What wheels for the winter?
Until recently, it was believed that only steel wheels should be installed in winter. Aluminum rim manufacturers are now offering stronger models for this season.
Fortunately, the days when our cars had only steel wheels covered with a plastic cap are over. The situation in 
over the past few years has changed dramatically, and all of course thanks to the development of innovative technologies used in the production of aluminum wheels. Nowadays, almost every model from leading manufacturers can be used in winter without fear of damage from road salt. All thanks to the fact that each new model, before getting on the conveyor, undergoes numerous tests, including several hours of salt baths. The tested varnish guarantees resistance to severe winter conditions. It should be added that for winter, wheels with straight, wider collars are recommended, without rounding, without additional parts and accessories such as screws, tapes or additional stickers on the collars. Five-spoke wheels are easier to keep clean, which is difficult to do in the autumn-winter season during frequent rains or snowfalls, when our streets are sprinkled with road salt.
Often a price argument in favor of buying used discs. However, it should be analyzed whether this is a real savings and to what extent. Keep in mind that used discs always have signs of wear that can look harmless. However, under adverse conditions, such traces can turn into serious defects that may even threaten our safety. A rim that has been in an accident behind it, or a strong collision with a hole in the road, may have microcracks, which, in the event of subsequent events of this type, already in the car of the new owner, may even end in a crack while driving.
On the other hand, another type of wear, even more important when it comes to installing aluminum wheels for the winter, is micro-damage to the paintwork. Even if the paintwork is of the highest quality and the disc has been tested for winter use, it must be remembered that such microdamages can initiate corrosion under the paintwork. Therefore, the rim should be looked after regardless of its new condition and avoid buying used aluminum rims intended for use in winter conditions. If you really want a low price, then you should look for new original discs, but for example from a sale, or use a seasonal promotion. It is also worth bargaining with a distributor who can also add a discount from himself.
However, let's not think about whether to buy cheap or expensive discs, because expensive discs do not always have to be original, and cheap ones should not always be fake. As for discs bought before winter, it is definitely worth betting on cheap ones. The reason is simple and has nothing to do with the wealth of the wallet. There is simply no point in buying expensive discs with a variety of patterns if they are not resistant to harsh winters. At this time of the year, polishing to “living aluminum” or painting in different colors will not work. Wheels with a classic design and silver lacquer are the best, and they are always the cheapest.
The vision of a lower price is driving us to buy online more and more. Buying alloy wheels in general can seem like a daunting task, as selecting wheels for a car can be quite problematic. Especially since rim parameters are not necessarily our daily interests. We do not think about their width, nor about the size of the central opening. Some of them may be completely unfamiliar to us, for example: offset (ET). However, these are important parameters to consider when buying new rims. The important thing is that we don't actually need to know these parameters.
It is enough that we know what kind of car we have. What is the brand, when was it produced and what is the volume and power of the engine. The task is simple, because all this data is indicated in each registration document. Then you just need to go to the website of the manufacturer or distributor of original wheels, for example AEZ (www.alcar.pl) and select the appropriate parameters in the configurator that are indicated for your car. After choosing a car, we receive a list of suitable rims, which is important in this case, with the appropriate TUV and PIMOT certificates. It should also be added that the discs selected on this page are covered by a three-year warranty.
