Choosing wheels
Cast, forged, steel and replica wheels: how they are made, how they differ and which ones will suit you.
Serhii Maslov
16 articles
Everything you need to know about alloy wheels
There are three main types of alloy wheels (they differ in their properties and manufacturing technology):
- Cast alloy wheels
- Forged wheels
- Multi-piece wheels
In particular, when choosing alloy wheels, a motorist needs to understand what types there are, what the fundamental differences between the various types of wheel are, what tells a poor alloy wheel apart from a good one, and what to look out for when buying alloy wheels. You will find the answers to all these questions on this page.
We also recommend reading:
- Replica wheels: what are they, and can you buy them?
- Wheel offset: are deviations from the standard possible?
- Decoding the markings on a wheel
- How cast and forged wheels are made: video
- Tyre size calculator: work out all the wheel and tyre parameters online
- Alloy wheel repair: what can be done, and what are the pitfalls?
Cast alloy wheels are the most common today, so that is probably the place to start.
From the lead article
It is worth remembering that a car needs wheels not for looks, but first of all for safe driving, so paying tribute to fashion at the expense of quality and the car manufacturer’s requirements is, to put it mildly, irrational, and in some cases simply dangerous.
Subsections
Articles in this sectionIn reading order.
- How do you choose wheels?What criteria should you follow first when choosing alloy wheels for a car?introduction, 171 words
- The differences between expensive and cheap wheelsHow expensive alloy wheels differ from cheap ones: why quality depends on the alloy and the process, and how to choose wheels without overpaying.388 words
- Offset, width and diameter of a wheelWhy must a wheel’s width and diameter strictly match one of the tyre sizes specified by the car manufacturer?547 words
- How are alloy wheels madeHow alloy wheels are made: a video that clearly shows the manufacture of forged and cast wheels.81 words
- Quality marks on alloy wheels: what to look for besides the priceA wheel seller will gladly tell you about the spoke design, the colour and “forged strength” at a cast price. Who tested the wheel, and how, comes up far less often.1,163 words · new article
- Big wheels on a crossover: R19 for summer, R17 for winter?What a low profile really gives a crossover, what it costs on potholed roads, and how to choose a smaller winter wheel without getting the brake calipers or the pressure sensors wrong.1,222 words · new article