Choosing The Right Style Of Alloy Wheels For Your Car
There are two main reasons that anybody would want to buy a set
of alloy wheels for their car. First of all, they are lighter
than the ordinary steel wheels that are found on most vehicles,
meaning that the unsprung weight (Unsprung weight is a term used
to describe that part of a vehicle's mass that is directly
connected to the wheels, and not isolated through the
suspension.) of the car is reduced, increasing performance and
handling.
However, by far and away the main reason that most people decide
to purchase a set of alloy wheels, is because they look good!
When choosing a set of alloy wheels, to a certain extent, the
decision is determined by the make and model of your vehicle,
although in today's market, manufacturers of alloy wheels
generally make all of their leading designs available in most
rim sizes and stud patterns.
Probably the hardest decision faced by anyone looking to buy a
set of alloy wheels, is the choice of style. There are literally
thousands of different designs available to suit all tastes.
What follows is by no means a strict guide to the style that you
should, or should not buy for your particular type of vehicle.
All tastes are different and beauty is in the eye of the
beholder. They are, however, popular suggestions as to what
might be best for any particular type of vehicle, based on many
years of professional experience in the alloy wheel retail
market.
Three spoke alloy wheels - These were very popular when
they were first released. Owners of all types of vehicle flocked
to purchase a set of these purely based on the novelty factor
that they offered at the time. Today however, three spoke wheels
have gone out of fashion and very few people choose this type of
wheel.
Five and six spoke alloy wheels - These are probably the
most common style of alloy wheels currently available. They are
very versatile and tend to suit almost any type of vehicle.
Although it is generally accepted that you should choose wider
spokes for the larger vehicles as the slim spoked wheels can
look out of place, as the three spoke wheels might. For your
standard family vehicle it would probably be best to stick to
something smooth and simple, you don't want the car to be
dominated by a set of outlandish alloys.
Twin and multi-spoke alloy wheels - If you are purchasing
a set of alloy wheels for a prestige or sports car, sometimes a
simple, smooth five or six spoke wheel just doesn't do it
justice and can look a little understated. In these situations
it might be worth considering a more stylish twin or multi-spoke
wheel that will better suit the overall look and feel of the
vehicle.
Other style factors - There are other style factors to
consider. Some alloy wheels have an open centre with exposed
bolts, these tend to also be multi-spoke wheels and have a very
'rally car' type feel to them. Also you should bear in mind that
when you buy wheels that have fewer and thinner spokes, your
brake pads will be much more visible, this is fine if your
brakes are relatively new and in good condition, in some
instances being able to see a set of high quality, performance
brakes can actually improve the appearance and appeal of a
vehicle.
Just remember, there are no rules as to what style of alloy
wheel you should purchase for your car. These are just
suggestions, you may find them helpful in making a decision on
what style you want to go for, and I hope you do.