Wheel rims: what you need to know when choosing. Sprung and unsprung mass
Correctly and competently selected wheels for your car mean not only your safety and care for your passengers, but also low fuel consumption, along with an increased service life of the transmission and the mesmerizing appearance of a stylish car.
Let's try to figure out how to choose the right alloy wheels and use them correctly. The opinions of intelligent experts in this field and the recommendations of popular manufacturers of light alloy products will be taken into account.
Types of disks
All wheel rims can be divided into two groups - steel and light alloy (casting). The design of stamped wheels is simple and straightforward. stamped and the individual parts are connected to each other by spot welding. The disc is then painted and sent to a store or conveyor belt.
This method of equipping a car with discs is simple and inexpensive. A significant number of cars coming off the assembly line have just such wheels. Casting installation is already additional option, for which you need to pay a decent amount.
Before choosing cast wheels instead of steel ones, in favor of the latter we can say that they have greater strength and therefore, after strong impacts, they do not crumble or crack, but only become deformed. This feature allows you to restore the disk, even if the edges are severely wrinkled.
A significant drawback of stamped products, which is critical for many car enthusiasts, is their mass. Moreover, it cannot be reduced, because insufficient wall thickness significantly reduces the strength of the entire wheel. In addition, steel models are susceptible to corrosion if the integrity of the protective coating is damaged. This also includes a monotonous and boring appearance, difficulties with and a negative impact on the acceleration dynamics.
Alloy wheels
Before choosing alloy wheels, it's a good idea to know some of the benefits. Light alloy models offer extensive design possibilities along with high precision manufacturing. They are able to remove most of the heat from the main components, but the most important thing is the lightness of the structure. You can judge the specific merits of certain models if you know how they are cast and using what alloy. So in this case, the wheel is different from the wheel.
Ordinary models are made by casting or forging from stable alloys, where the base is aluminum, titanium or magnesium. Magnesium and titanium models are much stronger and lighter than aluminum wheels. Before choosing magnesium-based alloy wheels, know that they are less resistant to corrosion, which means you will have to constantly take care of a multi-layer protective coating. As for titanium, this is already an elite group that is equipped on very expensive, sports and simply prestigious cars. For everyday driving on our roads, titanium models are simply a pity to use. Despite all the strength of such products, they are susceptible to scratches.
Difficulty of choice
Before choosing alloy wheels for your car, remember that the purchase should be determined by your needs and, naturally, the amount in your wallet. If your path is megalopolises and large cities, then magnesium or aluminum casting would be an ideal option. Do you have free finance? Please, titanium models are beautiful, extremely reliable and will be a great addition to an elite environment.
If you value reliability, often drive outside the city bad roads and do not attend social parties in your car, it is better to stick to steel, stamped or forged products. In this case, they will not only be more practical, but will also save you the lion’s share of the family budget.
How to choose the right alloy wheels for a car
In order to correctly select one or another wheel model specifically for your car, you need to clearly clarify some critical parameters. First of all, we find out the width and diameter of the disk. Then we specify the location of the mounting holes and their number. Next, pay attention to the diameter of your car’s hub and the offset indicator. All major installation dimensions You can look in the catalogs of tire and wheel manufacturers or try everything yourself using a special tool. Before choosing alloy wheels for your car, and if you suddenly have any doubts, it’s better to go to a good tire shop and figure everything out there, drawing on a piece of paper all the sizes and parameters that interest us.
Disc diameter
This parameter is selected according to the recommendations of your car manufacturer. It must exactly match the wheel diameter. IN Lately There are more and more extreme sports enthusiasts who strive to increase the mounting diameter. For example, a 15-inch fit is rolled to fit 16, 17 or even 18-inch wheels.
All this is done for an installation that, on the one hand, increases driving performance for the better, and on the other, increases the load on the main suspension components. And the driving comfort on such tires is not the best. Before choosing alloy wheels of one diameter or another, you must decide for yourself what is more important - sporting characteristics or driving comfort?
Rim width
If the manufacturer's recommendations for your wheels regarding the mounting diameter do not exceed 14 inches, then the rim width will range from 0.5-1.0 inches. For a mounting diameter greater than 15 inches, the width will be slightly higher - 1.1-1.5” for the rim.
It’s up to you to decide which alloy wheel to choose, but the best and more practical option would be a factory-width product. The use of non-standard wheel models for your vehicle is fraught with changes in the design profile of the tire, as a result of which the main driving characteristics (steering resistance, response to the steering wheel and lateral stiffness) may significantly deteriorate.
