To the uninitiated - read "someone who does not know or care much about cars" - the alloy wheel is a simple frippery added to a car for the purposes of making it look a bit nicer. But this does not really give a reason for the immense popularity of alloy wheels among car owners. And they are popular, too. 50% of all new cars have alloy wheels - the fact is that they sell, and there has to be some reason why this is the case. And yes, part of that reason is the way they look. They do give cars a newer, sleeker, classier look. There is more to the overwhelming popularity of the alloy than that, however.
Why do petrol heads love alloy wheels? Well, are you ready for a bit of science? OK - alloys are lighter than standard steel which accounts for most regular wheel trims. This reduces the weight of the car, and its unsprung mass. This has a major effect on the handling of the car - a priority for many drivers. They also have an impact on the braking - heat that builds up when braking in a car is dissipated a lot more efficiently by alloy wheels, and this makes the braking process a great deal smoother. These two things combine to make cars with alloy wheels a far more reassuring drive for the technically minded driver.
The drawbacks of alloy wheels are spoken about somewhat less than their aesthetic and technical benefits. But the fact that they are lighter is not just a benefit. It may mean the car handles better, but it also means that the wheel gets damaged a lot more easily. If you are taking the car out for the occasional spin around a flat track, this is no problem. But we can all agree that not every road drives like a motor sport track.
If you are not lucky enough to live somewhere with good quality roads, then you will have potholes and bumps to deal with, and if you hit one of these going at speed then you can say goodbye to the sleek shape of your alloy wheels. They will be flattened like a drunken barroom brawler in no time. Do you like to drive up the kerb when you park your car? You will come to hate it if you have alloy wheels. A misshapen alloy can cause real steering problems, and given that you have already lost the aesthetic benefit, the lack of handling can make you pretty frustrated and cause you to question why the hell you paid for these aesthetic, aerodynamic wonders in the first place.
Minor, cosmetic damage to an alloy wheel can be repaired easily and at minimal cost to the motorist. But if you need them knocked back into shape, do not expect to see much change out of a few hundred dollars. Prevention here is better than cure, as in so many cases. If you have alloy wheels and are proud of them, look after them. It is much better in the long run.