What to Know About Different Vehicle Wheel Materials?
There is a lot of research that goes into purchasing car parts. You need to understand which specifications are required for your vehicle before the purchase. When it comes to…Continue readingWhat to Know About Different Vehicle Wheel Materials?

There is a lot of research that goes into purchasing car parts. You need to understand which specifications are required for your vehicle before the purchase. When it comes to wheels, the most common options you will see are steel and aluminium. But you will also come across other materials such as magnetism, carbon fibre and titanium.

Steel wheels are the heaviest option that is available on the market and there is a limitation on aesthetics. But there are some benefits of choosing this option. These wheels are affordable so replacing your wheels will not break the bank. Also, steel is a very strong material so it has a natural resistance to cracking and bending compared to other materials. You will not find many complex designs and styles with steel but they can elevate the appearance of the vehicle with the right build.

When it comes to aluminium wheels, they are a more sought after option today and have high performance and aesthetic value. It is not as strong a material as steel but it is more than capable of handling day to day use. Aluminium wheels are lightweight and this will decrease the workload for your engine allowing you to accelerate better and improve vehicle efficiency. So it is seen as a material that improves performance of the vehicle.

There are so many styles and designs available with aluminium wheels so your options are unlimited. You can truly elevate the appearance of the vehicle using stylish aluminium wheels. However, while aluminium wheels are able to handle normal driving, it will not be able to handle the extreme stress that a steel wheel will be able to withstand. Cost of aluminium wheels is more than steel. Titanium is as strong as steel but it doesn’t have the disadvantage of weight. These wheels are corrosion resistant similar to aluminium wheels. However, due to the complicated manufacturing process and the rarity of the material, there is a high price point for titanium wheels.

Mag wheels or magnesium wheels are lightweight wheels but there is a danger in this application as magnesium is flammable. Some manufacturers add calcium to the alloy which can bring down the risk factor considerably. Magnesium alloy wheels are not very common and they are at a premium price point because of this. There are also high dampening properties offered by mag wheels. Magnesium wheels are not very long lasting as they can corrode quite quickly. Carbon fibre is a great option for performance wheels. They are actually stronger than steel and they weigh less than aluminium wheels.

So performance of the vehicle is greatly increased along with the ability to withstand wear and tear. However, carbon fibre wheels are generally not used for day to day driving. You will mostly see them on the track. Carbon fibre is a brittle material so when exposed to excessive force, there is a risk of shattering. These wheels are also very expensive. The combination of brittleness and high price are not conducive to daily driving on city streets.