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Alloy rims are also better conductors of heat than steel rims. This means that the heat generated by the tyres and brakes is passed into the rims. The alloy dissipates heat faster. This increases tyre life and reduces brake failure. The alloy rim is shiny and has fancy designs. The most important point is the spokes. These are widely spaced. The designs dissipate heat faster — possibly the greatest advantage of alloy rims, other than good looks. Unlike steel rims, they don’t need to be painted, or have metal or plastic wheels caps, which rattle, squeak, or simply crack, and fall off. It is only recently that alloy wheels have become standard equipment for cars. However, being expensive they are available on only the top-end models. The lower-end models of the same car will have steel rims. You will have to spend your own money to give the car a facelift. This is due to the fact the alloy wheels are more expensive and add to the high-end price of the car. Alloy rims are stronger than steel rims. This is the reason that rally cars of Formula One prefer to use alloy rims. Aircraft also use alloy rims for their strength and might. Another advantage of alloy rims is that balancing them is easy. In the case of steel rims, the weights are attached to the edge of the rim on the outside. The disadvantage of this is that if, for some reason, the tyre has to be removed — to fix a puncture — the balancing weight will shift. This is necessitates rebalancing of the wheel. In the case of alloy rims, the weight is on the inside of the rim. This will not be moved by the tyre-removing machine. It is possible that the weight is affixed closer to the hub, where it stays secure in case the wheel scraps a kerb of hits a boulder. So, all you need is a good set of alloy rims, a good set of tubeless tyres inflated with nitrogen, and you won’t need to worry for the next six months. As is to be expected, there is a downside to alloy rims. They are prone to galvanic corrosion, which means they produce an electric current by chemical reaction. This can cause air leak. In the case of magnesium alloy rims, they can catch fire, which is why the trend is to shift away from magnesium. Aluminium is the preferred substitute. It is higher, stronger, rust resistant and fireproof. They last longer. Another downside. If damaged, they are more difficult and expensive to repair. Even so, repairs will be cheaper than the cost of a replacement. In that case you may compromise the safety and performance of the wheel, which could upset the balance of the car. Not something to look forward to it you drive a high-performance car. Yet another problem. They are expensive and shiny. That’s the reason they attract thieves. Some rims come with special wheel nuts. They require special spanners to remove the nuts. But a dedicated thief will surely have some of those to help him in his evil designs. To out-fox the miscreant, a nut with a lock is available. One of the nuts has a built-in lock. It might be just the thing to save your expensive wheels. Happy motoring.
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Nothing
can spruce up the looks of a car like a set of alloy rims. An ordinary
looking car can suddenly make a statement on the road if it gets snazzy
alloy wheels. Allow rims are lighter than steel rims, make the steering
column higher and improve the speed as well. The lightweight means that
even if you don’t have a power steering, manoeuvring the vehicle is
not that tough.