Wheel offset
Offset is the distance between the wheel mounting plane and the longitudinal plane of the rim (symmetry). Wheel offset can only have three values: zero, positive and negative. The indicator is indicated by a numeral or letter value. For example, ET40 (mm) is a positive offset, and ET-40 is already negative, so don’t get confused and mistake the “minus” sign for a “dash” or “hyphen”. The literal value is usually denoted by the words OFFSET and DEPORT.
Separately, it is worth noting that the larger the offset, the deeper car fits into the wheel grooves. And the lower this indicator, the more the wheel sticks out from the niche. Most car owners strive to reduce this indicator. In general, it is not entirely correct to deviate from the standard values that were set on the factory assembly line, but sometimes, due to certain circumstances (frequent driving on bumpy or, conversely, perfectly smooth roads), you can adjust the reach in the right direction for a more comfortable ride.
How to choose rims for a car?
The wheel is perhaps the most ancient invention of mankind. What wheels were not made of at all stages of evolution. The very first wheels were made of stone, but they were very heavy and fragile. Wooden and bronze began to replace stone ones, and finally man harnessed steel. IN modern world Manufacturers are not limited to steel; there are many different light alloys that give car wheels a number of useful advantages. But how not to get lost in all this diversity and choose exactly what you need. In this article we will try to shed light on all the nuances when choosing car wheels. After all, the right ones rims this is the key to your safety. First, let's get acquainted with the main types of disks, consider all their advantages and disadvantages.
Familiar to everyone welded steel disc or as I also call it stamped. Such discs can boast their main advantage is their price; they are durable, but they are easily deformable and have a lot of weight. Steel wheels usually come as standard on a car. Wheels made of steel cannot please us with their design; the design does not allow this. In order to give such discs a prostatic appearance, plastic caps are used. Among the disadvantages of steel wheels, it is worth noting their high susceptibility to corrosion. Why is the high weight of the disk so bad? To answer this question, let's delve a little deeper into physics. A car disk is a kind of flywheel attached to the hub; the higher the mass of the flywheel, the more energy is spent on spinning it. Accordingly, we need to spend more fuel to generate torque. But the most critical thing is to stop the disk when it is rotating and at fairly decent speeds. Imagine the load on the braking system. But with all this, a steel disk is not so bad, but it has a boring appearance, and it has a lot of weight, but if you fall into a hole and dented the disk, it is easy to fix. Steel wheels can be easily rolled in specialized workshops and they will be as good as new.
Alloy wheels have less weight, therefore, when driving on such discs, fuel consumption is reduced. Such discs are divided into cast and forged. Alloy wheels are made by injection molding and can be easily given a wide variety of designs. Among the advantages, it is worth noting that the alloy is based mainly on aluminum, a very light and corrosion-resistant metal. Alloy wheels also have quite low price. Alloy wheels occupy a large share of the market, since they have a low price and big choice design solutions. True, alloy wheels have their main drawback: they do not deform like steel ones, but crack. Aluminum by its nature is a very soft and ductile metal; in its pure form it is unsuitable for making disks. In order to give it strength, alloying additives in the form of magnesium are added to it, although at the expense of ductility. So, to summarize, alloy wheels are lighter and more attractive than stamped ones, but they are also the most impractical. If you damage a cast disc and it cracks, it cannot be repaired, only replaced.
Forged alloy wheels, the lightest, most durable and most expensive to date. The high cost of such discs is due to the fact that their production requires a lot of heavy technological processes. The strength of such disks exceeds the characteristics of steel ones. Forged wheels can withstand severe impacts, they are almost impossible to deform; the car’s suspension is more likely to fail. The high strength of such disks is due to the fact that they have a layered metal structure. Among the disadvantages, in addition to the high price, it is worth noting the low variety of design, since mechanical processing is used to give the appearance.
So, let's summarize the above. If you are not a racer, have a small budget and the roads in your city cannot boast of splendor, then it is better to use steel wheels with decorative caps. If the appearance of your car is most important to you and you are a hobbyist high speeds Cast alloy wheels will suit you, but you should be prepared for the fact that if you damage the disk, you will have to buy a new one. Forged wheels are more suitable for sports driving; due to their high cost, not many people can afford such wheels, but because of their unique properties, such wheels are worth the money, one might say you buy them once and for all. Our result is of a recommendatory nature, so each owner of his car decides for himself what is best for him.
