How to choose titanium wheels for cars. How to choose alloy wheels? How alloy wheels are made - video

When the first joyful sensations from buying a car pass, when driving it becomes your daily work, it is at this moment that you face questions that you never thought about before. For example, how to choose the right wheels for your car, and specifically - car wheels.

Currently, the market represents a huge selection of car discs. Therefore, which disks and how to choose the right one sometimes becomes an insoluble task.

What discs are made?

There are several varieties: stamped, cast and forged wheels.

Stamped discs are the most common. Made of ordinary steel, painted with enamel, usually black or dark grey colour. The main advantage is that they are easy to repair. Always, with the ability, with the help of a simple tool, it is possible to return the shape of the disk. Of the minuses - they do not differ in the elegance of forms. You must have a set of stamped wheels, usually used with winter tires.

Alloy wheels made of lightweight alloys, usually aluminum.

They have a different shape, and are lighter than stamped discs. This explains their popularity among experienced motorists. However, the high cost and, in practice, the impossibility of repair are a minus of this variety. We recommend that you buy if you are sure of careful driving and attentiveness on the road. And best used with summer tires.

How to choose an alloy wheel for a car?

The main alloys used in alloy wheels are aluminum, titanium, magnesium. Aluminum rims are light, strong and virtually corrosion resistant. Therefore, they are the most recommended for daily use. Magnesium alloy wheels are very susceptible to corrosion, so it is recommended to use them in warm and dry conditions, or permanently cover with an anti-corrosion coating. Titanium wheels belong to the elite group, so if you have a prestigious car or a sports car, and you plan to drive only in the city, choose titanium wheels.

Which is better - stamped or cast wheel? (video)

The next variety is forged wheels.

forged disc

The best and highest quality, but also the most expensive type. Made by hot stamping, they have high strength and low weight. Of the minuses - with a strong impact on an obstacle, it retains its shape, but there is a possibility of destruction of the wheel or cord, which leads to a complete replacement of the tire.

How to choose car wheels (video)

How to choose wheels on a car by size?

Usually, all information about the sizes of wheels and disks is indicated in the instructions for your car. Additionally (depending on the car) it can be indicated on separate parts, for example, on the gas tank cap.

Departure size;

Hub hole diameter size;

The size of the landing diameter;

Disc mount;

The shape of the holes for fasteners;

Information on disks (video)

Inches are the classic measure of wheel width. The value is marked as "J". For example, 5.5J. Stands for 5.5 inches wide. Tires are also marked in inches, each tire has its own rim.

Departure affects the functionality of the auto suspension in general, and bearings in particular. Incorrect departure will result in premature wear running. Concepts such as positive overhang, negative overhang and zero overhang are used.

Departure calculation (video).

The hub hole is where the disc is screwed onto the hub of the vehicle. Therefore, it must fit exactly. If the hole is small, the disk will not install. With a large hole, balancing with rings will be required.

Disc seat diameter. This is the disc diameter in inches. Marked with the letter R.

For example, R18 indicates an 18" disc.

We remind you that the required disc diameters for your car are indicated in the book for the operation of your car.

REMEMBER! The tire diameter must match the diameter of the rims.

location diameter.

Number of fixing holes.

In English - PCD (PITCH CIRCLE DIAMETER). In Russian - "razboltovka".

The number of mounting bolts can vary from four to six on average. Minimum 3. This is important and must be strictly observed.

The shape of the holes for fastening disks.

Forged disc bolts are slightly tapered. The length is shorter than others. In cast, the conical shape is more pronounced, here you need longer fasteners. Some designs use flat and hemispherical fasteners.

Humps.

Outside the disc there are protrusions that fix the tubeless rubber. They are called humps. They are present on every disc. With the exception of discs for pneumatic chambers.

Interesting fact.

For more than 100 years, pneumatic tires have been installed on cars, which are inflated with atmospheric air. Internal chamber pressure ensures structural rigidity and ease of movement. Until the 80s of the last century, a rubber or rubber chamber was located inside the tire. But, starting from the 2000s, tubeless tires came to replace chambered tires. Today, almost all cars, especially new ones, are equipped with tubeless tires.

