In the aftermarket and custom wheel markets around the world, the primary focus is most often than not placed just on the looks. From daring shades of red and yellow to two-tone colors to match the exact shade of a vehicle, these are inevitably the first things that most people look at, especially when they are out purchasing rims for sale. It is hardly surprising that, barring a few very well-aware users, most of the newcomers in the market do not know of the other details which make their rims and wheels special.
Make no mistake: your vehicle’s rims are unique in many ways. More than you can possibly analyze. It does not matter whether you are buying Fuel or DUB Wheels. The wheels in the aftermarket segment have several characteristics which you must be aware of.
Here are a few interesting facts on your favorite Rotiform Wheels and so on!
Wheels 101
Material used in construction
There is some lingering doubt when it comes to the materials wheel manufacturers use in their products. Read on as we describe the top picks.
- Aluminum is used most widely in the alloy wheels industry. Aluminum as a metal has several characters that make it both malleable and ductile. These wheels will therefore be a lot lighter and will save considerable amounts of fuel on each trip.
- Steel wheels are not as popular as aluminum ones, but steel rims for sale are by far some of the most durable and capable models available. Stainless steel wheels are generally offered in 17-inch diameters and are much cheaper when compared to other materials. However, steel makes wheels rather heavy for obvious reasons. If you are looking for steel DUB Wheels, there will be several options available; still, you must check out the aluminum models you have first!
- Spinners are another type of wheel used in the aftermarket segment. They were at the peak of success in the 1980s and a few years on. They were mostly made out of lighter alloys and were designed with style in mind. Gradually, they have fallen across the wayside. Spinners are very uncommon nowadays.
- Magnesium rims, also simply called Mags, are some of the fastest-selling rims available. Rotiform Wheels, for example, has a rather broad range of Mags. These rims are noted for their durable nature and resistance to rust, something they have in common with chrome wheels. However, Mags are not nearly as solid as aluminum rims.
The bottomline? If you see aluminum rims for sale from any of the several large manufacturers, go for them without thinking too much. They will last you a long time if you take good care of them.
How are these wheels manufactured?
The manufacturing processes have been carefully upgraded over the last few decades. Custom rims are made in 3 separate ways.
- Casting: Cast wheels are the oldest because the process has been around for ages. Molten metal is poured into pre-fabricated molds that are shaped like wheels and come in a wide array of diameters. These rims for sale are often the most lightweight and easy to purchase because the process is rather simple. The drawback is that cast wheels are notoriously difficult to repair.
Given how expensive some aftermarket rims are, using-and-discarding is simply not the way out!
- Forging: Forged rims for sale are more expensive than other options. In this process, the metal used is forced to take the shape of a rim under high pressure and passed between ‘forging dies.’ Forging makes rims very tough and durable, but keeps their weight down. A win-win situation. But the price tag can be a bummer on occasion!
- Flow-forming: Flow-formed Rotiform Wheels and other brands are currently the rage in custom wheel circles. It is nothing but a casting process albeit done at very low pressures. A spinning machine forms the outer parts of the rims at a later stage. This machine has both high temperature and pressure, ensuring that the products come with greater strength and agility.
These processes are slightly different at each factory depending on the type of wheel being manufactured. In the USA, flow-formed rims are the rage at the moment.
To conclude
If you are a bit uncertain about which rims for sale are the ones you should choose, don’t be!
Aluminum wheels have what it takes to navigate and overcome all surfaces, no matter how terrible. However, if your sojourns take you over extremely snowed-out or hazardous roads, perhaps steel DUB Wheels are also worth a look.