We have decided on the type of disk, but what do these numbers and letters mean on the disk markings? Let's move on to the most serious and important stage of choosing a disk. Each car manufacturer strongly recommends a certain type of wheel size, you can get this information in the service book or on a sticker in the driver's door opening next to the tire size and pressure information. Failure to comply with these requirements may affect the driving performance of the vehicle or rapid wear of the suspension.
Let's look at the example of the currently popular Kia Rio new car. The manufacturer recommends disks for installation 6J15 PCD4-100 et48 DIA 54.1 Let's figure it out and decipher this inscription; first, let's look at the main dimensions of the disk.
6 J15 The number 6 means the rim width is six inches. J- indicates the size is in inches, 15 is the rim diameter in inches.
PCD 4-100 These numbers indicate that the disk has 4 holes for mounting bolts and an inter-bolt distance of 100 millimeters.
Et-48 Most important parameter indicates disk failure. Failure to comply with this parameter can subsequently lead to many problems.
An offset less than recommended makes the wheelbase wider, thereby increasing the load on the suspension due to a shift in the center of gravity of the wheel. Also, when the offset is reduced, the wheels may touch the wing arches. Overhang greater than recommended moves the wheels inward, thereby reducing vehicle stability. Also with increased reach rim The caliper may be catching. Do not fall for the tricks of sellers, choose the offset specified by the manufacturer of your car.
DIA 54.1 This is the mounting diameter of the disk; if this value is less than that specified by the manufacturer, the disk simply will not fit on the hub. If this is no longer so scary, such a disk can be installed, but spacer rings will be required. It should be noted that even when using spacer rings, an imbalance of the balanced wheel may occur.
Properly selected wheels mean road safety and rational fuel consumption, increased transmission service life and a stylish look for your car.
Wheels are divided into two main groups: steel and alloy.
Steel stamped wheels consist of a rim and a disc welded to it. These parts are made by stamping from sheet steel and are connected to each other by resistance spot welding. After this, the discs are painted.
This method of making disks is simple and inexpensive. A large number of cars are equipped with steel wheels as standard from the factory. Installation of alloy wheels by the manufacturer on a car is usually an option. Although, recently, this trend has been decreasing in favor of alloy wheels.
Durable and inexpensive steel disks have high impact strength, so during strong impacts they do not split, but are deformed, which makes it possible to restore them even in cases of very strong crushing of the edges.
The main disadvantages of stamped disks are their large mass, which is not possible to reduce, because with a smaller wall thickness the strength characteristics are reduced, the tendency to corrosion if the protective coating is damaged, the uniform appearance and low manufacturing accuracy (and, therefore, possible problems with balancing). The large weight of the disc negatively affects the dynamics of acceleration and braking of the car, the performance of the suspension and driving comfort.
Alloy wheels They have unlimited design possibilities, high precision manufacturing, excellent heat removal from the brake unit, but most importantly, they are lighter than steel discs. These are general advantages. It is possible to specifically judge their pros and cons only by taking into account the method and alloy they are made from. There are many nuances here, the wheel is different.
Alloy wheels are made by casting or forging from high-strength alloys based on aluminum, magnesium or titanium. Magnesium and titanium discs are lighter and stronger than aluminum ones, but magnesium is less resistant to corrosion, so multi-layer coatings must be applied to magnesium discs. protective coatings, and titanium is too expensive. Therefore, they are used on very expensive, prestigious, or tuned sports cars that are not intended for everyday driving.
Cast aluminum wheels are approximately 15 - 30% lighter than steel wheels, depending on the design. This is their main advantage, since when installing such discs the weight of the unsprung parts of the car is reduced.
This means that when driving over uneven roads, the smoothness of the car improves by reducing vibrations and the life of suspension and transmission parts increases by reducing the loads acting on them.
Lightweight wheels quickly restore contact with the road surface when hitting an obstacle, which increases vehicle stability and controllability at high speeds.
Reducing the weight of each wheel by 1 kg is equivalent to lightening the body by 15-20 kg; this also has a positive effect on the dynamics of the car, since acceleration and braking require less force, which ultimately leads to an increase in the service life of the engine, transmission, braking system and to reduce fuel consumption.
In addition, light alloy wheels provide better cooling brake mechanisms, firstly, due to the high thermal conductivity of the materials, and secondly, the ability to make a disc with very large holes (without loss of rigidity) and directed blades, which, when the wheel rotates, drive air to the brake.