If your car has cast alloy wheels, you will probably be interested to know how and from what they are made. The manufacturing technology of alloy wheels is much more complicated than it might seem at first glance. Everything matters: alloy choice, temperature, machining methods and more./p

Car rims start with metal

Reading reviews about alloy wheels, you probably noticed that the products of some brands are admired, while others are a surge of negativity. The quality of the basis of future wheels largely depends on the composition of the alloy. Most brands produce alloy wheels from durable aluminum alloys with the addition of other metals. For inexpensive models, an alloy with an addition of silicon is usually used, for example, g-AlSi10/11 or g-AlSi7. They tolerate heat treatment well, show relatively good resistance to mechanical stress. For higher-quality wheels, the composition of the alloy is somewhat different: aluminum is still the basis, and magnesium or titanium act as additives.

How it's done? At the initial stage, metals in the form of blanks are sent to the furnace, where they are heated to a melting point of 600-700 degrees Celsius. The molten alloy is then poured into a mold. However, not everything is so simple, because manufacturers use different technologies.

Casting methods

To obtain a casting, the plant can use different casting methods:

• gravitational (in a chill mold);
• with backpressure.

The choice of method depends both on the alloy and on the estimated cost of the discs (for the budget category, less expensive options are often used). Each method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. If gravity casting is used, the machines are poured into molds of aluminum alloy at normal atmospheric pressure. After cooling, a workpiece with a uniform fine-grained structure is obtained. For magnesium discs, they try to use other methods, since the metal has to be heated to more high temperatures, and during the cooling process, the quality is not too high.

When casting under low pressure, as the name implies, it is necessary to create a rarefied atmosphere. This requires additional costs, but pays off: less metal is required, and the castings are 10-15 percent stronger and almost twice as ductile, which directly affects the further processing and characteristics of the wheels.

An even more advanced method is counter-pressure casting. This time, gas pressure acts on the workpiece, which leads to compaction of the alloy and a decrease in the amount of rejects. Discs made in this way are 5-10% stronger than those cast under low pressure. In addition, the technology allows to reduce the casting time.

Testing

The next stage, without which it is impossible to do, is quality control. In modern enterprises, it is carried out in automatic mode. Special equipment detects voids and cavities, checks the density of workpieces, determines violations of the specified dimensions. If a defect is found during the inspection process, it is sent for remelting, so that the percentage of waste is quite small.

In some cases, the discs go through a hardening stage in order to acquire greater hardness. Heating and cooling are carried out several times, and the temperature range during hardening is from 150 to 200 degrees. However, this operation can make the alloy brittle, so that it will not bend, but will crack or burst if hit hard.

Finishing

The surface of the workpiece is very different from the finished product, so it is necessary to remove everything unnecessary from the surface. For this, future disks are turned on special machines. The cutters give the blank a shape, after which a second quality control is carried out.

What happens next depends on the chosen design. Some models are polished, others are mattified by chemical or mechanical processing. Some brands that produce multi-colored bright wheels for tuning include one more operation in the process: painting. At modern enterprises, polymer powder paints are usually used, which form a durable and uniform coating on knitting needles or a decorative cap. Then comes the turn of the last check, after which the rims arrive at the warehouse of finished products, and later sent to official dealers who distribute them to stores.

When it comes to buying wheels for a car, you often cannot do without the help of specialists. After all, the most common mistakes motorists make when choosing on their own, at first glance, are banal, but turn into either a loss of money or not for the better affect the safety of the driver and his passengers.

Firstly, the disc may simply not fit the hub of the car. For example, you picked up Opel wheels of suitable size for a VAZ or Zhiguli, and then, when installing the wheels, you found out that they only fit in appearance. In fact, the holes for landing the disc and the diameter of the hub are different for these cars.

It also happens that outwardly the dimensions seem to correspond, but the disk does not want to fall into place. What is the reason - specialists of a professional trade and service center, who have thematic literature at hand, will be able to explain. The site has a special service for selecting wheels for a car, which will show all available options. Without leaving your computer, you can get advice from the specialists of the online store.

Secondly, motorists often do not take into account that for alloy wheels, which are more voluminous in the mounting area, longer bolts are also needed. Including the so-called "secrets". The short ones that come with the car, like regular ones, “hooking” on several threads of the thread, can break off on the road. It probably makes no sense to describe the consequences of such a nuisance: a wheel that has fallen off, a car that has lost control.

