There are two common materials, namely steel and aluminum and two processes to create a wheel, namely wheels are either casted or forged. First we discuss materials used to manufacture a wheel.

Steel wheels are typical of OEM wheels and comprise an inner piece (the center) that bolts to the car and an outer piece (the barrel) which holds the tire. These are welded or bolted together to form a wheel that’s durable and easy to repair.

Aluminum wheels are typical aftermarket or custom wheels that can be manufactured in different ways. Aluminum’s light weight and superior heat dissipation make it an excellent material for higher-end wheels.

Alloy wheels are a combination of, usually, aluminum and other metals. The exact mix of metals used and their combination with aluminum is the “secret formula” unique to each manufacturer. That's why alloy wheels from different manufacturers (or even from the same manufacturer) may have different strength and weight characteristics, as well as price.

In addition to different metals used in a wheel's manufacture, the manufacturing process itself is very important because it defines the overall quality of wheel, including how "true" (round) it is when manufactured. A common method, especially for ultra-high and high-performance wheels, is forged wheels. For custom and OEM wheels, the manufacturing process is usually casted wheels.

Check with your wheel dealer about the manufacturing process as well as the materials -- alloy wheels or aluminum wheels can be casted or forged.

Learn about Chrome Wheel Exchange or Repairing Old Wheels or Chrome Plating on Wheels  or go to Wheel Matrix