Ever wondered about the difference between Mag wheels and alloy wheels? Buckle up, because here's the lowdown!
Alloy wheels, the mainstay of many vehicles these days, are most commonly made from an Alloy, usually AA6061. This alloy may consist of Aluminium, Silicon, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Magnesium, Chromium, Zinc, Nickle, and Titanium. They’re lightweight, strong, ductile, and flexible and manufactured to a very fine tolerances in specialised factories. They also add some additional style to your vehicle. Due to the varying types of precious metals involved in the manufacturing process, it makes sense that factory Alloy wheels tend to be an expensive component to replace, sometimes replacement wheels on a high-performance vehicle can cost several thousand dollars each. For this reason, it makes sense then to repair these wheels wherever possible.
On the other hand, next time you are considering a non-factory set of replacement wheels, ask yourself how they can be produced, shipped, and sold to you for very often less than the price of one factory wheel. The answer can be found in the type of alloy used in the production process, which is very often substandard and not on the same level as a factory wheel. This is not to say that all non-factory wheels are bad news, on the contrary, there are some very high-quality wheels available, but remember – you get what you pay for.
Now we move on to magnesium or Mag wheels for short. These wheels are not made purely of magnesium or else they would be highly reactive and prone to ignition, as pure magnesium is a reactive alkaline metal. Instead, they are made of an alloy that has a higher content of magnesium compared to other wheels. This has the advantage of making the wheel lighter in weight with only a minimal reduction in strength which is helpful in reducing the rotating and un-sprung mass of a vehicle wheel. This is known as the strength to weight ratio. This factor aides with vehicle handling and steering, very useful in high performance vehicle applications. But there’s a trade-off: while Mag wheels are top tier in performance realms, repairing them can be a bit like cracking a secret code, due mainly to the highly reactive nature of magnesium. Think specialised techniques, high-tech equipment, and a lot of know how to bring these wheels back to life. So, whether you’re rolling with alloy or Mag wheels, rest assured – we’re ready to save the day and get your wheels back on the road again in no time.
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