There are numerous benefits to fitting alloy wheels to your car. For a start they are cast from aluminium which means they are light-weight, and more attractive than regular wheels. They are great at dissipating brake heat and small amounts of more rigid metals the presence of which helps prevent cracks propagating. They are also available in standardised sizes, to fit almost every car.

One of the best advantages of the wheels in performance terms, is the reduction in your cars unsprung weight, meaning a reduction in rotating mass at the ends of your suspension components. This means improved steering and greater breaking response.

For those who have not yet purchased those shiny new rims, these definitions might go some way to clarifying the elaborate specifications you will see when you're out shopping. When in doubt, there are plenty of alloy dealers willing to lend their expertise, and ensure you get a wheel that suits both you and your car.

Offset - The offset is usually engraved on the wheel, and means the distance between the wheel