Alloy Wheels are an expensive but worthy investment, so it makes sense to look after them as best you can. However it’s inevitable that at some point in your driving life you will get the odd knock, scuff and chip from curbs whilst parking or stone and gravel kickups from other vehicles passing.

Whilst the scuffs and chips don’t affect the alloys performance they do make the alloy appearance look flawed and messy and can ruin the vehicle image. Many people just live with this problem because they think that it’s too expensive to be repaired or fixed, and if you don’t look in the right places or for the right people it can be.

There’s a surprisingly simple solution to the problem of alloy scuffs, and many products available that will fix the problem quickly and effortlessly Alu Scratch is certainly one of the market leaders. As with similar products alu scratch is specifically designed to repair surface damage to metal or aluminium products (so not just alloy repair) however this is the purpose it was created for.

Almost all cosmetic damage to the alloys can be repaired by the kit, and in most cases the repair can be done with out removing the wheel. All you have to do is clean the area around the chip or scuff, mix the relevant components of the kit together and apply into the chip, when this is done to a satisfactory level apply the reacting agent that sets the material hard and decreases the curing time. It sets in about 5 mins and is ready to sand down. Often spray paint is used to finish the colour but this is not always necessary.

This system of alloy wheel repair is available from many other manufactures at very reasonable prices, and is usually much cheaper that having them repaired using the same method professionally or sandblasted, you’ll have them looking as good as new in no time, every time you chip them.

Alloy wheels differ from normal steel wheels because of their lighter weight, which improves the steering and the speed of the car, however some alloy wheels are heavier than the equivalent size steel wheel. Alloy wheels are also better heat conductors than steel wheels, improving heat dissipation from the brakes, which reduces the chance of brake failure in more demanding driving conditions. In addition to this, most alloys make the car looks  a great deal better.

Alloy wheels can be prone to corrosion if preventive measures are not taken, which can in turn cause the tires to leak air. Also, alloys are far more difficult to repair than steel wheels when bent, but their higher price usually makes repairs cheaper than replacement and even severely damaged wheels can often be repaired to like new, though this depends on how badly the owner wishes to salvage the wheel and its intrinsic worth or availability.

For passenger vehicles, alloy wheels are not only for improved driving performance, they are also for cosmetic purposes. The alloy wheel itself is shiny and/or has an intricate design, so there is no need for paint or wheel covers. By contrast, steel wheels either have to be painted steel rims with a chromed wheel nut, or be hidden with plastic wheel covers.

Alloy wheels are more expensive to produce than standard steel wheels, and are not included as standard equipment on base models of many non-luxury vehicles, instead being marketed as optional add-ons or as part of a more expensive trim. However, alloy wheels have become considerably more common since the 2000s, now being offered on economy and subcompact cars, compared to a decade ago where alloy wheels were often not factory options on inexpensive vehicles. Alloy wheels have long been included as standard equipment on higher-priced luxury or sports cars, with larger-sized or "exclusive" alloy wheels being options. The high cost of alloy wheels have made them attractive to thieves; to counter this, automakers and dealers have issued wheel locks where one of the wheel nuts require a special key to remove.

Alloy Assault offer aftermarket alloys at great prices to really transform the appearance and performance of your vehicle. From 12" wheels all the way through to 23" wheels!

All cars have wheels, (an obvious thing to say), well except those that have been stolen, but that’s a different matter. The majority of cars now come with alloys, generic factory fitted alloy wheels but alloys all the same. The thing is the importance of them is significant, but we don’t realise how significant until we either don’t have them or till we have upgraded. Why do we choose to have upgraded or aftermarket alloys over the standard steel wheel?

The Main reason is down to our desire to show off, or to be unique. Style and image are some of the most importance features we look for when purchasing a new car or updating the image of the car you have currently. The easiest way of doing this is to upgrade to your alloys, it’s surprising how much difference a good set of wheels make to the appearance to a vehicle. It goes with out saying that different styles of alloys will suit different cars & portray them differently for varying reasons, an example of this is putting an aggressive set of alloys on a Japanese performance car would make them more sporty and performance ready where as to add stylish wheels would make the whole image more fashionable.

The other reason of upgrading your wheels is one that people don’t often realise; the performance. The technology behind alloy wheels now is much more advanced than it was many years ago. Alloy wheels are now much lighter and stronger than the generic steel cousins. This not only reduces the weight of the car but they are also designed with more surface area touching the road increasing grip and performance of the wheels, thus increasing speed, handling, wear of the tyres and can often reduce fuel consumption dramatically. Occasionally when performance is increased the ride comfort is reduced so finding the right balance is the key when purchasing new alloys.

Information about alloy wheels and compatibility with your car can be found at alloy assault