Cast wheels are stronger and stiffer than stamped steel, they absorb impact better and retain their shape, but are less ductile because they have a granular internal structure. In the event of a very strong impact, the disc is not deformed, but splits, beyond the possibility of repair. In addition, a cast disc requires serious surface protection; without this, it quickly becomes covered with a whitish oxide film, which, on the one hand, is protective, but, on the other hand, spoils the presentation.
Forged wheels are produced by hot die forging on presses of unique capacity - over 10,000 tons. This technology makes it possible to obtain wheel rims of record strength and low weight, since the metal acquires a multilayer fibrous structure as a result of forging. Forged wheels are 20 - 30% lighter than traditional cast wheels. In contrast, forged wheels do not burst under strong impacts, but bend without cracking. In this case, the blow must be very strong.
The corrosion resistance of a forged disc is significantly higher than that of a cast disc, which means that the requirements for surface protection are lower. Their disadvantages include high cost due to extremely expensive production equipment, and limited number models.
"Liquid forging", or high pressure casting. This technology is used by many Japanese companies. During production, presses of lower power are used than for forging (3000 - 5000 tons), this makes it possible to achieve a fine-grained metal structure and reduce production costs. And in terms of their strength properties, liquid forged wheels are significantly superior to cast ones, but do not reach the same level as solid forged ones.
Composite disks- a compromise between cast and forged - an attempt to reduce the shortcomings and emphasize the advantages of both. Wheel parts are manufactured according to different technologies, for example, the rim is forged, the disc is cast. They are connected with bolts, usually titanium, since steel fasteners are susceptible to electrochemical corrosion. Wheels with bolts are now in fashion, so many companies produce solid wheels with short false bolts that are purely decorative. To distinguish such a wheel from a prefabricated one, you should look at the disk with reverse side. With a solid cast, the transition boundaries from the rim to the disc are continuous, without a seam. Technical advantages Prefabricated wheels probably don’t have the same properties as solid ones. False bolts only increase the weight of the wheel, and they can also get lost, especially on our bumpy roads.
Thus, the choice of wheels for a car should be determined by your needs and the amount in your wallet. If you want to give your car a modern, stylish look, improve handling, smoothness, acceleration and braking dynamics, then your choice is cast alloy wheels. If you are involved in motorsports or love tuning, you should purchase forged wheels. And for car enthusiasts who value reliability, but are not ready to shell out a hefty sum for a set of alloy wheels, stamped steel wheels are suitable.
To choose the right disk, you need to know the following parameters: width and diameter of the disk, number and location of mounting holes, vehicle hub diameter, offset.
This is what the wheel design looks like
Installation dimensions can be determined from tire and wheel selection catalogs, or by direct measurement. Both should be done in specialized stores.
Disc diameter is selected according to the recommendation of the manufacturer of your car and corresponds to the tire diameter. Recently, there has been a strong trend towards increasing the mounting diameter: cars that have standard 15-inch wheels, for example, are being converted to 16-inch, 17-inch and even 18-19. This is explained by the desire to use low-profile tires because they provide better ride quality, although at the same time comfort suffers and the likelihood of damage increases rim, the load on all suspension components and wheel bearings increases. You yourself must find a compromise between sport and comfort.
Rim width. The permissible deviation of the rim width from that recommended in the catalog is 0.5 - 1.0 inches for disks with a mounting diameter of up to 14 inches; and 1.0 - 1.5 inches - for disks with a diameter of 15 inches or more. It is better, of course, to choose a disk of standard width. The use of either too wide or too narrow rims relative to the width of the tire profile (see figure) is undesirable, since this violates the design profile of the tire (the sidewalls are either compressed by the rim flanges or stretched on it), which deteriorates its driving characteristics — response to turning, resistance to slip, lateral rigidity.
There is also a “folk” way to select the width of the disk.
tire tread width - 20% = rim width
For example: 195/65R15;
width 195 mm - 20% = 156 mm;
divide by 25.4 (1 inch = 25.4 mm) = 6.1 inches, round to the nearest standard value, we get 6 inches - a rim of this width is needed for a 195/65R15 tire.
You need to understand that this method is not optimal and can only be used if it is not possible to use the catalog, because when determining the width of the rim, car manufacturers take into account not only the width of the tire tread, but also the profile height, dimensions and weight of the car, and etc.
