Everything you Need to Know About Alloy Wheels
Alloy wheels are seen as essential for some drivers. If you’d like to learn more about alloy wheels and why they are so popular. Look no further as we have created a guide on alloy wheels and everything you need to know about alloy wheels if you are looking to purchase them, or to purchase a car that has alloy wheels.
What are Alloy Wheels?
Alloy wheels are a sophisticated variation of a wheel, they now come as a standard for brand new cars and top of the range cars. A normal or standard wheel on a car is made from steel and this metal can unfortunately bend, causing the wheel to no longer be in a perfect circle shape. Alloy wheels are made from aluminium and magnesium, which is a material that does not bend as easily as steel. So many car enthusiasts and car buyers prefer to purchase vehicles that have alloy wheels instead of a standard wheel, just due to the quality of the wheel.
It is also important to note that alloy wheels are also stronger and lighter than a standard steel wheel, so it makes the car perform better and it can also improve the rate of fuel economy that a car has and we all know this is very important in today’s world with the rising fuel prices that we are facing.
Why Do Cars Have Alloy Wheels?
It isn’t essential for cars to have alloy wheels, as standard wheels can work just fine, but car manufacturers chose to develop the wide use of alloy wheels because alloy wheels are of higher quality and they tend to stay in good condition longer than a standard steel wheel.
Why Do the Types of Alloy Wheels vary in Different Vehicles?
The types of alloy wheels you can expect to see on different sizes and styles of cars can vary, but the same materials (magnesium and aluminium) are still used to create the alloy wheels we see today.
The different types of alloy wheels
- Aluminium alloys
Aluminium alloy wheels are one of the most popular and commonly manufactured alloy wheels as they are light and they look similar to a steel wheel, but they are much more durable.
- Magnesium alloys
Magnesium alloys are also a popular type of alloy wheel. This type of alloy shares lots of similarities with aluminium alloys, as they are both light, long-lasting and nice to look at. Magnesium alloys came into prominence in mainstream automotive manufacturing in the 1960s, after they were primarily used for racing cars.
- Die casting alloys
Die casting alloys is an affordable process of sealing metal on the wheels of a car, to make the quality of the metal higher. This is a good way of editing the wheels you already have, instead of buying a whole new set of wheels, which can often be costly.
What about Diamond Cut Wheels?
Diamond cut alloy wheels are modern, precision finished alloys that display a design with razor sharp edges and a chrome-like finish. The rims are cast and then painted, diamond cut ones are also machined before the alloy is complete, to create its fine high end looking lines and unique design of an alloy wheel.
Diamond cut alloy wheels are quite a new concept and they are available on most brand new cars or high-end vehicles, or you can purchase diamond cut wheels yourself and replace your existing wheels with your new, improved wheels.
What Happens if you Scuff Diamond cut Wheels?
Unfortunately, if you happen to scuff or knock your diamond cut wheel, it isn’t as easy to repair as a standard alloy wheel because of the intricate detailing on the wheel, so if you are about to buy diamond cut alloy wheels this is something you need to consider, especially if you are likely to scuff your wheels as we all know unfortunately it is easily done. However, diamond cut wheels are very aesthetically pleasing so any chips or scuffs can be repaired by a diamond cut wheel specialist.
Where to Buy Alloy Wheels
You can buy alloy wheels from most good car parts and spares companies. It is important to make sure you purchase the right sized alloy wheels for your car, otherwise the wheel will not fit perfectly on your car and this can obviously be catastrophic. It is also important to to think about the types of alloy wheels which may be best suited for your budget and your vehicle.
How Much do Alloy Wheels Cost?
According to Auto Advisor, You will be likely to pay between £60 and £120, which means an average cost of £90 per wheel. However, it is important to note that having all four wheels done at once will lower the cost per wheel, with four 20-inch alloys costing an average of £273 and four 21-inch wheels being priced at £330.
Our Final Thoughts
We hope you have enjoyed our article on everything you need to know about alloy wheels. Alloy wheels can definitely enhance the appearance and performance of your vehicle. There are also lots of variations of alloy wheels which suit each individual vehicle. The best thing to do when you are considering buying alloy wheels is to first find out the types of wheels that are compatible with your car and shop around for the best deals and installation of the wheels.
