A range of alloy wheel packages are now available to fit almost any car, truck or motorcycle. The wheels are normally manufactured from an alloy of aluminum, or an alloy of magnesium, or quite often, a combination of both of these metals. This makes the wheel lighter but just as strong. These metals also conduct heat more efficiently and they look good too.

Lighter wheels have the effect of improving the road handling capabilities of a vehicle by reducing its unsprung mass thus lowering the suspension to enable the tires to grip better. Alloy compositions are not always lighter however, than their counterparts in steel. An overall reduction of the vehicle mass may definitely contribute to better fuel utilization.

The performance of the braking system can be greatly improved by the efficient removal of heat through the metal alloy composition under difficult driving situations. This, in turn, will reduce the possibility of the brakes failing because they overheat.

There is no doubt that these wheels improve a vehicle's appearance, but not only that, their resistance to corrosion allows them to be used in their natural state not requiring paint or covers to improve their aesthetic appeal. They may be designed with bolder, more intricate patterns to make them appeal to a wider customer base. This contrasts sharply with the pressed steel sheet method of manufacture where the components are welded together with no attempts to conceal the welds, making it necessary to paint and cover the wheel and tire pacakages with hub caps to improve their appearance.

An alloy, being a combination of metals, is prone to galvanic corrosion as a result of the metals reacting with each other when specific conditions are experienced. If preventative steps are not taken, this could result in air leaking out of the tires. Repairing damaged alloy wheels could prove to be difficult, but it may be cheaper to have them repaired than to replace them because of the cost factor. Depending on how badly damaged the wheel is and how the owner feels, to repair may be the better option.

The alloy wheel costs more to produce than a standard steel pressed wheel, and it is for this reason that they are not fitted as standard equipment on many vehicles. They are often marketed as optional accessories by vehicle dealerships. They are, however, being supplied as standard to a growing list of economy vehicles because they are so popular. They have been fitted as standard to many sports and luxury vehicles with the larger sizes being regarded as a sort of status symbol for the wealthy.

Thieves have homed in on this valuable, exclusive accessory forcing manufacturers to invent various anti theft devices such as the locking wheel nut which needs to be unlocked with a special key in order to remove it. Many wheels are manufactured by the process of casting, but an increasing number are forged. The forged types are generally lighter and stronger but are more expensive than the cast variety.