Understanding Alloy Wheel Rims

ALLOY wheel rims are a mixture or content of Aluminum, carbon and other alloys. Earlier the Alloy rims were made of a mixture or Magnesium, but mag-alloy rims were flammable, so in UK they had banned Mag-Alloy rims for racing. Well I don’t know about Indian Rims and their content. I’ll get the information soon.

Now a days in our motorcycles we generally getting alloy wheel rims. Known for less weight, accuracy and efficiency. The charm of spoke wheel is only you can see in Royal Enfield Products. Alloy wheels are very good for tubeless tyres because of sitting position of tyre on the rim. The tyre fits perfectly and accurately on the rim in the periphery which is very much important, improper fitting may cause the bike to start wobbling at the time of riding.

When a tubeless tyre gets punctured you don’t need to remove the tyre from the rim and hence there would be no damage to the rim. I would suggest to never put tyre with tubes on alloy wheels, unless you take care while maintain the tire because otherwise you could be damaging the edges of the rim every time you remove and refit the tire. Those rims are relatively softer than other metals because as we know aluminum is very soft and light material. So on the road if you have flat tyre then the regular puncture fellow would use his screw driver or some sort of Tommy bar which would always damage the rim. Try to only make use of tyre removing machines for removing or changing the tyre.

Alloy rims have got proper seat and edge to fix the tyre rather than conventional spoke wheel rim. And on conventional wheel rims you can’t put tubeless due to spoke holes which will leak all the air.

For alloy rims there is a special tool which is available in the market. Well not in India for sure. I ordered it from USA because I do care and respect BIKES whether it belongs to me or my customer. The tools is costing hardly few $…(If any one want I can get it). It saves the rim edge for sure.

• Alloy rims always need special attention:
• Keep your tyre air pressure as per company recommendation to avoid damage. (Whether it is Nitrogen or Regular Air)
• Use always proper tool for removing and changing the tyre.
• Alloy rims on two wheeler also need dynamic balancing.
• Do not use hammer to remove tyre.
• Do not use “under diameter” tyre on the rim.
• Try not to remove tyre from rim when it is puncture.
• Try to buy branded alloy rims, rather than any local rims. The mixture of alloy is a complicated subject which in most cases the manufactures takes care of. Byt if you are planning to manufacture alloys on your own, and if the mixture is wrong or the casting is wrong then you might endanger the lives of yours and others.
• The subject “Wheel Rim” is vast though the spares looks very much simple.
• Do not buy mag-alloy rims.
• Try avoiding pot holes.
• Do not ride your bike on off road. That may damage the rim fast.
• When you are buying motorcycle with alloy wheels. Always go for disc brake system. In alloys if you take drum brake system then remember the drum is itself is a rim there is no separate drum. So when the drum will get damage or if the wear tear is high then you will have to buy full alloy rim. (I know yet disc brake for rear is only in RTR,R15 & in 220)
• Try not to repair wheels at home if you are unknown to any auto parts.

Tubeless Tyre Puncture Removing Kit is available in the market. Always keep it with you. You can visit my workshop, and I could teach you how to remove a tubeless tyre Puncture.

Yes, Alloy wheels can be repaired. But I suspect we have any one who can repair it in India. If it’s a total loss then don’t try to repair it, because Rims are a matter of life or death, so don’t play with it.

                                 c.s.marimuthu