Alloy wheels are very popular as they make the car look more beautiful and stylish. Market is full with different types of brands of alloy wheels. Different brand and varieties of alloy wheels have different prices, sine being low and others being high. Of these brands some of them offer warranty while some don’t, it is always safe to go with the one having warranty, though such type have limited designs and are costly. Some of the brands provide variety but no warranty. Some of the designs are stylish but fragile and may break away any time, avoid these because if any one breaks it will be very difficult for you to find the same of the set.
While selecting the alloy wheels care should be taken that it should match requirement of the original wheels. This includes Pitch Circle Diameter, wheel width and offset of the wheel. Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD) is the distance between the holes of the lug nuts. While wheel width is the width of the rim and offset is the distance between the outer edge and the hub of the wheel. These are important points that should be carefully kept in mind while buying for alloy wheel.
You can also get all above information from your car owner’s manual. Purchasing the alloy wheel as per the specifications given in the owner’s manual will make the things very easier for you and going against it will make the things nightmarish. Even a little difference in the value between original and new wheel would cause problems for you car’s suspension and tyres.
Another option is of upsizing; in this you can increase the width of the tyre and also the diameter of the rim. If all this is not done properly the speedometer of the car will show wrong reading, or there will be extra stress on the suspension components and can also clash with ABS in the extreme case.
Due to upsizing the height of sidewall is reduced, which can make tyre lose its ability to reduce the shocks transmitted from the road. In this matter you should go with the advice of your tyre dealer who will help you to choose right size and brand of tyres.
Different brands of tyre have different quality, for instance a tyre having good grip may not last long, but some others are known for long life having less grip. Tyres should be chosen on the basis of budget, life and grip, for this reputed company should be given preference. One should always try to get as much information as possible before purchasing the tyre for your car.
Magazine: What Car? "Alloy Wheels and Tyres." July 2008. Page No. 56