Many people agree that a car is an extension of a person’s personality. To further put emphasis on this statement, people often go to great lengths just to customise their cars according to the specifications they want. After all, a car offers a wide array of customisation options, so why shouldn’t you go for it?
As most car parts are customisable, you can choose from a wide range of interior components to change, including the car seats, steering wheel, and radio. On the other hand, a car’s exterior offers more customisation options because paint can modify the appearance.
A car’s wheels can also be customised. There are several types of wheels, such as alloy, steel, chrome, and carbon fibre. Alloy wheels are the go-to option for many people for various reasons.
Why exactly are alloy wheels popular among car owners? We’re here to tell you everything that you need to know. Read on below to learn more.
A Brief on Alloy Wheels
Alloy wheels are essentially made from aluminium or magnesium alloys. Aside from their aesthetic appeal, these materials are both extremely light. While beneficial, it can also be undone because a poor quality alloy wheel can easily break when hitting a pothole or kerb—even at a moderate speed.
Unfortunately, alloy wheels tend to be costly. With this in mind, it’s essential to take care of your alloy wheels and maintain them in top condition.
The Benefits of Alloy Wheels
The primary benefit of alloy wheels is that they are lighter than most wheels. However, that’s not the only benefit that they offer.
Since aluminium and magnesium alloys are lightweight, using them as your wheels improves overall performance and allows your ride to be faster than the norm. Aside from that, alloy wheels are specifically designed to increase the cooling of the brake disks to not put a strain on them.
Alloy wheels can indeed make your car faster, but the handling can be significantly improved as well. Lesser weight is exerted when rotating around the hub, so components such as the suspension and brakes will last longer.
Other Things to Note About Alloy Wheels
If you intend to get alloy wheels, try to get a set with the same overall rotational diameter, which refers to the wheel size itself. If the rotational distance is more extensive, then your speed must be recalibrated. A 10 per cent larger rotational diameter means that each mile you cover is 10% shorter. Additionally, each mile you reach per hour is also 10 per cent out.
The best way to determine if a set of alloy wheels are well made is to see if the wheels are positioned at the correct vertical angle. Get someone else to drive the car as you stand at the side and observe if the wheels’ inside or outside lift under certain conditions, such as acceleration, cornering, and braking.
If the rotational dimensions don’t fit, you will need to make adjustments to your suspension. Similarly, if your alloy wheel does not work over your brake discs, it will grind into the arches whenever you hit a bump or turn into a corner. To prevent this, you might need to get your arches rolled or cut.
Conclusion
Alloy wheels may be costly, but they’re incredibly cost-effective, so consider it a worthy investment. While you should always try to get a set for a reasonable price, you should not buy cheap alloy wheels. It will do you more harm than good in the long run because of repairs.
Alloy wheels, while strong, can still suffer from damage if not taken care of. If you’re looking for alloy wheel repair services in Essex, UK, Wicked Rims has got you covered! We will make sure to repair your wheels to the best of our abilities so that you can drive smoothly. Contact us today to learn more!