What Are Alloy Wheels?
Alloy wheels are wheels made from a mixture of aluminium and other metals, such as magnesium or nickel. The combination of metals makes alloy wheels lighter and stronger than traditional steel wheels, offering numerous performance and aesthetic advantages.
Advantages of Alloy Wheels
1. Lightweight Construction: Alloy wheels are significantly lighter than steel wheels and have a lower rotational mass. This reduces unsprung weight and improves vehicle handling, acceleration, and fuel efficiency.
2. Aesthetic Appeal: Alloy wheels are available in a wide range of designs, finishes, sizes, and PCD fitments allowing for customisation and personalisation to match the style of your vehicle.
3. Heat Dissipation: Alloy wheels dissipate heat more effectively than steel wheels, reducing the risk of brake fade and improving braking performance, especially during high-speed driving or heavy braking.
4. Corrosion Resistance: Aluminum alloys used in alloy wheels are highly resistant to corrosion, making them ideal for use in areas with harsh weather conditions or road salt.
Types of Alloy Wheels
1. Cast Alloy Wheels: Made by pouring molten aluminium alloy into a mould, making them the most common type of alloy wheel. They are relatively affordable and available in a wide range of designs and finishes.
2. Forged Alloy Wheels: Made by compressing a solid block of aluminium alloy under high pressure to form the wheel shape. This process results in a wheel that is stronger, lighter, and more durable than cast alloy wheels but also more expensive.
3. Flow Formed Alloy Wheels: Made using a combination of casting and rolling techniques. This process results in a wheel that is stronger and lighter than cast alloy wheels but more affordable than forged alloy wheels.
Why Buy Alloy Wheels from Driftworks?
Since 2004 we’ve helped tens of thousands of customers find awesome alloy wheels from Japan Racing, Bola, Rota, and lightweight custom alloy wheels from Work Wheels Japan, and SSR. Our friendly team of wheel specialists has years of experience to help guide you toward the perfect alloy wheels for your car. We pride ourselves on being one of the best in the business, and we’re confident we’ll provide you with exactly what you need every time whether you have a road car, track weapon, off-road rig or SUV. No matter what your wheel knowledge and budget are, we can offer you a range of aftermarket alloy wheels that will fit the bill all while giving you the very best technical support.
What Wheels Are Right For My Car?
So you know what wheel style you want but have no idea what wheel diameter, width or PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter) is right for your car. Don't worry, you can speak to our in-house team of alloy wheel experts to help you reach the holy grail of wheel fitment. Alternatively, check out willtheyfit.com, where you can compare new and existing wheel specs to make sure they work with popular car modifications such as big brake kits, coilovers or uprated tyres. However, when choosing alloy wheels you still have several options available to you depending on how far you want to go. A bolt-on fitment means exactly that, you can grab a set of alloy wheels and bolt them straight onto your car without any issues. But if you're after something a little more special then some work will be required to either roll or cut the arches, so you can fit much bigger, wider alloy wheels that not only look better but also give you improved grip.
Is Fitting Aftermarket Alloy Wheels Simple?
Installation is in many ways similar to fitting standard OEM wheels with a few exceptions. Some aftermarket wheels can have smaller bolt holes over standard OEM offerings, so you’ll need to use wheel tuner nuts or bolts to overcome this issue. If the size of your new alloy wheels is bigger than what you took off, it’s recommended to test the fit without tyres to ensure you have enough clearance for brake setups, suspension components and of course, your arches so don’t cause damage to your car or even worse a road accident. At Driftworks safety is paramount, and we stock a huge range of alloy wheel accessories from bolts to tyres that will help you put together a killer combo that not only looks awesome but performs perfectly too.