Diameter of the circle on which the mounting holes are located— PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter). For example, PCD100/4 means that this diameter is 100 mm, and the number of holes is 4. It is impossible to install disks with a violation of the PCD diameter - this will lead to the fact that of all the nuts or bolts, only one will be fully tightened, while the remaining holes “ will lead away,” and the fasteners will remain untightened or tightened skewed, and the fit of the wheel to the hub will be incomplete. While driving, such a wheel will “beat”, in addition, not fully tightened nuts will unscrew by themselves.
In addition, the disk is selected according to its diameter central hole (if the error is minus, you cannot put the wheel on the hub) and according to the characteristics of the mounting holes: tightening the bolts (nuts) “to a plane,” “to a sphere,” or “to a cone.”
Wheel offset (ET)- this is the distance between the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the rim and the mounting plane of the wheel. The offset can be zero, positive, or negative. The offset is indicated, for example, ET30 (mm), if its value is positive, or ET-30, if negative, or in the words OFFSET, DEPORT.
The larger the ET value, the deeper the disc “sits” in the wheel niche. The lower the ET, the more the disc protrudes outward from the wheel well. Therefore, car owners often strive to reduce disc overhang.
On the image: On the left is a wheel with a standard offset ET, on the right is a wheel with a reduced offset ET.
The tolerance for changes in offset is plus or minus 5-8 mm from what is indicated in the catalogue.
Of course, reducing the offset makes the wheel track wider, slightly increases the stability of the car, the car corners more confidently and takes on a stylish racing look. But at the same time, the impact of shocks from road irregularities on the steering wheel increases, and this is not in the best possible way affects controllability. In addition, the load on the wheel bearings of the suspension increases. Tires that protrude excessively from the wheel arches will throw dirt onto the side of the body and side windows and may touch the wheel arches.
In order for the car to be not only beautiful, but also safe, you should not abuse the width of the rim and the reduced offset; it is advisable not to change the parameters beyond the specified tolerances.
On tuning and sports modifications, the offset is changed, but this is done in conjunction with a number of other changes to the car.
In any case, after replacing the wheels, taking precautions, you need to conduct a thorough test - drive the new wheels to feel how the car's behavior has changed.
And one more piece of advice. Today it is not economically profitable to have one set of wheels, because this means the need to re-align the tires during the seasonal wheel change. Firstly, for 3-4 reassemblies you will pay an amount equivalent to the cost of one disk. Secondly, each re-flashing causes, albeit small, but still damage to the tires, which after a while will begin to leak air at the joints with the disks. Thirdly, when beading, scratches on the disk are possible, which over time lead to its corrosion. Plus, there are queues at the tire shop when winter “suddenly” comes. Having two sets (summer and winter) mounted wheels can make your life much easier: you will save your time, save some money and extend the life of your wheels and tires.
Alloy wheels are one of the most popular types of light-alloy car wheels among both motorists and manufacturers. Such wheels are not only reliable in operation, but also have an original appearance, which adds individuality to any vehicle.
1. Disk settings
Before purchasing alloy wheels for your car, you should find out and understand their parameters so that the selected model exactly matches the brand. vehicle.
The following are distinguished: parameters of alloy wheels:
Disc rim width or seat width (inches)– is determined by the distance between the inner sides of the side edges of the cast disk. It is important that the seat width matches the width of the tire, otherwise it will affect the driving characteristics of the vehicle and can even lead to tragic consequences.
Wheel rim diameter or mounting diameter (inches)– is determined by the diameter of the annular part of the rim, but does not take into account the height of its edges. This indicator should be comparable to the inner diameter of the tire.
Diameter of mounting holes (PCD), mm– the parameter is determined depending on the number of mounting holes and the distance between them. To calculate this indicator, it is necessary to multiply the distance between the holes by a coefficient corresponding to their number (for 3 holes use a coefficient of 1.155, for 4 - 1.414, for 5 - 1.701). Under no circumstances should you install disks with a PCD value that differs from the normal value for each car brand, since the fastening bolts will be tightened skewed, which will prevent proper centralization.
Central hole diameter (DIA), mm– a parameter that determines the degree of compliance of the alloy wheel with the car. This diameter should be equal to the diameter of the landing cylinder located on the vehicle hub. Their exact alignment will ensure perfect wheel alignment. Often manufacturers, trying to make discs as universal as possible, produce a product with a specially large central hole diameter. In this case, special adapter rings are used for alignment.
Disc offset (ET - Germany, DEPORT - France or OFFSET - other countries), mm– is determined by the distance between the disk mounting plane (mount) and the rim symmetry plane (an imaginary line dividing the rim exactly in the center). This parameter may not be included in the disc labeling as it is not mandatory. But the disc offset must comply with the instructions for the car, because the load on the suspension and turning mechanism depends on it.
