentation led to the discovery of aluminium alloy wheels and casting refinements in the 1960s made them very advanced. These became quite the trend but suffered from problems in ductility. Provide better heat conduction, and often produce improved cosmetic appearance over steel wheels.Īlthough steel, the most common material used in wheel production, is an alloy of iron and carbon, the term "alloy wheel" is usually reserved for wheels made from nonferrous alloys.Īlloy wheels were initially made of magnesium alloys.Alloys of aluminium or magnesium are typically lighter for the same strength,.They generally provide greater strength over pure metals, which are usually much softer and more ductile.Alloy wheels of aluminium or magnesium generally have the following advantages over steel wheels: Steel wheels are technically alloys too but are not included in this category. ALLOY WHEELSĪlloy wheels or alloys as they are called are wheels that are made from alloys of aluminium and magnesium. Additionally, steel rims don't dissipate heat all too well, and can potentially injure your brakes. Steel, for how strong it is, is not a light metal, and having to lug them around will put a toll on your car's handling, fuel economy, and speed. However, as is the case with anything that is cheap, they also come with certain drawbacks. So, if you're looking for a set of wheels that simply work and are light on your wallet, then they're your best option. Steel wheels are the heaviest of the lot and lack a lot of advantages that their alloy counterparts offer. Steel wheels are cheap, simplistic and are usually found on budget cars. Steel wheels as the name suggests are made from an alloy of iron and carbon i.e. That is precisely why we have decided to help you enhance your wheel knowledge so that you understand the different types of wheels out there and are able to pick the very best for your car. The fact remains that your wheels can really make your car stand out and unless you have proper knowledge, you will not be able to make the right choices. There is so much variety when it comes to wheels that it's easy to get confused.
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