Car Performance And The Popularity of Alloy Wheels |
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Steven Magill
16 January 2013
The popularity of alloy wheels is very often attributed to its looks and designs and how it has been creatively customized by several car enthusiasts, privately or commercially. However, the choice of alloy wheels also has its functional relevance and relativity to vehicle performance.
Specifications
There are alloy wheels of the rally style that are lighter. They have less weight and capable of faster speed. They are also designed to increase the cooling of the brake discs. There are alloy wheel designs that have better resistance to being curbed than others while some break very easily when hitting a pothole or curb at a certain speed.
As you can see, alloy wheels are not the same. They differ in several properties that can very well affect the performance of a vehicle. Thus, always go for the best quality alloy wheel that you can afford. Read everything about the particular wheel you have chosen, including magazine and online reviews. If you go for a specially sized one, you should get the suspension and tracking of your vehicle realigned to avoid an avoidable trip to alloy wheel refurbishment when your vehicle runs in uneven wear under acceleration.
Lighter alloy wheels will improve handling due to less weight rotating around the hub. As a result components such as suspension and perhaps even brakes will last longer. The gaps in alloy wheels designs will also aid in brake cooling, allowing the brakes to do a better job at slowing down the vehicle.
Big Wheels
Big alloy wheels may look really cool but they don't necessarily improve the riding experience or handling feel of a car. It is best to keep the overall wheel width compatible with the tire dimension as the OEM provided. However, go for a larger alloy with ultra-low profile tire if you truly want the big wheel look. Lower profile tires can be noisier and due to their low flexing nature, they provide excellent handling feel.
On the other hand, wider alloys do not necessarily mean better grip. There are users who complain that taller wheels can adversely affect the speed and handling of a vehicle which consequently causes bumpy rides.
Lightweight
There are alloy wheels that are designed to be lightweight. They come with a pattern that increases the airflow to the brake discs contributing to better breaking efficiency. When buying alloy wheels you should naturally check the pattern of nuts if matches your car. Likewise, you must also need to check the offset and bore measurements thereof.
The last thing you want is the wheel not fitting properly with the brake discs of your vehicle or a wheel that grinds into the arches when you hit a bump or turn a corner. If you have such a misfortune, you may need to get your arches rolled or cut.
Deviation from the original rotational dimensions will definitely require suspension adjustments. As a rule, you should always get your camber and toe positioning and other suspension components checked for alignment when you change tyres or alloy wheels, or when you hit a curb or gets into a bump that jolts the car.
Alloys Get Curbed
Alloy wheels will get curbed. That is a fact. The best that you can do about that is choose a pattern that will not stick out too much and hit the curb. If you have those fancy alloys with chrome finish, they can cost you a fortune in alloy wheel refurbishment and they look really dreadful when scratched.
Alloy wheels can aid in better performance based on in terms of weight and brake cooling. Thus, buy alloys for aesthetic characteristics with better longevity and a pattern that will curb gracefully and not because they are popular and looked cool.