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Custom Wheel Facts — The Basics
Q. What are
the different methods of making wheels?
A.
In today's marketplace, two wheel materials are most common, steel and
aluminum. Steel wheels are made in two pieces: the inner piece (called
the center) that bolts on to the car, and the barrel (or outer) which
receives the tire. The two pieces are welded together to form the wheel.
Most original equipment wheels are made this way, and so are many after
market wheels—especially for trucks. Steel is durable, easy to repair
and still popular for these reasons.
The other material, aluminum, is by far the most popular type of wheel
we sell. Its light weight, superior heat dissipation and seemingly
endless design variations make it the material of choice for most
buyers. Aluminum wheels can be manufactured in many ways, and each
method offers advantages.
- One-piece cast wheels.
A cast wheel is made by pouring molten aluminum into a mold; the
metal then takes the mold's shape as it cools and hardens. There are
three types of casting methods, low pressure/gravity, counter
pressure, and high counter pressure molding (HCM); each method has
its place in today's market. A wheel manufacturer will select a
particular method according to the weight, strength and finish that
they have specified for that design. Naturally, the more
sophisticated and costly methods produce lighter and stronger wheels
but at a higher price.
- Forged / Billet wheels.
The two words "forged" and "billet" have become
synonymous, but in fact the manufacturing process is called forging
and the material used is an aluminum billet -- a solid piece of
dense aluminum. The forge, a huge machine that exerts thousands of
pounds of pressure on the metal, basically presses or rolls the
billet into its fundamental form. This forging is then machined to
final finish. This process allows wheels to be built with much less
material, allowing for lighter weight and unique designs, because
the process creates a much stronger wheel than other methods.
- Multi-piece wheels.
The processes mentioned above can be combined to produce a wheel of
a particular strength and weight at a particular price. For example,
some wheels have a cast aluminum center, welded to a steel outer.
Another type of two-piece construction features a billet center
welded to a rolled outer (extruded aluminum rolled into a hoop).
Still other wheels feature a split outer so that widths and offsets
can be made to custom specifications. This last method is the
three-piece type construction. In this type of wheel, the center
which can be cast, billet or forged, is usually attached to the
outer assembly by special screws or rivets.
Q. What
does fitment mean?
A.
This term is used to refer to the physical specifications of the wheel
and the availability of the sizes that will fit a vehicle. So, the
fitment specifications for a particular wheel and vehicle include the
bolt pattern, the offset, the wheel width and the wheel diameter.
Q. What
does FWD and RWD mean?
A.
Most wheel catalogs use these acronyms, FWD for Front Wheel Drive and
RWD for Rear Wheel Drive, to sort out the wheels available for these two
different types of vehicles. The great majority of the time, a FWD wheel
will not fit a RWD vehicle and visa versa.
Q. What
features should I look for when buying wheels?
A.
First and foremost, wheels are purchased for styling the vehicle. You've
got to like how they look! Second, decide on the build method and
quality. The discussion of manufacturing methods above was intended to
inform you of the different ways wheels are made. Choose the
manufacturing method you want at the price you are happy with. Finish
quality is important; demand a nicely finished wheel. Finally, decide on
the price. We realize there are many tradeoffs between the various
features and price and that's why we carry a wide selection of wheels to
choose from.
Q. What
does finish mean?
A.
Finish refers to the type of surface treatment a wheel is given.
Machined or polished finishes are popular on aluminum wheels. "
Machined" is what the wheel looks like after the last shaping
procedure (usually a lathe cut) has been completed. An additional step
involves passing the wheel through successively finer automated and hand
polishing processes. This, of course, results in the polished finish. A
chrome finish is also available on aluminum wheels, but requires three
additional layers of metal treatment (copper, nickel and chrome) to be
achieved. Chrome finishing can significantly increase the price of the
aluminum wheel. That's where steel wheels have an advantage; chrome goes
on in one simple, inexpensive step. Finally, paint goes on everything
and can be applied in single or multiple color schemes. Often the powder
coating process is used to apply paint, resulting in a heavy, durable
finish. In today's market, wheel manufacturers combine finish methods in
different ways. For example, the popular tuner type designs often
feature a silver center and a machined or polished lip. The last step in
many styles is to seal the wheel with a clear coat of plastic, making
the wheel much easier to maintain.
Q. What
are the pros and cons regarding spacers and adapters?
A. In most cases, using a spacer (of greater than 3mm thickness) or
an adapter means you will be using a wheel that was not designed to fit
your vehicle! Unless you get the advice of a professional, this is
trouble— trouble that almost always leads to excessive wear on
suspension parts, poor ride and potential mechanical failure. In the
vast majority of applications, we do not recommend the use of these
devices.
Q. What
are hub-centric rings; do I need them?
A.
Most aftermarket wheels are manufactured with a center hole that will
fit a wide range of vehicles. The hub-centric ring is used to fill any
gap that may exist between this hole and the vehicle's hub, thus
centering the wheel on the axle. If you have vibrations after installing
new wheels, chances are hub-centric rings were not used.
Q.
What's the best way to clean my wheels?
A. Probably
the single biggest mistake when cleaning wheels is to use super
cleaners, which can contain harsh abrasives. Mild soap and warm water is
sufficient for routine cleaning. After cleaning chrome-plated wheels,
you can apply a non-abrasive wax or cream to prevent surface corrosion.
If you have clear coated wheels, skip this step. Don't let tire cleaners
come into contact with your wheels; and try not to spray cold water on
hot wheels. If you go to the car wash, don't let them use steam cleaners
or strong chemicals on your wheels. To brighten up your polished wheels
(no clear coat) use a polishing cleaner provided by the manufacturer;
this requires some real work. To sustain this great look, apply some wax
to keep the weather out.
Q.
What's the best way to install and remove my new wheels?
A. That's
a job that's best left to your tire dealer. A combination of special
tools and methods are used to install wheels so they deliver the
performance you paid for. Initial mounting of the assembly on the
vehicle requires positioning and starting the lugs by hand. Next the
lugs can be pre-tightened using a hand wrench or torque stick (a tool
that ensures a lug is not over tightened). The final torque setting is
applied using a calibrated torque wrench. Sounds complicated, but a
trained technician (like those at Hogan Tire) gets this done quickly.
Q. I
just hit something in the road; how do I find out if my wheel is ok?
A. If
you have a vibration or pulling symptom, chances are you may have
damaged the wheel. Again, go to a tire dealer and let him inspect your
wheels. He will place each assembly on the balancing machine and check
for run-out (a hop or wobble). If you have a damaged wheel, get the unit
repaired or replaced immediately and avoid further problems.
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