Number of humps– this is the number of protrusions on the rim of the disk where the tire lands. They are designed to securely secure the tire beads while driving.
X-factor, mm– conditional parameter, which is determined by the distance between the disk mounting plane and the surface of its internal part. The presence of such space makes it possible to install the disc on a car in which the brake system protrudes beyond the mounting plane.
The parameters of alloy wheels can be found out by looking at their markings. Let's look at an example of markings applied to a cast wheel: 7½ J x 17 H2 3x120 ET30 d51.7, where 7½ is the seat width of the wheel rim; J – denotes the profile of the rim flanges (in addition to this option, JJ, JK, K, B, D, P are often found in rims for passenger cars); 17 – disk mounting diameter; H2 – indicates the presence of humps on the rim of the disc and their number. 3x120 is the number of holes for fasteners and their location diameter (PCD). ET30 – disc ejection. d51.7 – diameter of the central hole of the disk (DIA).
2. Advantages and disadvantages of alloy wheels
Like any other product, alloy wheels have their advantages and disadvantages. Among benefits alloy wheels:
The weight of alloy wheels is approximately 15-20% less than the steel version, which helps reduce pressure on the vehicle's chassis system, add smoother driving, reduce shock loads on the suspension and improve performance.
Excellent thermal conductivity of the discs, which eliminates overheating of the car's brake system.
Thanks to the coating of the disc surface with an oxide layer, it is reliably protected from corrosion.
An original appearance and an unlimited selection of designs and casting patterns, which allows any motorist to find wheels to suit his taste.
High precision is observed during production, which ensures perfect balancing, and this reduces wear of bearings, tires, hubs and increases driving comfort.
Among shortcomings alloy wheels:
A high percentage of defects in production, since products are produced in large volumes.
High degree of fragility (if there is a strong impact, alloy wheels can simply split or crack).
Unrepairability (although repair services for alloy wheels exist, but in very limited limited quantities and for a high fee).
You can rarely find alloy wheels on sale individually, since they are mainly sold as a set. Therefore, if one disk breaks, the car owner will most likely have to buy a whole new set.
As for the cost of alloy wheels, it is impossible to attribute it to advantages or disadvantages, since it all depends on what to compare with. For example, compared to stamped wheels, the price of castings may seem overpriced. But compared to forged options, the cost of casting is relatively affordable.
3. Countries and manufacturers
Alloy wheels are produced in many countries around the world. As for the amount of casting exports to the world market, the leader in this area is China. But most of the discs produced in China are fakes and replicas of well-known brands from other countries.
If we judge the reliability and originality of alloy wheels, then by this criterion the leaders are the USA, Italy, Germany and Japan. Let's look at a few examples of well-known brands from these countries that have proven themselves to be the best and have received recognition from motorists all over the world.
Alloy wheels production Germany:
BBS is a company whose products have already become a legend, although it has only been operating since 1970. And it gained its fame thanks to alloy wheels for motorsport. BBS products are supplied to the assembly lines of such automakers as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Maserati, RollsRoyce, Jaguar and others. Retro-style wheels are especially popular among customers.
ALUTEC - the casting of this manufacturer, which appeared in 1996, is recognized by many experts as the strongest and lightest thanks to its secret production technology.
Alloy wheels production Italy:
OZ Racing is a company founded in 1971, and to this day remains one of the leaders in the development and production of alloy wheels for racing cars and production cars. The philosophy and advantages of this manufacturer's products lie in the experience gained in many international races (for example, Formula 1). This brand pays great attention to style and appearance casting
Arcasting – founded in 2001, the company now occupies one of the leading positions in the production of alloy wheels. This brand produces many wheels with fashionable designs and impeccable quality. As for quality, in 2003 the manufacturer received a certificate from the International Organization for Standardization 9001/2001. What else can serve as a guarantee of confidence in this company?
Alloy wheels production USA:
ADV.1 is a luxury manufacturer that makes its products only to order. This ensures a perfect fit for each individual vehicle make. The brand's philosophy is to move away from templates in the design of alloy wheels and take into account the individuality of customers.
Rotiform - disc models from this manufacturer are distinguished by their futuristic design, variety of shapes and color range. Wheels from this brand are especially popular among designers and studios that tune and “pump up” cars.
