Reasons Why Mag Wheels Will Satisfy Your Need for Speed on the Road
If you’re always on the quest to improve your car’s performance when it comes to speed, it’s seriously time to look into mag wheels. Switching to mag wheels and tyres can help you shave those critical seconds from your best lap times or improve your car’s fuel efficiency on your daily commute. But how do they make it happen?
What Are Mag Wheels & Why You Need Them
1. Reduced Weight for Improved Acceleration
This is probably the most widely known benefit for investing in mag wheels but it definitely bears repeating. As mag wheels are made from magnesium alloys, they are lighter than traditional steel/aluminium wheels. This difference in weight is one that you can capitalise on for increased speed as this decreases the unsprung mass of the vehicle.
When your car and your wheels are heavier, your engine needs to use more power to get them moving at the desired speed. However, when you reduce the weight of your wheels, your engine needs to use less power to achieve the same speed. Therefore, you can start hitting those speeds that were previously unachievable, without actually having to alter your engine or fuel system.
This can be a cost and time-effective way to improve performance, while also giving you a better idea of the full potential of your car’s engine.
2. Less Flex for Improved Handling & Manoeuvring
While speed is predominantly about putting the pedal to the metal, efficient turning plays a role too. If you can optimise turning speed for better exit speeds, you can make the most of your car’s available power, maintaining that top speed more effectively.
As mag wheels tend to be more rigid than standard steel or aluminium wheels, this means you are less likely to experience failures when taking turns at top speeds. So, you can easily maintain control of your car at these higher speeds, without having to worry about possible failures.
3. Manufactured for Reduced Tyre Heat
Due to magnesium’s excellent heat dissipation abilities, your mag wheels can better manage the heat generated from high-speed driving. This prevents your tyres from overheating and affecting your car’s performance, including braking and handling, ensuring you can maintain that speed you’re after.
4. Designed for Improved Aerodynamics
A lot of aftermarket mag wheels are designed with speed in mind, so they have been made with aerodynamic considerations. Typically this will be through directing the air around and through the wheel spokes in the best way to reduce drag and increase brake cooling. As a result, your car needs to work against less resistance and can reach those higher speeds.
5. Open for Customisation
Once you start looking into car parts, it’s easy to get customisation fever. Suddenly, you can change practically everything about your car, transforming it into your dream drive. Many mag wheels, therefore, are designed with customisation in mind. This allows you to get wheels that specifically meet your needs and desires. Some customisation options can be fairly straightforward, like colours to give your car some added attitude, or more complex, like drag resistance designs if you can’t get enough top speed.
What’s Better: Alloy or Mag Wheels?
While it may seem initially confusing, generally, when people refer to alloy and mag wheels, they’re talking about the same thing. This is because mag wheels are typically made from a magnesium alloy, rather than pure magnesium. While magnesium is lightweight and has some great benefits, it’s not entirely ideal when used on its own. By creating an alloy using magnesium and different metals, like aluminium, the wheels can be kept light while gaining the benefits of other materials. So, when it comes to discussing alloy vs mag wheels in depth, you’ll usually be talking about the magnesium percentage rather than an ‘either or’ situation.
Get the Most From Your Mag Wheels By Knowing How to Clean Them
Once you get those mag wheels installed, the work isn’t done just yet. Now, you need to learn how to clean mag wheels. This not only keeps them looking sleek and shiny, but will help prevent corrosion which can affect stability, as well as stop contaminants from affecting their performance. The time spent learning how to clean your mag wheels will pay off, not just on the track, but being able to avoid potential expensive mag wheel repair costs too.
Luckily, cleaning your mag wheels is pretty easy. You just need a suitable mag wheel cleaner and a little free time.
- Once the wheels are cool to touch, remove the hubcaps to allow full access to the wheels.
- Working on one wheel at a time, rinse off loose dust and dirt using a hose or pressure washer (ensure it is not set too high).
- Use a specially designed mag wheel cleaner, following the instructions, and ensure you cover all parts of the wheel.
- With a soft sponge or soft-bristle brush, gently work away at any accumulated dirt or dust. Be sure to use a gentle pressure to avoid scratching the wheel’s finish.
- Rinse the wheel, using clean water, until there is no soap left.
- With a micro-fibre cloth or towel, dry the wheel completely to avoid water stains.
- If you like, you can apply a mag wheel wax or sealant to keep your wheels looking shiny for longer.
Ready to Try Mag Wheels for Yourself?
At VPW, we have a wide range of mag wheels, ready to go. Made from high-quality materials and meeting our exacting standards, our mag wheels are an affordable option that can satisfy your need for speed. So, be sure to check out our collection today!