The opposite oversight: the mounting bolts you bought were too long for the disc. In this case, during rotation, they touch the fixed parts of the car. For example, the handbrake cable spring in the rear drum of the Zhiguli. It is difficult to choose the bolts of the optimal length yourself. Again, this is the case when you need advice or direct assistance from a specialist.

Of course, you can buy original discs that the manufacturer recommends for a specific car. Often the originals German made. For BMW, Mercedes or Audi, the original disc will definitely come with a set of mounting bolts. It has only one drawback - the high price.

Do you want a combination of price and quality? You can consider the option of a "second set" of disks. This quality discs, which are produced by factories in the same: Germany, Taiwan or Italy. Mounting rings, bolts or nuts to them are supplied "shaft". It is not difficult for a specialist to figure out what fasteners are needed for a particular disk. He knows for sure that for wheels with the same hub diameter, say d75, which are equally suitable for Mercedes and Audi, the first car needs rings 66.6 and fixing nuts / bolts 12x1.5, the second car needs rings of size 57.1, nuts/bolts 14x1.5. However, some Mercedes models require 14x1.5 mounting nuts / bolts. It happens that market sellers or traders of small shops do not know about these subtleties. Therefore, it is better to make such purchases in specialized centers.

Every car enthusiast wants to make his car different from the rest, standing out against the background of the general flow. Stylish wheels - one of the most available ways provide it with individuality, and for those who want to see how the new wheels will look on their car, we have a convenient service - fitting wheels by car brand online. But first you need to find out what needs to be done in the event that the selected rims do not fit the car perfectly.

Magnesium or aluminum?

Probably, we will not make a discovery if we say that when putting alloy wheels on a car, car owners, first of all, think not about their advantages, but about how the car will look. Looking at brand new, glossy discs, one involuntarily thinks: “How long will they be like this?”

More resistant to water, salt, road chemicals and mechanical damage - aluminum alloy wheels. In addition to a special coating and varnish resistant to destruction, the surface of the aluminum alloy disc is protected by a durable oxide film, the coefficient of thermal expansion of which is approximately the same as that of the metal itself. Aluminum utensils used in everyday life also have such a film - this is a unique property of this metal. How stable this film is is evidenced by the fact that at low temperatures aluminum does not dissolve even in nitric acid concentrate!

There is a similar oxide film on magnesium alloy discs, but it is far from being as dense. Due to its “friability”, it does not resist further oxidation of the metal. However, magnesium alloy rims are lighter than aluminum alloy rims. But, due to the reasons described above, they are more susceptible to the effects of salt and reagents on the roads.

Exploitation

So: the disks and the mounting bolts for them are available, everything “sat” perfectly on the car ... It seems that only recently the wheels were balanced, the weights are all in place, and there are already signs of imbalance: vibration in the wheels and “spotty” wear on the treads . Perhaps the reason is in the disk. In theory, for its self-cleaning, the action of inertial force should be enough, and infrequent visits to a cosmetic wash eliminate what the laws of physics could not cope with.

The rapid accumulation of dirt between the spokes of the disc, when it has to be picked out, means that in pursuit of fashion or in an effort to increase strength, the manufacturer has unsuccessfully designed the disc. It should also be remembered that from time to time wheel balancing correction is required. And it is better to choose self-adhesive balancing weights for wheels. At the attachment point, where the bracket of a standard weight is hammered, the varnish is damaged, and lead, interacting with the metal of the disk, accelerates the corrosion process at times.

In addition, standard brackets were originally designed for use on stamped steel wheels and hold the weights on an alloy wheel much worse.

Certification

There is an opinion that alloy wheels are inferior in strength to conventional steel stamping. The reality is that a cast disk can only crack upon impact, which will also disable the “stamping”. It is enough to know that Russian standards alloy wheel certifications are much tougher than American, European or Japanese. During their development, the state of roads in our country was taken into account. At first, when importers were just developing our market, they often recalled products in order to finalize them in accordance with Russian requirements. Another thing is that when buying a disc, it will not be superfluous to ask the seller to show a quality certificate for the product.

The problem of choosing between steel and alloy wheels continues to cause a lot of controversy among motorists. Manufacturers add fuel to the fire by advertising products in every possible way own production for the purpose of sale. Therefore, stereotypes have formed about the characteristics of products made from different metals that do not correspond to reality. Hence the purpose of this material is to tell how stamped, forged and alloy wheels differ, how to distinguish them from each other and which ones are better suited for different operating conditions of a car.

