Luckily Accuride has started producing Lightweight steel wheels for heavy and medium duty trucks and commercial trailers. It also manufactures wheels for buses, commercial light trucks, pick-up trucks, SUVs and vans, sold under the Accuride brand. Other trends in wheel design include larger diameter wheels. There are two main reasons for that. The first is appearance; people like the highly styled wheels with low profile tyres. There has been a steady tendency, during the last 10-15 years, for cars to be fitted with wheels which are both larger in diameter and wider than those seen in cars of 1990 and earlier. At that time, the average wheel rim diameter was around 13-inches for B/C segment products, increasing to 15- or 16-inches for high-end and luxury models. Today the equivalent figures are 15- to 16-inches in the C-segment and up to 20-inches in luxury models. While there is some advantage in a larger-diameter wheel, which reacts less sharply to road surface bumps and craters, in most cases the increase has been for cosmetic purposes. In the same way, wheels (and tyres) have increased substantially in width. Again, this has usually been for cosmetic rather than chassis_engineering purposes. Although larger wheels are a mixed blessing for chassis engineers, they are welcomed by brake engineers as they offer more space for larger discs.

Apparently, the North American market is also said to have more of an appetite for brighter finished wheels than in Europe. Another styling trend emerging in the US is for wheels resembling a three-dimensional look, as an auto executive told us, “In the past, wheels tended to look ‘flat’ with holes in them. Over the past two or three years, we’re seeing a more 3D look, meaning more of a sculptured surface with deeper spokes. That’s happening on cars as well as trucks.”

Pope said about the hub cap tends in the North American market “The trends continue to centre on a bright or chrome plated appearance together with a high indication of chrome plated surfaces. Hub caps are still leaning towards plastic and painted surfaces while stainless steel wheel covers have almost disappeared.”

So who really determines wheel ornamentation? Is it the OEM, car dealer or the consumer? Pope added, “In my opinion, the regional car dealer will order from the car manufacturer what they think will sell in their area. So when a consumer looks round a new vehicle, they basically look for the prettiest package that they can get for the best price. So I think that the person at that dealership is the one who influences demand.”

In the final analysis, price pressure is still the dominant issue for wheel makers, as an auto executive said: “In this business, you no longer get credit for quality, delivery, reputation, confidence or customer service. None of that matters these days. What matters to the OEM is price. If you can’t meet the price, the OEM will source from someone else.”

Here’s a good news for you-available today are fast street cars that are designed to be more fuel efficient than regular street-driven cars. Yeah! Thanks to high technology in the automotive world. Today, more and more cars are built to answer the demands of different vehicle enthusiast. You are lucky because this blog post identifies five of today’s fastest wheels you may want to drive.
Here is the list of the cars that can heat up your desires.

1. Honda S2000 RoadsterPower : 237 horsepower

With the minimum price of $34,050, the S2000 is one of the fastest cars at the showroom. Installed with a 4-cylinder engine enables to yield 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and to give 162 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm, the S2000 equalizes power with the weight as light as 2,855 pounds . This car will definitely rock your nerves, just give it time to charge them up and it is showtime!

The unique style of Honda S2000 is absolutely stunning if you aren’t driving a 99 mph on a quarter-mile track. You will notice that this car provides you to drop the top after you compete on the race and its smooth lines offer the racers to embrace the sports car without requiring customizing it after buying from the market. If you are looking to enjoy the race, the S200’s speed will certainly mark a spot in your heart.

2. Mitsubishi Eclipse GTPower : 263 horsepower

Featured in 2 Fast 2 Furious in 2003, the Eclipse GT has been well known due to its alteration options for such a long time. Through times, the Eclipse was improved answering the demand for a better performance parts and more aerodynamic supplies. This car is so cool that you will have the helluva ways to customize it.
Specifically, the Eclipse GT appeared at the car show with 263 horsepower from the 3.8 liter V6 and 260 lb-ft of torque. With the same parts you will be able to hit a quarter mile mark under 15 seconds, but if you decided to move you car a bit faster, you can easily achieve a 10-second time.

The Eclipse has also its own style to be proud of. Its head-on stance is so manly and aggressive. The engineers have shed their bloods to build this car and you can look at car’s profile of its great aerodynamics built in attentively.
Summing it up, the Eclipse GT is not an expensive and a great car for novices who want to drive the best of it. Plus this can be used in daily basis like for commuting or having a ride with beautiful girls in your town. Clever, isn’t it?

3. Nissan Skyline R34 GT-RPower: 276 horsepower

If you take race seriously, grab your Nissan Skyline GT-R as your ace for victory. This car can reach its horsepower 276 at 6,800 rpm in its stock configuration, and may have over 600 horsepower once is it upgraded. This car is so fast which can go a quarter mile in 13.7 seconds off the assembly line.

