Wheels on the market can be divided into two main categories based on material: steel wheels and alloy wheels, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

The main advantages of steel wheels are their simple manufacturing process, relatively low cost, and strong resistance to metal fatigue—commonly known as being affordable and durable. However, steel wheels also have obvious drawbacks: unappealing appearance (it can be said they have little to no aesthetic value), heavy weight (steel wheels are much heavier than aluminum alloy wheels of the same size), high inertial resistance, poor heat dissipation, and a tendency to rust easily.

Relatively speaking, alloy wheels can just make up for these shortcomings. They are lighter, have low inertial resistance, and high manufacturing precision. With minimal deformation during high-speed rotation, they help improve the car’s straight-line driving performance, reduce tire rolling resistance, and thus lower fuel consumption. The thermal conductivity of alloy materials is about three times that of steel, ensuring good heat dissipation. This plays a certain role in reducing thermal decay of the vehicle’s braking system, tires, and brake components. Most original equipment manufacturer (OEM) alloy wheels on the market are mainly made of aluminum alloy. Of course, many modified wheels use elements like chromium and titanium as base materials to meet specific requirements and enhance visual appeal. However, compared with steel wheels, alloy wheels are much more expensive. Therefore, in many mid-to-low-end OEM vehicles, steel wheels are often equipped on low-trim models, while alloy wheels are standard on high-trim models.