Rim and Tire Pacakages

Alloy wheels, also known as rims are automobile wheels which are made from an alloy of aluminum or magnesium (or sometimes a mixture of both).

Lighter wheels can improve handling by reducing unsprung mass, allowing suspension to follow the terrain more closely and thus improve grip, however not all alloy wheels are lighter than their steel equivalents. Reduction in overall vehicle mass can also help to reduce fuel consumption.

Better heat conduction can help dissipate heat from the brakes, which improves braking performance in more demanding driving conditions and reduces the chance of brake failure due to overheating.

Alloy wheels are also purchased for cosmetic purposes although the alloys used are not corrosion-resistant. Alloys allow the use of attractive bare-metal finishes, but these require to be sealed with paint or wheel covers. Even if so protected the wheels in use will eventually start to corrode after 3 to 5 years but refurbishment is now widely available at a cost. The manufacturing processes also allow intricate, bold designs. In contrast, steel wheels are usually pressed from sheet metal and then welded together (often leaving unsightly bumps) and must be painted to avoid corrosion and/or hidden with wheel covers/ hub caps.

Alloy wheels are more expensive to produce than standard steel wheels, and thus are often not included as standard equipment, instead being marketed as optional add-ons or as part of a more expensive trim package. However, alloy wheels have become considerably more common since 2000, now being offered on economy and subcompact cars, compared to a decade earlier where alloy wheels were often not factory options on inexpensive vehicles. Alloy wheels have long been included as standard equipment on higher-priced luxury or sports cars, with larger-sized or "exclusive" alloy wheels being options.

Most alloy wheels are manufactured using casting but some are forged. Forged wheels are usually lighter, stronger, but much more expensive than cast wheels.

Aftermarket wheels

A sizable selection of alloy wheels (sometimes called "mags"—see below) are available to automobile owners who want lighter, more visually appealing, rarer, and/or larger wheels on their cars. Many people may think that large wheels automatically result in increased performance, handling and suspension. The allure of larger wheels is that they signify luxury, sportiness, or wealth.

Magnesium alloy wheels, or "mag wheels", are sometimes used on racing cars, in place of heavier steel or aluminum wheels, for better performance. The wheels are produced by one-step hot forging from a magnesium alloy.

They have the disadvantages of being expensive and not practical for most road vehicles. Aluminum wheels are often mistakenly called "mag wheels".

The Wheel

The wheel is everywhere on all our cars, trains, planes, machines, wagons, and most factory and farm equipment. What could we move without wheels? But as important as the wheel is as an invention, we don't know who exactly made the first wheel.

The oldest wheel found in archeological excavations was discovered in what was Mesopotamia and is believed to be over fifty-five hundred years old.

Development of a Functional Wheel

The following steps and developments took place to invent a functioning wheel, more or less in this order:

This is Heavy

Humans realized that heavy objects could be moved easier if something round, for example a fallen tree log, was placed under it and the object rolled over it.

The Sledge

Humans also realized a way to move heavy objects, with an invention archeologists call the sledge. Logs or sticks were placed under an object and used to drag the heavy object, like a sled and a wedge put together.

Log Roller

Humans thought to use the round logs and a sledge together.

Humans used several logs or rollers in a row, dragging the sledge over one roller to the next.

Inventing a Primitive Axle

With time the sledges started to wear grooves into the rollers and humans noticed that the grooved rollers actually worked better, carrying the object further. This was simple physics, if the grooves had a smaller circumference than the unworn parts of the roller, then dragging the sledge in the grooves required less energy to create a turning motion but created a greater distance covered when the larger part of the log roller turned.

The log roller was becoming a wheel, humans cut away the wood between the two inner grooves to create what is called an axle.

First Carts

Wooden pegs were used to fix the sledge, so that when it rested on the rollers it did not move, but allowed the axle to turn in-between the pegs, the axle and wheels now created all the movement. These were the first carts.

Improvements to the cart were made. The pegs were replaced with holes carved into the cart frame, the axle was placed through the hole. This made it necessary for the larger wheels and thinner axle to be separate pieces. The wheels were attached to both sides of the axle.

Fixed Axles Make a Functional & Successful Wheel

Next, the fixed axle was invented, where the axle does not turn but is solidly connected to the cart frame. Only the wheels did the revolving by being fitted onto the axle in a way that allowed the wheels to rotate. Fixed axles made for stable carts that could turn corners better. By this time the wheel can be considered a complete invention.

The rest is history...

Buy Wheels and Tires

Wheels are typically referred to as the "rim" and are made of steel or alloy, but can be made of aluminum also. The tire is the actual rubber that fits over the end of the wheel. While the wheels normally don't have to be replaced, tires wear out typically over 50,000 miles, depending on the tire you buy. If your wheels are damaged, however, you may want to consider buying wheels and tires as a set. Fortunately, every tire has special letters and numbers on them that indicate exactly what you're getting so you can determine what you need.

