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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

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skurup
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by skurup » Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:20 pm

Hi Guys,

I have a question:
Are Alloy and Aluminum wheels the same? Or are they different?
I did some search on the Internet and I couldn't find a good answer.

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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Buckz » Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:28 pm

Alloy is usually mixed metal.. but there are many different ways of making an alloy rim, some result in stronger or lighter.. others are simply cheaper and you'll find most cheaper alloys are made that way. Whereas flow formed for e.g is the more expensive way of doing it but results in stronger construction and less weight.
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by GAZA62 » Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:33 pm

As above pure aluminium would not be strong enough it is mixed with other elements to form alloy I have never heard the term aluminium wheels but have heard them called mag wheels years ago.
Last edited by GAZA62 on Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Smartbear » Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:35 pm

Forged wheels are stronger & lighter than cast ones :thumbsup:
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by rally-chris » Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:40 pm

Back to the original question - pretty much all aluminium used for any application is actually an alloy, i.e. a mix of mainly aluminium plus additional elements in small quantities to improve the strength or process ability of the aluminium.

When talking about alloy wheels, this means aluminium alloys.

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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Nictrix » Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:00 pm

When wheels are cut on a CNC machine out a solid block is this aluminium or still some sort of alloy?
I have seen quite a few videos online but dont know if its solid aluminium or not.
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Gaffa22 » Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:07 pm

It will be an alloy as previously said pure aluminium is not strong / hard enough.
There was a tv show where they would machine the wheel centres out of billet alloy then weld the centres into the rims, don't know how the rims were made
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by buzyg » Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:07 pm

GAZA62 wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:33 pmAs above pure aluminium would not be strong enough it is mixed with other elements to form alloy I have never heard the tern aluminium wheels but have heard them called mag wheels years ago.
Mag wheels were and still are made from Magnesium Alloy. Not the same stuff. :wink:
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Ducklakeview » Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:07 pm

Nictrix wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:00 pmWhen wheels are cut on a CNC machine out a solid block is this aluminium or still some sort of alloy?
I have seen quite a few videos online but dont know if its solid aluminium or not.
Still an aluminium alloy, but more expensive :D

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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by GAZA62 » Mon Jan 22, 2018 9:17 am

buzyg wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:07 pm
GAZA62 wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:33 pmAs above pure aluminium would not be strong enough it is mixed with other elements to form alloy I have never heard the tern aluminium wheels but have heard them called mag wheels years ago.
Mag wheels were and still are made from Magnesium Alloy. Not the same stuff. :wink:
That explains that one I first heard the words Mag Wheels at the Alexandra Palace Custom Car Show back in the 70s

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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Darkangelv2 » Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:39 am

I've always been annoyed by this linguistic oddity.

Literally all wheels in the market are 'alloy'. A steel wheel with a plastic wheel cover is still technically an alloy wheel. :headbang:

It's just one of those popularised terms i have had to come to terms with. Life is so hard.... :lol:
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by buzyg » Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:16 am

GAZA62 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 9:17 am
buzyg wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:07 pm
GAZA62 wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:33 pmAs above pure aluminium would not be strong enough it is mixed with other elements to form alloy I have never heard the tern aluminium wheels but have heard them called mag wheels years ago.
Mag wheels were and still are made from Magnesium Alloy. Not the same stuff. :wink:
That explains that one I first heard the words Mag Wheels at the Alexandra Palace Custom Car Show back in the 70s

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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Smartbear » Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:14 pm

Darkangelv2 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:39 amI've always been annoyed by this linguistic oddity.

Literally all wheels in the market are 'alloy'. A steel wheel with a plastic wheel cover is still technically an alloy wheel. :headbang:

It's just one of those popularised terms i have had to come to terms with. Life is so hard.... :lol:
No its not, its a steel wheel with a plastic cover :poke:
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by Darkangelv2 » Mon Jan 22, 2018 2:24 pm

Smartbear wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:14 pm
Darkangelv2 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:39 amI've always been annoyed by this linguistic oddity.

Literally all wheels in the market are 'alloy'. A steel wheel with a plastic wheel cover is still technically an alloy wheel. :headbang:

It's just one of those popularised terms i have had to come to terms with. Life is so hard.... :lol:
No its not, its a steel wheel with a plastic cover :poke:
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Alloy wheels vs Aluminium wheels

Post by patriot66 » Mon Jan 22, 2018 6:16 pm

Darkangelv2 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 2:24 pm
Smartbear wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:14 pm
Darkangelv2 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:39 amI've always been annoyed by this linguistic oddity.

Literally all wheels in the market are 'alloy'. A steel wheel with a plastic wheel cover is still technically an alloy wheel. :headbang:

It's just one of those popularised terms i have had to come to terms with. Life is so hard.... :lol:
No its not, its a steel wheel with a plastic cover :poke:
Rob
Aargh!!!! :crazydude: :crazydude: :crazydude: :telloff:
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon so technically the wheel is an 'alloy', just not an aluminium one. :D
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