Vossen is a manufacturer of exclusive alloy wheels that has been striving to provide motorists with unsurpassed quality and unusual design for 25 years. Thanks to this company, concave models of alloy wheels have become popular. The brand's philosophy is the pursuit of innovation.
Alloy wheels production Japan:
WaldInternational is a manufacturer specializing in tuning premium cars. Now the company is widely known outside of Japan and is one of the trendsetters in the world of tuning. Separately, the company develops entire product lines for each customer, including Bentley, Lexus, BMW, RangeRover.
Enkei – now the discs of this company, founded in 1950, are popular not only in their homeland, but also far beyond its borders. It specializes in the production of wheels for racing, rallying, drifting, and everyday driving.
4. What is the difference between cheap alloy wheels and expensive ones?
Today the choice of alloy wheels is simply huge. Just like the assortment, the range of prices for discs is also huge.
The price of the disc includes the cost of production, the cost of delivery to the consumer, a fee for trademark and, in some cases, a marketing component.
Sometimes a high price is not a guarantee of quality products, just as a low price is not always a guarantee of fakes and low-quality discs. Therefore, when choosing disks, we strongly recommend that you study reviews on the Internet and watch videos of operational tests, as otherwise you may stumble upon low-quality products.
Let's try to find out the difference between expensive alloy wheels (from well-known brands, excluding the option of fakes) and cheap ones.
1. Expensive disks are perfectly centered and have impeccable geometry, which cannot be said about all the cheap options, among which there are sometimes even crooked ones.
2. For expensive wheels At all stages of production, quality control is carried out, therefore, by overpaying money, the buyer can have no doubt about the quality of the product. Cheap discs are often simply poured into molds and waited for the metal to harden, which is why cases of poor quality are not uncommon among such products.
3. Each well-known manufacturer of expensive alloy wheels has its own alloy recipe, which has been developed and improved over the years. And in cheap models they can use a monoalloy of aluminum. And although it is strong, it is fragile.
4. The external design of expensive alloy wheels is impeccable: the surface is perfectly smooth, and the painting is done with high precision and using high-quality paint. In cheap options, the paint may peel off after several trips.
5. The performance characteristics of expensive models are characterized by good resistance to external influences and shaking. Cheap options are only suitable for use on a flat surface, as otherwise they will quickly crack.
6. The service life of expensive disks is much longer (they last for decades) than cheap ones; in addition, expensive models are guaranteed without any problems.
7. Expensive wheels do not harm the environment, since their production complies with all environmental legislation.
8. The image created by expensive discs cannot be compared with the image created by cheap options. Nice car It will look more harmonious with expensive castings from famous brands.
5. Nuances of choice
When choosing alloy car wheels, the buyer should consider the following aspects:
Car make and model; Compliance of disks with the required sizes; Possible operating conditions.
The most correct decision would be to purchase alloy wheels made specifically for a specific car brand. In this case, these disks will be ideal and there will be no problems with their installation. But this option is not always acceptable for a motorist (for example, he may not like the design), so some nuances of choice should be taken into account.
Nuances of choice alloy wheels:
Before purchasing castings, you need to find out in what conditions the discs will be used, since the external environment will significantly affect their safety. Harsh operating conditions lead to scratches and peeling paint.
Alloy wheels are typically made from either an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy, each of which has its own advantages. Aluminum is lightweight and not sensitive to corrosion, but has low ductility, which is why it often cracks. Magnesium is more flexible, but has other disadvantages. Which alloy to choose depends on the client's needs and preferences.
It is worth paying attention to the design of the discs and taking into account that they will need to be washed, and fancy shapes are much more difficult to wash than simple ones.
The dimensions of the selected casting should not differ from the standard one by more than 2 inches, as this will degrade the performance of the product.
To fasten the cast structure, you must remember to select bolts of a special length, which will facilitate installation.
We must remember that the warranty only applies to alloy wheel models that were selected in accordance with the instructions for the car.
Before purchasing, you should definitely check for a quality certificate not only from the manufacturer, but also domestic.
Experts do not recommend using alloy wheels in winter.
You should not choose the cheapest casting options.
6. What tires should I wear?
Typically, a motorist selects alloy wheels to match an existing set of tires. But it also happens that tires need to be selected after purchasing cast structures.
The main rule that must be remembered when choosing tires for wheels is that the tires must match the size of the alloy wheels and fit perfectly on them. If the tires are too large for the rims, their operation will be problematic. And, if they turn out to be very small, then their installation will be problematic.
