Wheels Rims
Wheels Rims What Rims/Wheels Would Look Good On MY 1998 Convertible Mustang? I have a greenish blue 1998 convertible mustang, i was wondering what rims/wheels i should get for it, and i don't wan...
Wheels Rims
The incredible Alloy Wheel/Rim
As far as status symbols go, the wheels on someone’s car may seem to rank some way down the list. Yes, it’s nice to have them, but surely you’d prefer a top of the range stereo system or an in-car DVD player. If your car is all tricked out already, isn’t there something you could buy for the house? Why go for new wheels on the car before anything else? Isn’t that a bit weird? If you need to ask this, then you just don’t understand alloys; they are a major element of not only making your car look cool, but also in improving the handling of the vehicle in a very noticeable way. You may not be convinced, but it’s true – alloy wheels do make a difference.
The standard wheels fitted to most cars when they are new on the market tend to be made, at least for the most part, from steel. A steel wheel has the advantage of being cheap to fit and also being much more resilient. However, in addition to the fairly squat, unremarkable way that the steel wheel tends to look, it is also heavier than the alloy. So although it is harder to damage a steel wheel, it is also undoubtedly a good deal more sluggish to manoeuver around tight corners. Alloy wheels are made from a mixture (or an alloy, hence the name) of aluminum and other, more rigid metals which allows greater durability even though the wheel is of a lighter weight than a steel one.
As well as their advantage in weight terms over steel wheels, alloys are also invariably more attractive, with the greater malleability of the material lending itself to better shapes and the material itself being of a lighter color. The way the metal behaves also ensures a greater dissipation of brake heat, preventing poor brake performance as a result of overuse. If you like to really make your car work, then alloys will be better equipped to do this work than any steel wheel. In combination with this, the reduction in the car’s unsprung weight will also give you a better braking response and improve the feel of the car’s steering. All of this comes in addition to the fact that an increase in the standardization of alloy wheels has made them more widely stocked, leading to competition and as a result to lower prices.
All of this makes alloy wheels very attractive to motorists – and to thieves. There is a substantial market out there for the alloy wheel, including a stolen goods market which is exploited ruthlessly by the thieves who can get an excellent return for the right alloy wheels. However the manufacturers have become wise to this tendency and on most new sets of alloy wheels they sell there is an anti-theft measure built in where one of the main wheel nuts requires a key to remove it. All in all, they make the car look better and perform better, so as long as you take care of them a set of alloy wheels will really benefit you.
About the Author
Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips and free auto insurance quotes for men, women and young drivers from respected insurance companies.