Wheels

Meet Our Wheel Buying Guide!

At Northwest Custom Wheel LLC, we’re here to help you find the best set of wheels for your vehicle! That’s why, for starters, we’ve included our handy wheel buying guide below. It’s our mission to take the stress out of shopping for the right automotive parts and accessories. It may not seem like it, but different wheel types offer different advantages and disadvantages. Take a look below to learn more!

Alloy and Steel and Chrome …Oh My!

• Alloy Wheels: Known for their light weight and improved performance abilities, these wheels increase cornering and steering precision while decreasing road feedback for better braking response
• Steel wheels: unlike alloy, these are much heavier wheels that provide a lower center of gravity. Essentially, these wheels are perfect for harsh road conditions in the snow, or while off-roading over rugged terrain. However, these types of wheels lack other performance capabilities because of their added weight.
• Chrome: with an unmistakable shine, chrome wheels upgrade the visual appeal of any type of tire–both alloy and steel alike! Chrome wheels are the optimal tires for drivers who are concerned with aesthetics. These types of wheels are known for their strength and durability, however these tires require a bit more maintenance in order to retain their beautiful shine.

The Wheel Manufacturing Process:

• Cast Wheels: Aluminum wheels are manufactured through a process of pouring molten aluminum into a mold. The shape of the wheel is formed through a process of gravity or pressure casting.
• Machined Wheels: The machining process combines casting, heating, spinning, and precise pressurization to fill a mold with molten aluminum and shape the wheel.
• Forged Wheels: The forging process takes a solid piece of aluminum and molds the wheel through high heat and extreme pressure. The result is a light, dense, and strong wheel.