Alloy wheels help solve several car owners problems at the same time. You can buy them for a seasonal set of rubber, so as not to waste time and money on tire fitting, but quickly “change” the car yourself. Others acquire them in order to tune the appearance of the vehicle, which instantly transforms the car. Well they replace and "native" discs that have become unusable. Casting is cheaper than forged items on the wheels, but made better quality unlike stamping. How not to get lost in a huge range of manufacturers of alloy wheels? Below is an overview of the most popular companies with the most positive reviews of car owners. This will help to choose the right direction in a certain price segment and make a successful purchase for your “iron horse”.
Content:
The best European manufacturers of alloy wheels
There are several well-known disc casting enterprises concentrated in Europe. They are distinguished by high quality materials, interesting design and decent price. Industry leaders are in Germany and Italy.
Moto - impeccable quality
This brand has existed since 1964. Among its range is a large number of alloy wheels made of alloy materials. Their characteristics combine high strength and low weight to reduce the load on the suspension. Great importance is attached to the design of products. The company produces more than 800 different modifications.
All products are certified by the German Institute for Safety and Quality (PAL). Engineers are constantly developing new models for drawing and a variety of departures.
Pros:
- strict quality control;
- a huge selection of design;
- extensive production experience;
- wide range of diameters and overhangs;
- there are versions for rare drillings for attachment to the hub;
- durable materials and thoughtful design;
- elegant.
Minuses:
- look bad on tires with a thick tread;
- in combination with soft rubber the car "floats" a little;
- high price.
MAK - Italian Design
This company was the result of the merger of two enterprises in 1990. The Italian company for the sale of automobile tires merged with the casting plant, which has functioned since the 1930s. This allowed to combine a rich experience in metallurgy with a business acumen in the automotive world.
The MAK brand quickly gained popularity in Europe thanks to the ability of Italian engineers to combine design innovation with classic forms. It gave a huge assortment of discs in a sporty, futuristic and classic style. The company has a reputation as a manufacturer, whose creations are beyond the scope of the generally accepted.
Pros:
- a large selection of rim sizes from 15 to 22 inches;
- high-quality alloys tested in European laboratories;
- the model range includes the number of cast spokes from 5 to 20 units;
- range of attachment to the hub for 5 and 6 holes;
- availability of sports and classic series;
- good aerodynamic properties;
- high strength;
- long service life.
Minuses:
- strong shocks may cause cracks;
- it is difficult to wash models with a lot of knitting needles (it is inconvenient to crease);
- at hit in a hole at high speed chipping is possible.
The best Asian manufacturers of alloy wheels
Here gathered companies that have a large range of products, diverse prices, but controversial quality. Car owners advise only a few manufacturers of this category, whose wheels are already tested by time.
The leaders of this region are the Japanese. But there are worthy Chinese counterparts. This is a good opportunity to update the appearance of the car at an affordable price.
NZ - monitors quality at various stages
This Asian brand appeared on the Russian market in 2006. Products are manufactured in factories in China and Taiwan. Most operations are computerized, which allows to reduce the cost of the final product and reduce the waste. Alloy wheels have compliance with GOST-P50511-93, and also passed ISO certification.
The model range includes rim sizes from 15 to 20 inches. The company is distinguished by multi-stage quality control, as well as beating tests and dynamic balancing. Before going on sale, all discs are subjected to x-ray transmission for cracks in the structure.
Pros:
- compliance with recognized standards in Russia and Europe;
- quality control at all stages of production;
- quite a large range of sizes;
- alloy adapted to the Russian winter;
- high corrosion resistance;
- affordable cost;
- high-quality paint, not washable from contact with the balloon key;
- interesting geometry;
- minimum balancing.
Minuses:
- No products under R22;
- nameplates on the hub covers can come off;
- If you buy a model with a long reach, the wheel bearings are broken.
Yamato - the Japanese are on top
The Japanese brand immediately declares from itself on all its products a beautiful logo with red and black flowers. Discs of this company are distinguished by smooth lines and lightness. This became possible thanks to the own technology Flow Forming, which allowed reducing the mass by 20%, but at the same time increasing the strength by 40%.
Products are manufactured at computerized factories, which gives high accuracy of geometry and thickness of lines, reducing the need for subsequent balancing. High-quality varnishes and paints well protect the coating of the alloy from moisture and chemistry, which is treated roads in the winter. The shape of the disc with numerous spokes increases handling.
Pros:
- proprietary technology with lightweight and heavy-duty drives;
- products improve vehicle maneuverability;
- quality coatings;
- minimum balancing;
- good handling;
- low load on the brake system;
- thermoregulation due to the thought-out structure of the form;
- interesting design of many models.
Minuses:
- scratched by the machine when mounting tires;
- not suitable for all cars;
- some positions are quite expensive.
The best Russian manufacturers of alloy wheels
This part of the market is represented by companies whose plants are located in Russia, but they have European quality control and technology.
The products are distinguished by a reasonable price and a model range of up to 60 kinds of discs. But by weight they are much heavier than imported counterparts. But among them there are proven manufacturers whose products have already been tested and recommended. Here are the best of them according to users.
K & K - co-production
Since 1991, the Russian-German enterprise began to operate. It is located at the Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical Plant with an area of more than 20,000 square meters. Marketers of the company constantly monitor fashion trends and develop new technical tasks for the design office.
The manufacturer has both classic models of alloy wheels, and bold solutions for lovers of innovative design. The casting technology takes place under high pressure, and for each project several options are developed for evaluation.
Manufacturing takes place at first a virtual stage with the definition of geometry, and only then programs for computerized machines are written and the physical process of creation starts.
Pros:
- alloys of liquid aluminum and silicon, providing high strength;
- casting on German machines GIMA;
- automatic production processes;
- mandatory x-ray examinations;
- machining on Japanese machines Okuma;
- use in the painting of "smart molecules", deeply penetrating into the structure;
- affordable cost;
- wide range of;
- the possibility of visual fitting on a particular car brand on the site.
Minuses:
- few models for certain Japanese cars;
- slight loss of paint from reagents on the road.
SKAD - the most affordable
This Russian manufacturer has a modest model range of mostly classical form.
The company's philosophy says: "A good thing must be inconspicuous." But the products of this company received an ISO certificate and was verified by an independent examination of TUV SUD. This made it possible to sell alloy wheels not only in Russia, but also in Europe and the USA.
At the initial stage of the development of a new version, an experimental batch is always made to test all sorts of tests. Robotic complexes produce subsequent mechanical processing. The Q1 certificate allowed the company to become a priority supplier for Ford.
Pros:
- certificates from world expert centers;
- high impact strength;
- compliance with factory settings and easy replaceability of "native" disks;
- interesting colors in stock;
- produced more than 2 million drives a year;
- long serve;
- sizes from 13 to 20 inches;
- cheap.
Minuses:
- a small model range mainly with classical forms;
- heavier than analogues;
- not suitable for all models of cars for fasteners.
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