How do cast alloy wheels differ from steel ones?

The main differences between cast alloy wheels and steel ones are weight, price and looks - everyone knows that. A cast wheel is, on average, 30-40% lighter than a steel one, which has a significant effect on the car’s handling and reduces the load on the suspension. Cast wheels are also far more attractive and look better on a car, which is the main reason people buy them. But you have to pay for every pleasure, so, naturally, a cast wheel can cost several times more than its steel equivalent.

But there are a few more fundamental differences that emerge in use, and that every motorist who has decided to buy such wheels ought to know about.

The thing is, after casting, wheels go through a heat-treatment process, which gives them certain additional properties, in particular hardness and brittleness. That’s right - cast wheels are brittle: they do not bend under a heavy impact, they crack and shatter.

The whole article on how to choose cast alloy wheels correctly