Wheeled Road

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Why Buy Alloy Wheels?

Alloy wheels are considered by many to be a purely aesthetic accessory that is only bought to change the appearance of the car. What you may not realize, is that there are a number of technical reasons why you might want to fit alloy wheels to your vehicle.

Most new vehicles come fitted with steel wheels as standard because they are cheaper, although many manufacturers are recognizing the demand for alloy wheels and fit new cars with them, or at least offer them as an optional upgrade.

'Unsprung Weight'

First among the positives for alloy wheels, is that they reduce the 'unsprung weight' of the wheels. The 'unsprung weight' is the weight of everything connected to the wheel and includes the wheel itself, the tyre, the brakes (if they are fitted within the wheel), spindles, bearings and even a portion of the weight of the half shafts, springs and suspension links.

It is important that the 'unsprung weight' is as low as possible to maintain the optimum contact with the road surface. If it is too high, the suspension will be slow to react, due to the inertia built up by the weight of the wheel. By reducing the 'unsprung weight', the suspension can react to imperfections in the road surface more quickly, maintaining better traction.

Other Weight Issues

One thing to remember is that the wheel is a moving part and builds up inertia, so its weight has more importance than that of a stationary part, like the axle. The heavier it is, the more energy it will require to get it up to speed and to slow it down. By fitting alloy wheels you will reduce the amount of energy required to do this.

On top of this, the overall weight of the vehicle will be reduced which, combined with the above, will have favorable repercussions for the performance of such things as acceleration, fuel consumption and braking.

Brake Performance

As mentioned above, the reduced weight of the vehicle and the wheel itself will help with the performance of the brakes. But it is not just the weight that will help the brakes.

Alloy wheels are able to dissipate heat built up by the brakes more quickly than their steel counterparts. This is due to both the material they are made from and because of their additional 'slots' allowing more air to flow over a greater surface area.

This better brake performance will reduce the risk of brake failure and increase their life expectancy.

Tyre Options

By choosing to fit alloy wheels to your car you will open up the possibilities for fitting wider tyres and tyres with a lower profile.

There are a few benefits to using these types of tyres. They will improve the steering 'feel', steering will also be more responsive and there will be less camber distortion while cornering, they have a lower rolling resistance which will help acceleration and fuel consumption, there will be improved side wall stability under braking and they will allow for the fitting of larger brakes.

Cons

There are some down sides that you may want to consider when looking at purchasing alloy wheels.

• They need to be washed on a regular basis in order to maintain the finish.
• You need to be careful which products you use when cleaning them as some chemicals will damage the finish rather than maintain it.
• You need to take more care when parking at the side of the road. You don't want to spend money on a set of beautiful alloy wheels then scratch them up by hitting the curb. Plus you may invalidate the manufacturer's warranty by doing this.
• You may find that the ride comfort is reduced, particularly if you are running lower profile tyres.

Conclusion

All in all there are many positive technical reasons why you might like to invest in a set of alloy wheels. They may require an initial outlay of money, but depending on how much you spend, you could find that they even save you money in the long run, what with the better fuel consumption and increased brake life expectancy.

But let's face facts. If you're considering purchasing a set of alloy wheels, it's most likely because you want your car to look cool and you want to show off to your mates. All this information provides you with is a way to justify spending the money to your girlfriend, wife or even yourself!
About the Author

Adrian Ripp runs R-Tec, a company that sells after-market modification parts and customises cars at a supermarket-sized specialist garage in St Albans. R-Tec also have an online store at http://www.rtecshop.com that sells a wide range of accessories including alloy wheels, car tyres, suspension kits and much more.

What wheel is best for a touring bike used as a road bike?

I ride a Jamis Aurora. The spokes on the back wheel keep breaking and I am purchasing a new wheel later today. Should I get a regular/cheap touring wheel? What kinds of things should I look for in a new wheel?

If you are commuting on the bike than you might want a heavily built rear wheel. A minimum of 32 spokes should work but 36 might work better. A lot depends on the quality of the spokes and rim. A wider, lower pressure tire will also help soak up jolts and save the wheel.

Many mid-low level bikes come with poor quality spokes which will elongate. It's a good idea to check your wheels every other week or sooner if you run over a lot of rough pavement or hit a hole hard. Spin the wheel while it's on the bike and check to make sure it is true and round. If you see a wobble, best to get the wheel serviced ASAP.

Spokes brake because they become loose and then fatigue at the bend where the spoke goes through the hole drilled in the hub. If the wheel is out of round or true from normal use(assuming you did not run into something) the spoke tension is uneven and must be balanced out.

Aging bikers taking to the streets on beefy trikes
LOS ANGELES—Arthur McCoy didn’t let the amputation of a leg because of cancer stop him from riding motorcycles. The solution to his disability came in the form of a third wheel. He’s among a growing group of aging motorcyclists taking up trikes: three-wheeled motorcycles that provide the stability and nearly all the comforts of a car while still allowing riders to feel the wind in their face.

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