Light alloy wheels

The name "light-alloy" was given to these products because of the properties of the materials from which they are made. This is an alloy of light metals - aluminum and magnesium, for strength and ductility, titanium and copper are added to it in small quantities. Hence the second name of such discs - titanium. There are 2 types of light alloy rims:

• cast;
• forged (pressed).

These 2 groups of products differ from each other in manufacturing technology, performance properties and cost. To understand which of them is better, you need to consider the production of discs in more detail.

Note. Sales representatives often impose on motorists the opinion that, unlike cast products, forged rims are made from incredibly strong and expensive metals, almost from platinum. In fact, this is a myth, the composition of the alloy for the manufacture of both groups of products is exactly the same. Manufacturers can slightly change the ratio of basic and additional metals in the melt at their discretion.

About production technology

As the name implies, cast products are made by pouring molten metal into special molds (casting method). The sequence of technological operations looks like this:

1. Metals - the ingredients are placed in a furnace, melted and mixed.
2. The alloy is fed to the mold and poured into it with a special ladle.
3. After hardening, the workpiece is removed from the mold and moved to machining. At the same time, the structure of the rim and spokes is already formed, it remains only to remove excess material along the edges and refine the holes for the bolts, as well as balance the disc.
4. The last stage is testing under certain speed and shock loads.

Reference. In factories famous brands the process is fully automatic using CNC machines, even casting is performed by a robot. Manual labor is practically excluded.

The name "forged" does not quite accurately reflect the method of production of these discs, since they are not forged, but squeezed out of a heated alloy on high-power hydraulic presses. The manufacturing algorithm is as follows:

1. As in the previous case, an alloy is prepared in the furnace, from which cylindrical blanks are cast.
2. Each blank goes through several pressing operations, where it is formed into a solid wheel rim without spokes and holes.
3. Products undergo 2 heat treatment operations - hardening (strengthens the alloy) and tempering to relieve internal stresses in the metal.
4. With the help of machining on various machines, holes are made in the disks, the spoke pattern is cut out, excess material is removed along the edges and balancing is carried out.
5. Testing is carried out on special equipment under critical loads.

Note. So the second myth has been dispelled - that due to the manufacturing technology, forged wheels cannot boast of a diverse design. On CNC milling machines, any, even the most complex pattern, can be cut into the body of the workpiece.

Pros and cons of cast products

The main advantage of cast alloy wheels is the attractive appearance, thanks to which a car of any age and brand looks much prettier. And the choice of products in terms of configuration and number of spokes is incredibly wide. This is the main reason that encourages car enthusiasts to change steel wheel rims to light alloy ones.

Other advantages also matter, but they are technical in nature:

• reduced mass of products gives less fuel consumption and increases the controllability of the car;
• for the same reason, the acceleration dynamics of the car improves, and the braking distance is reduced;
• products are initially balanced due to production technology;
• long service life.

Of the listed positive points, only the durability and balance of alloy wheels are really noticeable when the car owner changes tires in a tire shop. Improvement in handling and acceleration dynamics can only be felt by an experienced driver, and the change in fuel consumption is so insignificant that it is not noticeable at all (0.1-0.2 liters per 100 kilometers). Therefore, the beauty of alloy wheels remains a priority, and only then their technical parameters are valued.

Now for the disadvantages:

1. Products are afraid of strong and sharp blows. A crack appears in the thinnest place or where an air shell has formed inside the metal. Manufacturers claim that the casting cannot be repaired.
2. The price of the product is higher than that of stamped steel discs. Due to the difference in prices, the difference can be from 50 to 200%.
3. Cast rims should not be used on vans and light trucks as they are not designed for such loads.
4. Maintenance operations for such products at a tire fitting (tire change, balancing) are more expensive.

Reference. In the countries of the post-Soviet space, there are many workshops where specialists have got used to soldering cracks in aluminum castings. But such a repair cannot be called complete, and restored disks must not be placed on the front axle of the car.

Advantages and disadvantages of forged wheels

The essential and only drawback of forged rims is the high cost, exceeding casting by 2-5 times, depending on the manufacturer. But for this money you will receive such advantages:

• reliability and durability;
• durability, the pressed rim will last as long as the car itself;
• low weight of the product (even compared to casting), which improves the behavior of the car on the road and reduces fuel consumption.