All you need to do is decipher those numbers and letters.Check the width of the tire your vehicle needs. A tire rating marked on every tire will show you the current size wheel and tire that are on your vehicle. The rating will be marked on the sidewall and will be in this format: "xxx/xx/Rxx." The first set of numbers refer to the contact patch, or width of the tire in millimeters. For example, a tire size of "205/55/R15" indicates a contact patch or tire width of 205 millimeters.

1. • 
     
     Check the profile of the tires that fit your vehicle. The middle number indicates the tire's aspect ratio. So, in this example, "205/55/R15," the "55" means 55 percent of the tire's width determined in step 1. This means that the height of the tire from the rim to the tread is 55 percent of the width of the tire.
     Determine the wheel diameter and construction you need for your vehicle. In our example "205/55/R15," the "R" indicates that the construction is a radial wheel (the most common type) and the "15" indicates that the diameter of the wheel you would need is 15 inches.
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     Check the speed rating of the tire. There are no tires manufactured today that will blow out at 55 miles per hour (thankfully). However, there are tires that will blow out at 75 mph. These lower speed rated tires are made for off-road and light-duty trucks. For most production vehicles, however, you'll want to match the speed rating of the tire to the top speed of your vehicle, or at least to the maximum speed you'll ever drive in the vehicle. The speed rating is designated in letters: Q: up to 100 mph; R: up to 106 mph; S: up to 112 mph; T: up to 118 mph; U: up to 124 mph; H: up to 130 mph; V: up to 149 mph; W: up to 168 mph; Y: up to 186 mph.
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     Check for tire tread wear life. The easiest way to check for tread wear life is to simply ask a tire shop what the tread wear life is on the tire. Most tire shops can tell you what the advertised tread life is for a tire. The higher the tread life, the harder the tire compound, and the longer the tire will last before it needs to be replaced. For example, a tire rated for 75,000 miles will have a harder tire compound than a tire rated for 50,000 miles. Consequently, the 75,000 mile tire will also produce less friction on the road contributing to better gas fuel economy. The downside to the higher tread life is the decrease in friction. Although friction reduces fuel economy, it improves handling and the "stickiness" of the tire. The more your tire "grabs" the road, the less chance you have of sliding or skidding during hard cornering or in less than ideal driving conditions. You'll want to make a decision about which is more important to you: improved handling or higher fuel economy.
   • Take your tire specifications to a trusted tire shop to purchase the tires and have the shop mount and balance the wheels and tires onto your vehicle.

Custom Rims, High Performance Tires

Many of us involved with the restoration of a sports car, the question will eventually be raised as to whether to dress up the car with a set of wire wheels. We have faced this several times and always had to carefully weigh the positives and negatives.

Originally wire wheels replaced the wooden spokes on bicycle and car wheels. They replaced them because they were lighter, stronger, and aesthetically much more pleasing. Then in turn, wire wheels on cars got replaced by solid wheels made of steel, aluminum or magnesium alloys. Today we see another trend where the new wheels are multi-spoked, but not any longer of wire and now consisting of anywhere up to 20 solid cast spokes.

So where does this leave us on the choice of wire or solid wheels for classic cars? Firmly straddling the fence! However the following are some considerations you may want to investigate:

• Was your car originally produced with wire wheels? Were wire wheels an option on the range of the cars?
• Do wire wheels look good on your car? Do they dress up the look and make the car float as it proceeds down the road?
• Are there hub adapters available for your car so that wire wheels can be easily mounted?
• Are you prepared to regularly check the spokes for stability and tightness? Safety is a concern if spokes are damaged or improperly adjusted.
• Will you be prepared to regularly clean the spokes and wheels so that the appearance benefits your car? This is a time consuming and meticulous job that is not for everyone.
• Painted wire wheels were popular on some models, and are somewhat easier to maintain than chrome. Which one would suit your taste better? Which one would be correct for the model?
• Cost is usually a factor. A set of 5 chrome wire wheels will often cost thousands of dollars when new from the specialty suppliers. Second hand sets of wheels in good condition are relatively rare, but not impossible to find.

Rims and tires are all about style and identity. Style to me your car look good, giving your identity a voice on the road. Let's be honest. A new car sometimes comes with good looking wheels from the factory but for the most part, a car without custom aftermarket wheels just doesn't look finished. Putting on a set of aftermarket wheels will tell people you know your car and you know style. Its just like a pair of shoes, or a new pair of pants. Whether we like it or not, your style says alot about who you are. That goes for your car too. If we want to make a statement about who we are, one way to do it is through your car. Afterall, some of us spend half our day in our cars! Look good while you're doing it.