Alloy wheels: 9 questions on the topic
How and what made alloy wheels?
Even the name shows, such discs are made of light metals. Mainly, here are using different alloys based on aluminum or (less frequently) of magnesium. According to the method of manufacturing discs differ in the cast and forged. First manufactured by casting in a form, and the second - by the way of industrial hot forging (stamping).
What are their advantages over conventional steel?
First of all it's weight and design. For example, if 13-inch steel disk weighing 7-8 kg, the light alloy cast - about 6 kg, and forged - about 5 kg. Technically, reducing wheel weight means reduced unsprung mass units and forces of inertia.
With this lighter the wheel more quickly, "returns to the place" after the passage of the irregularities of the relief that gives the improvement in the vehicle suspension and handling. For turning the wheel with less weight (ceteris paribus) requires less effort on the steering wheel. Reduced inertia, respectively, increases the braking and accelerating dynamics.
No less plays the role of technical and aesthetic side of the issue. Alloy wheels are not an example of beautiful and elegant "steel. At the same time their very design allows you to create an infinite number of different forms - ranging from classic to most science fiction-crystal.
What are their shortcomings?
Alloy wheels, especially the wrought-iron, harder than steel, but their stuff, especially for cast wheels, is fragile. Upon impact, they do not wrinkle, and get the cracks and chips.
If the steel disk can almost always be "rolled" and straighten out, the majority of damage alloy wheels make it unfit for use. In this light-alloy wheels are always at least 2 times more expensive than steel. Cast disk can damage even in such innocuous situations, such as careless parking at the curb, hit a speed on the tram rails.
This applies particularly to low-profile tires, where drive is more vulnerable. Very insidious hidden cracks - disk can even split on the move: for example, when a random hit by pothole at speed.
Forged alloy wheels - the most durable and less cast suffer from cuts. But with the strong impact the strength of forged wheels wrapped the negative side. Unlike steel or cast, which, crushing, or collapsing, absorb the energy, forged disc does not dampen shock, and the whole force which is transmitted to the suspension elements. And it is always more expensive repairs.
Is it possible to repair alloy wheels?
In principle, it is possible, and such service exists in many "shinomontazhkah. Maintainable but not all disks. The main index here serves to maintain the overall strength of load-bearing parts of the disc, which is estimated in the studio.
And if the rigidity of the structure is broken, then repair disk is not refundable. An important criterion is the amount received damage: the size of chips and lost fragments, depth and character zamin (a forged wheels), the magnitude of the deviations of geometry.
In general, the maintainability of disks can be divided into three categories. The first - a disc with a small amount of damage: for example, with minor scratches and scuffed paint, that can be restored to guarantee their future security. Third - drives completely "dead", whose restoration is impossible.
The second group represents a cross: repair disk in principle possible, but fully guarantee the restoration of their quality and reliability no. Such disks can be repaired and used for "spare wheel", which quietly go to tire changing. It must be noted that the vast majority of damaged from being hit drives are just the second and third categories, and a full recovery - on rare occasions.
According to what parameters are selected alloy wheels?
In essence, the same as steel. The main parameters here is planting (mounting) diameter of the rim diameter central hole under the wheel hub, the diameter of the circle arrangement of mounting holes, their number and width of the disk rim and the flight - the distance between the mounting plane and the plane of longitudinal symmetry of the rim.
Alloy wheels can be chosen for any car?
On dimensionality - for every car and SUV. There is even a model for freight transport. But the design complexity often arise - like the model can not be incorporated in the desired size.
Can I put on a machine different drives?
On one axis must be the same wheels and tires with the same tread pattern. Exception - if the wheel is used as a "chute" to a low speed drive to the tire store. On different axes of different drives, like tires, you can bet. But will it be beautiful?
How to choose alloy wheels? Is not there some sort of "pitfalls"?
The main thing is not to chase the width. Too many pick up tires and wheels as much as possible, only to climb into the wheel arches. And then wonder strongly potyazhelevshemu wheel. The same effect will and choice of disks over the reduced emission (obtained as a hub would be "sunk" deep on the rim), thereby expanding track.
Wide tires and wider track will definitely give better exchange rate stability of the car, the best contact with the road. But their downside - the heavier the wheel, reducing the accelerating dynamics, the increase in fuel consumption.
Design alloy wheels not only affects the appearance of the car. Potential problems lie in the configuration and number of beams (supports) disc, which connect the center to the rim. Rays disc can accumulate road grime, which under normal, surface cleaning is not removed. Dirt causes unbalance of the wheel that is shown beating on the steering wheel and the deterioration of the controllability of the machine.
In this case, the difficulty of choice is that one can never 100% predict will drive to accumulate dirt or not. Most certain variant of this can serve as a model with a few smooth rays, no pockets on the back side.
Although often mnogospitsevye drives behave normally. Here, much depends on the calculation of aerodynamic disc, which makes the manufacturer. The only sure way to avoid the "mud" disbalansirovki disc - a thorough washing of wheels across the circle, especially on the inside.
And finally, you need only buy drives with a certificate. True, to get a piece of paper with printing for sellers, too, no problem. In this regard, it is wary of Asian goods. They are inexpensive and look good, but the quality of them, for the most part - is very low: obluplyaetsya paint quickly, and starts to corrode corroded wheels.
Drives themselves - too fragile and often prick any slack from hitting the curbs, or even by themselves. If you want to buy alloy wheels cheap, better pay attention to the products of Russian manufacturers. In many industries, we still do not know how, but here's metal processing has always been traditionally strong in our country.
Do the alloy wheels on the nature of the ride?
The main recommendation - to go so keep the wheels of strokes, especially for low-profile tires. Be careful to park near any bars, and the curb, try not to fly in at the speed of the wheel in the road potholes, slower pass protruding tram tracks. Say what you like, and alloy wheels like a good road ...