Since Skyline cannot be easily bought in stateside due to disapproval of US authority for not meeting its country’s standards, you can find a version that is modified to meet certain standards. Alternatively, there is a company named MotoRex which can offer same type of car. This company dedicated their time and effort to pass the required and certain standards putting up these amazing cars into the country. You can also avail the imported parts basically designed for the Skyline.

Better tell your friends to place their bet on your team because winning is likely to happen.

4. Chevrolet Corvette Z06Power: 505 horsepower

The first appearance of The Corvette was unveiled to the public at 1953’s Motorama car show and became known for its staple muscle feature. This car was honored because of its speed legacy and for reviving the old American muscle machine.

The makers at Chevrolet have brought back the ZO6 model in 2008 from losing the limelight in 2006. The newly improved feature installed in the Corvette includes a 7.0 liter V8 giving a mighty 505 horsepower, and having a 470 lb-ft of twisting force. With that kind of forceful power, better fasten your seatbelts to reach the finish line safely.
Upon stepping up the engine, it produces a beautiful sound of 505 horsepower ready to make some actions down the street or race track. Just sit back, relax, be safe, start the engine, then let other eat the dust towards the pot.

5. 2007 Shelby GT500Power: 500 horsepower

The design of GT500 existed when Ford decided to have a joint effort from the legend Carroll Shelby and the Ford Special Vehicle Team to make model cars faster than usual. The result of the efforts of two groups is the 2007 GT500 which was built with the most powerful feature of Mustang that Ford gladly created. That testimonial from a car company made their car ahead from the several past machines.

The Shelby GT500 is powered by a 5.4-liter, 32-valve engine with other features. These other features contributed to the standard Mustang GT producing 500 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Compared with other race cars, this car claims also the speed power legacy.

Sizes of these wheels range from 17 inches to 20 inches for car and truck wheels. Akuza Road Concepts finishes basically include chrome and wet look silver finish that makes a statement of it’s own.

]]> http://www.wheelywheel.com/?feed=rss2&p=167 http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=164 http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=164#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:45:57 +0000 admin http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=164 Got a lifted truck or SUV? Then the Fuel Off-Road wheels are right for you! Have them installed in your rig and be the envy of everyone on the street. Available in chrome, Fuel Off-Road wheels traditionally come in car and truck fitments and feature off-road applications.

They are cast aluminum wheels and typically range in sizes 16 inches for FWD cars to 24 inches for trucks and SUVs. Fuel Off-road wheels are designed to be fit for harsh off-road performance, thus ensuring you of reliability and durability. Fuel Off-Road wheels are great looking, too!

]]> http://www.wheelywheel.com/?feed=rss2&p=164 http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=154 http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=154#comments Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:15:42 +0000 admin http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=154 When we talk about the suspension system, we normally think of the strut, springs and shocks. Little do we know that among the basic suspension part is the vehicle’s tire. It is too crucial that your vehicle’s suspension must be efficient in providing both safety and comfort to the occupants. The suspension system in your Mercedes Benz 300SE actually performs various tasks such as to system maintain correct vehicle ride height, control the vehicle’s direction of travel, reduce the impact of shock forces, support the vehicle’s weight and, maintain correct wheel alignment. Actually, the vehicle in motion is more than just turning its wheels. While it travels, it also continues to adjust and compensate for the road irregularities such as humps.

When your passes through a road surface irregularity, its tire deforms and the suspension displaces. Some of the energy caused by the disturbance is dissipated in the tire, while some amount are dissipated in the damper, and the remainder of the energy is stored in the spring which then releases this energy as a damped oscillation. Suspension components such as shock absorber, strut, or damper are positioned between the sprung and the unsprung masses in order to disperse kinetic energy that is placed into the system.

A good suspension system is that which keeps the wheels in contact with the road surface and makes it possible for the driver to keep the vehicle under smooth control. It is of great help when you know the main components of the suspension system. The spring is the compressible link between the frame and the body that supports the weight of the vehicle, keep the ride height and absorb the road shock. It also allows the body to ride relatively undisturbed while the tires and the suspension follow the bumps along the way. The damper or shock absorber provides desired ride characteristics as well as plays a key role in keeping a good tire-to-road contact which is necessary for handling and safety. It controls the vibration and improves handling and load control.

To further enhance your vehicle’s suspension system, consider upgrading the tires. Literally, tires connect you and your car to the road, so obviously you need to make sure that your tires are performing as they should be. Tire upgrading is at an all time high, and for good reasons. Even if you have the most powerful engine in the world, and the highest quality car performance parts, they won’t do you a bit of good unless you have tires to match. Crappy tires can bring a new and cool car, but great tires can really help an old car.

Once you realize that your car needs new tires, you need to get the best wheel upgrade possible. You’ll need to consider plus sizing, for instance. If your wheels are 15 inches in diameter, you may want to consider upgrading them to 16 or 17 inches. By plus sizing your wheels, you’re improving both the appearance and performance of your car. If you use a wheel with a larger diameter with a low profile tire, you can properly keep the overall diameter of the tire.