Thanks to pressing and hardening in the manufacture of such rims, the metal does not have hidden shells and acquires increased strength, so impact cracks are extremely rare. In addition, the spokes of the product can be made thinner and more openwork, giving the wheel design additional lightness and beauty. That's what you pay money for when you buy a forged wheel.

How alloy wheels are made - video

Stamped steel rims - the secret of popularity

More than 60% of all cars in the territory of the post-Soviet countries are equipped with disks made of carbon steel sheet. The vast majority of these machines are equipped with such wheels from the factory, since they are cheaper than others. Exceptions are cars in the “luxury” configuration or elite brands for which “stamping” frankly does not fit in appearance.

Despite the low cost, iron discs have many advantages:

• compared to aluminum alloy, steel has ductility and elasticity, so the rim partially absorbs shocks when driving over large irregularities;
• for the same reason, steel products are easy to repair - deformed places can be straightened, and cracks can be welded;
• scope - transport of any purpose and carrying capacity;
• low prices for wheel maintenance;
• there are no problems with fastening the wheels, for which factory (regular) bolts are used.

The most valuable advantage when driving on our roads is the high repairability of stamped discs and the ability to absorb shocks. Combined with low cost, these features make traditional iron rims the most attractive in the eyes of ordinary users. To understand how their cost is formed, it does not hurt to get acquainted with the manufacturing technology of such products.

Production by stamping

For the manufacture of iron rims, thick sheet steel is used. Workpieces of two types are cut from it - a circle and a strip, sent for further processing. The process looks like this:

1. On a hydraulic press, the core of the future disk with bolt holes and technological openings is stamped from a steel circle.
2. The strip is sent to the rollers, where it is bent into the shape of a cylinder. The ends of the sheet are welded together, after which the seam is cleaned.
3. A hydraulic press squeezes the finished rim out of the cylinder, then a hole for the valve is drilled in it.
4. Both elements are connected by welding, then covered with primer and painted.

In the manufacture of stamped products, expensive CNC machines and furnaces are not used, which is why energy costs are significantly lower. Hence the low price of the final product.

Video of the stamping assembly process

Weaknesses of steel wheels

Compared to attractive lightweight aluminum alloy products, forged iron rims lose in appearance, which is often the reason for replacing them. Plastic decorative caps, which are always lost on the potholes of our roads, do not solve the issue, and the owner of the car has to buy new ones.

For reference. To prevent the caps from flying off the wheels, many drivers fasten them to the disks with plastic wiring clamps. This helps, although it somewhat spoils the appearance of the car.

There are other negative aspects in the operation of "stampings":

• due to the large weight of the wheels, the controllability of the machine is worse, and fuel consumption is higher;
• increased stopping distance;
• stamped iron products cannot boast of good balance;
• metal rusts, and therefore requires care.

Judging by the statistics, the listed shortcomings do not bother most Russian drivers too much. Again, some of the negative points are misinterpreted by sellers. For example, the assertion that steel can rot in 2 years and the disk will become unsuitable for further use is unfounded. To bring the metal to such a state, it will take a period twice as long, and with timely care, the product will last no less than light alloy.

Note. There is a myth that the paint of stamped rims is easily scratched and quickly deteriorates, and the light alloy surface cannot be damaged. The second part of the statement is incorrect, alloy wheels can also be scratched, but it is much more difficult to paint them.

Type selection rims it is better to fulfill according to three criteria:

• depending on the operating conditions of the machine;
• class and brand of car;
• active driving in the cold or warm season.

Advice. If you expect to use one set of rims all year round, then taking into account Russian road conditions it is better not to risk money and put a steel "stamping".

The ideal option is to have 2 sets of discs, using them in the warm and cold seasons. For summer ride on asphalt surfaces, light-alloy rims are perfect, but for the winter you need to put stamped ones. The problem is ice that appears on the pavement due to unremoved snow, which is why a flat road is covered with continuous potholes. The same frost along the edges of the roadway will easily scratch your beautiful titanium wheels when leaving the side of the road or approaching close to the curb.

When choosing a set of new disks, it does not hurt to take into account other recommendations:

1. It is not worth shelling out and buying light alloy products if you are driving through the fields in an SUV. And vice versa, for luxury cars operated according to smooth roads, do not put "stamping", it looks reprehensible.
2. Forged wheels are suitable for any passenger cars and various conditions driving, except for frank off-road.
3. Don't try to put light alloy rims on a minibus that's in commercial service, you risk ruining them quickly.

