There is a common question that often concerns car owners and would-be car owners alike. This question has often been how important is a wheel to a car? The other closely related question is which is more important, the wheel or the tire? Or which of the two should have more style. Well, the answers to these questions could be correlated or not, it all depends on what exactly you would like to get from these two important car accessories.
First things first, a wheel is the metal part around which a tire is wrapped. In other words, there can never be a car tire without a wheel. Ironically, however, it is the term pneumatic that is commonly used to describe the combination of the two.
Tires serve to reduce the transmission of road impacts by providing a cushion between the vehicle and the road. The contoured surface of the tire also provides the necessary friction for vehicle movement. Rubber is the most common material used during tire manufacturing, although a combination of other materials can work just as well. For the avoidance of doubt, though, let’s try to focus a bit on the wheel as a rim component, and while we’re at it, we can keep the rim in the rear view mirror, just to remind ourselves how the two complement each other. Here are some of the necessary features of a wheel:
i. Generally, a wheel must be strong enough to provide adequate support for the vehicle. All forces associated with the operation of the vehicle are supported by the wheel.
ii. On the other hand, a wheel must be light. It sounds mechanically unbalanced, but this is where the issue of the metal used comes in. it’s about keeping unsprung weight to a minimum.
Aluminum is known to excellently combine strength and light weight to achieve the desired support for the vehicle. In addition, aluminum is also a better conductor of heat and by easily dissipating heat from tires and brakes, it is considered a better material for making wheels compared to steel. This is especially the case for aluminum alloy wheels.
iii. Another important aspect of a wheel is the ventilation holes. The flange (middle section) of the wheel is usually lined with holes for ventilation. This is important for air circulation to the brakes.
IV. Drop Center Design – This is an optional design for wheels, but is usually required for passenger car wheels. The design makes it easy to mount and remove the wheel when the need arises. However, it is important to note that tire mounting and demounting should always be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s manual.
It is important for a driver to understand these important features in order to make an informed decision when buying a car.