If the wheels you choose are expensive and from a well-known brand, then the right decision would be to buy the same tires for them. In order not to make a mistake in your choice, we recommend visiting thematic automotive forums and websites, where you can read the available information or ask your questions.
Often manufacturers of alloy wheels or Distributing companies immediately recommend tires for them, and some even produce them themselves. This option makes life much easier for the motorist, because you won’t have to worry about selecting tires in addition to wheels.
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When the first joyful sensations of buying a car pass, when driving it becomes a daily chore for you, it is at this moment that you are faced with questions that you have never thought about before. For example, how to choose the right wheels for your car, and specifically, car rims.
Currently the market represents huge selection automobile disks. Therefore, which disks and how to choose the right ones sometimes becomes an insoluble task.
What kind of discs are made?
There are several varieties: stamped, cast and forged wheels.
Stamped discs are the most common. Made from ordinary steel, painted with enamel, usually black or dark grey colour. The main advantage is that they are easy to repair. It is always possible, if you have the ability, to return the shape of the disc using a simple tool. The downside is that they are not distinguished by their elegance of form. You must have a set of stamped wheels, usually used together with winter tires.
Alloy wheels are made from lightweight alloys, usually aluminum.
Have different shape, and lighter than stamped discs. This explains their popularity among experienced car enthusiasts. However, the high cost and practically impossibility of repair are the disadvantages of this variety. We recommend that you buy if you are confident in careful driving and attentiveness on the road. And it is best used with summer tires.
How to choose an alloy wheel for a car?
Main alloys used in alloy wheels, from aluminum, titanium, magnesium. Aluminum discs are light, durable, and practically not subject to corrosion. Therefore, they are the most recommended for daily use. Magnesium alloy discs are very susceptible to corrosion, so it is recommended to use them in warm and dry conditions, or permanently coat them with an anti-corrosion coating. Titanium wheels belong to the elite group, so if you have a prestigious car or sports car and plan to drive only in the city, choose titanium wheels.
Which is better - stamped or cast disc? (video)
The next variety is forged wheels.
Forged disc
The best and highest quality, but also the most expensive type. Manufactured using hot stamping, they have high strength and low weight. Of the minuses, if there is a strong impact on an obstacle, it retains its shape, but there is a possibility of destruction of the wheel or cord, which leads to a complete replacement of the tire.
How to choose car wheels (video)
How to choose car wheels by size?
Typically, all information about the sizes of wheels and disks is indicated in the instructions for your car. Additionally (depending on the car) it may be indicated on separate parts, for example, the gas tank cap.
Reach size;
Hub hole diameter size;
Bore diameter size;
Disc fastener;
Shape of holes for fasteners;
Information on discs (video)
Inches are the classic measure of wheel width. The value is marked as “J”. For example, 5.5J. Stands for 5.5 inches wide. Tires are also marked in inches, each tire has its own wheel.
Departure affects the functionality of car suspension in general, and bearings in particular. Incorrect offset will lead to premature wear of the chassis. The concepts used are positive offset, negative offset and zero offset.
Departure calculation (video).
The hub hole is where the disc is bolted to the vehicle's hub. Therefore, it must fit absolutely exactly. If the hole is small, the disc will not install. Large holes will require balancing using rings.
Disc seat diameter. This is the diameter of the rim in inches. Marked with the letter R.
For example, R18 indicates a wheel with a diameter of 18 inches.
We remind you that the required wheel diameters for your car are indicated in the owner's manual for your car.
REMEMBER! The diameter of the tires must match the diameter of the rims.
Location diameter.
Number of mounting holes.
In English - PCD (PITCH CIRCLE DIAMETER). In Russian - “razboltovka”.
The number of mounting bolts can vary from four to six on average. Minimum 3. This is important and must be strictly followed.
Shape of holes for fastening disks.
The bolts of stamped discs have a light conical shape. Length is shorter than others. In cast ones, the conical shape is more pronounced; longer fasteners are needed here. Some designs use flat and hemispherical fasteners.
Humps.
There are protrusions on the outside of the disc that secure the tubeless tires. They are called humps. They are present on every disc. With the exception of discs for pneumatic chambers.
Interesting fact.
For more than 100 years, cars have been equipped with pneumatic tires that are inflated with atmospheric air. The internal pressure of the chamber ensures rigidity of the structure and ease of movement. Until the 80s of the last century, a rubber or rubber inner tube was located inside the tire. But, starting in the 2000s, tubeless tires replaced tube tires. Today, almost all cars, especially new ones, are equipped with tubeless tires.