When choosing forged products, a natural question arises - how to distinguish them from casting with external similarity. After all, an unscrupulous seller can slip you a cheaper product at the price of forged wheels. There are some tips for this:

1. Forging is easier than casting. For example, a 15-inch forged rim weighs no more than 5 kg, and a cast rim weighs 7-8 kg.
2. On pressed products processed by milling machines, you will not find burrs or small flash along the edges, as is the case with casting.
3. As a rule, inscriptions on alloy wheels protrude above the surface, and on forging they are deepened, because they are applied by extrusion.
4. If the product is branded and is accompanied by documents, then in the forged rim specification you will find the corresponding English word- FORGED.

Advice. There are many exceptions to these rules that appear when studying the products of domestic or Chinese manufacturers. The best way- buy forged car wheels in retail outlets with an impeccable reputation or from authorized dealers.

Despite the numerous advantages of light alloy wheels, they cannot win even half of the Russian market. A similar situation is observed in the countries of the former USSR, where stamped products are more relevant and more practical than aluminum ones. A change in trend should not be expected until there is a dramatic improvement in paved roads.

In recent decades, stamped steel wheel rims have been widely replaced by cast models. Some car enthusiasts do this to improve the appearance of their cars, but for most of them, not only the aesthetic effect is important, but also improved performance.

So, what are alloy wheels and what are their advantages over stamped ones?

What are alloy wheels?

As it is easy to understand from the name, alloy wheels are products made by casting. Steel is not suitable for them for a number of reasons, therefore, aluminum alloys are used mainly for discs, sometimes more exotic alloys based on magnesium.

The finished disk is a solid casting, which, in order to acquire greater strength, is subjected to a hardening procedure that relieves residual metal stresses. After these technological operations, the surface of the disk is polished and covered with a special varnish to maintain a stable gloss.

The shape of the disc is the result of the painstaking calculation of the leading engineers of the largest automotive companies. The composition of the alloy and the technology of its preparation from the most famous manufacturers is often almost impossible to copy. That is why, despite their external similarity, discs produced under world brands are much more reliable and durable than their cheap Chinese copies.

Advantages of alloy wheels

Deciding to replace stamped steel discs alloy cast, each car owner must understand why he is doing this and what he will get as a result of the replacement.

So, what are the advantages of alloy wheels compared to stamped ones?

1. Light weight. Aluminum alloy wheels, in addition, in the absence of hubcaps, weigh much less than stamped predecessors - sometimes the weight reduction reaches 50% of the previous one. As a result, the load is reduced, and the car becomes more manageable, stable and obedient on the road. In addition, ride comfort is increased, as the suspension absorbs shocks and impacts more effectively. An important factor is the reduction of suspension wear, as a result of which the cost of maintaining it in good technical condition is reduced.

2. Openness brake system. Due to the absence of caps, the inside of the wheel remains open during the movement and cools naturally. This improves the performance of the brake system, provides it with greater reliability and reliability.

3. Corrosion resistance. Unlike steel, which rusts easily, aluminum alloys are resistant to corrosion even when the outer lacquer is deeply scratched.

4. Superior design. Hubs rim form an elegant pattern, individual for each model. Well-chosen wheels can significantly improve the appearance of the car, give it individuality and enhance the dignity of the body design.

Disadvantages of alloy wheels

As happens everywhere, the disadvantages inherent in solid-cast wheels are an extension of their advantages. So, the strength obtained by hardening turns into brittleness: with a strong impact, the cast disk does not bend, but bursts. It is impossible to continue driving in this case, and if there is no spare tire in the trunk, the only way out is to call a tow truck. A broken disk can no longer be repaired - it only needs to be replaced with a new one.

A variety of disk designs can also turn into problems: if you need to replace one disk, it can be difficult to find an identical one in size and pattern. True, today the task is facilitated by Internet commerce, thanks to which disks of the desired shape can be found and ordered even on the opposite side of the planet.

The exposed spokes and rims that adorn the car in such a way need constant washing and cleaning, as road dust and dirt constantly penetrate into the recesses. If not cleaned properly, accumulated dirt can cause wheel imbalances, leading to uneven wear and premature failure of suspension components.