At Top Gear we stock a wide range of Alloy Wheels for all makes and models of cars, we fit them and provide everything you need to maintain them - here are a few guidelines covering why you might want Alloy Wheels, how to care for them, some basic terms explained and our services outlined.

Benefits

There are numerous benefits to fitting alloy wheels to your car. For a start they are cast from aluminium with 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, and therefore available at very competitive prices here at Top Gear.

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.

Terms Explained

For someone who is not so familiar with the world of car-modifications, or is just starting out, there are a few terms that it might help to be familiar with. Here at Top Gear we can advise you one all of these matters and even fit your Alloy Wheels for you, so you don’t need to know these things inside out, but if you’re looking into learning all aspects of modifications then you can start here:

Offset - The offset is usually engraved on the wheel, and means the distance between the wheel’s centre-line and the hub mounting face at the back of the wheel. Wheels with their mounting face towards the front fact of the wheel are called Positive Offset wheels. Most front wheel drives are this kind. Wheels that have their mounting face level with the centreline of the wheel are called Zero Offset wheels. You can guess therefore, that wheels with their mounting face towards the rear of the wheel are called Negative Offset wheels.

PDC - This stands for Pitch Circle Diameter. It measures the diameter of the circle drawn through the centre of the bolt holes of your wheels. It is measures in millimetres and will often help you ascertain how many studs or bolts the wheel will have.

Centrebore - This is the size of the hole at the back of the wheel into which the hub fits. This hole needs to match the size of the hub exactly, in order for the wheels to seat properly. Most modern wheels are referred to as ‘hub-centric’ - meaning the hub is ‘load-bearing’. This means that all the bolts or studs do is hold the wheel onto the hub. ‘Lug-centric’ wheels imply that you bolts or studs have a more critical job, so you need to ensure you check and tighten them regularly.

Up-Stepping - This relates to the practise of increasing your wheel-diameter and reducing the profile of your tyres. This can increase the handling of your car, response and feedback.

Fitting Alloy Wheels

Initially you must ensure you have the right kinds of bolts, as they have various diameters, threads and seatings - something that your wheel supplier will be able to advise on. At Top Gear we’ll be able to give you all the information you need to help you buy the right wheels to fit your car. You also need to check you have the 4 plastic spigot rings that help the wheel-hub interface.

Obviously the best idea is to get a professional to fit your new Alloys for you, and one of the benefits of buying from Top Gear is that we can fit them for you. Often Wheel packages include the price of fitting, so it’s definitely worth contacting us to discuss what we can do for your car. We have depots all over the country, so there is bound to be one near to you. Check this page to find your nearest depot, or contact us for more information.

Alloy Wheel Care

You should be treating your Alloys as if they were part of your paintwork - with regular care and attention. Washing them regularly with warm soapy water (after rinsing off all dirt or grit that might scratch the surface) is the best thing to do for the Alloys. Avoid all kinds of abrasive cleaners and rough cleaning pads such as wire-wool pads.
It is also a good idea to let your wheels cool down before cleaning them, and avoid regular car-wash wheel-cleaners at all times!

Depending on what kind of Alloys you have bought, they will require a certain amount of elbow-grease to keep them gleaming and smooth. Its definitely worth it though, because if cared for regularly and given the polishing and attention they need, they will complement your car for a long time to come.

To browse our wide range of Alloy Wheels and start choosing which ones will be right for your car, go here. Feel free to contact us for advice or input on your choices, either by phone, email or by dropping in for a chat.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 30th, 2005 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Alloy Wheels, Car Care Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.