Another important factor is alloy wheels. High quality alloy wheels offers great benefits. For instance, you will end up with decreased unsprung weight in comparison to steel wheels. Driving with alloy wheels helps to improve the precision of steering and cornering. This helps with the car’s road holding. Alloy wheels are also made with metals that act as good conductors of heat. This helps improve the brakes’ heat dissipation. In the long run, all the benefits from driving with alloy wheels will play a part in improving fuel economy.

Thankfully, manufacturers are supplying more high quality tires and wheels for us to choose from. The overall quality for car performance is increasing, which makes parts such as tires and wheels more affordable.

]]> http://www.wheelywheel.com/?feed=rss2&p=154 http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=152 http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=152#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:14:49 +0000 admin http://www.wheelywheel.com/?p=152 Most probably, you are among the ride enthusiasts who would go to an auto store, buy trendy and sophisticated accessories without being too anxious about the cost. But that’s not the real thing happening in the market today. What’s really real is that most enthusiasts have become very smart tire and wheels shoppers. That’s true in the last couple of years. Yeah people car owners have become smarter that they would do the tire, themselves and do a research online prior to wheel purchase.

When we shop, we look for the best bang for the bucks. That’s right! Definitely, we don’t mind spending a little more if the tire or wheel is going to last longer. We will get into shopping for custom wheels later but right now let’s concentrate on tires. Let’s loom at an example. If tire A cost’s $50.00, tire B costs $60.00 and tire C costs $100.00 for instance. Tire A has a 40,000 mile treadwear rating however customers do not like it in the reviews. It rides rough and makes our car shake. Tire B rides better has the same mileage rating and has fairly descent reviews. Tire C has a 60,000 mile treadwear warranty and has good reviews.

Now, let’s talk about warranties. Let’s say that 60,000 tire wears out in 50,000 miles. Can I just go an get a new tire free of charge? The answer is NO. Tires are prorated. So just for a rough example the tire cost new $100.00 it now has worn out with 1/5 of its’ life left meaning that you can purchase a new tire to replace it and get a $20.00 rebate so it will cost you $80.00. However you still have to pay for the labor involved which is usually around $15.00. You also need to consider that the the other 3 tires are now almost worn out and if your car has ABS brakes you need to change them all not just one since it will change the circumference and through your ABS system off. So where are you now? You are back at buying 4 new tires at 40,000 miles. You could have saved your self $160.00 buy purchasing the discount tire.

Now let’s talk about reviews a little bit. tire reviews are very important and should be listened to. Sure most of the time the expensive tires will get good reviews. However I have seen many times that the cheap tires actually receive some really good reviews. I myself will buy a cheap tire if the reviews aren’t bad. Hey why not save some money and use it for other things such as gas for my car right?

So my suggestion is to go with what will save you the most money while satisfying your needs. do your research on tires and look into cheap tires as an alternative to the more expensive tires. remember cheap tires can also mean that you just saved money by purchasing your tires at the right time. Many people are shopping online for tires these days. You can really get some cheap tires by shopping online.

Saving money on wheels and rims is another area to look at. You need to ask yourself a few questions. First off am I running the rims in states where they will be exposed to salt? if so then you want to make sure they have a corrosion warranty, or if you live in one of the Northern states then run your custom wheels only in the summer. Many of us here in Vermont have Summer Rims and winter rims that have our snow tires mounted on them.

The next question you want to ask is how long am i keeping the vehicle? remember most rims these days will not fit your new vehicle unless you get the same make and model. Even in this case they may not fit so do your research.

Perhaps the last question should be how much do I want to spend on rims? The price of rims varies extremely. Your not going to get spinners on a steel wheel budget. So my advise is to shop for discount Rims. Many times if you do your rim shopping online you will find some deals. be careful of discontinued styles in case you ruin a rim you will want to be able to replace it. Discount rims are found all over the internet so shop wisely.

I want to share an author’s choice from cars.com. Included in the criteria are the safety features, exterior styling, value and interior comfort. From his choices, I got the first five and here they are.

1. Ford Escape. Updated for 2008 with new styling, the five-seat Ford Escape is an affordable small SUV. It features a number of important safety features — antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and Ford’s AdvanceTrac stability system with Roll Stability Control — that come standard. The Escape can have either a fuel-efficient four-cylinder or a 200-horsepower V-6.

2. The 2008 Honda Civic. On a car review on cars.com, it was revealed that whether you’re a concerned parent or a sensible young person looking for a first car, the Civic can’t be beat. It’s safe, reliable, gets good mileage, retains its value and has a lot of standard features. Heck, even if you’re slightly less responsible, the Civic has sporty handling and a sharp-looking exterior in coupe and sedan models. The interior is futuristic and well made, and the doors shut with a solid thunk. The Civic is one of the best cars on the market for any driver; first-timers certainly won’t go wrong with it.

3. Ford Escape 2008. Updated for 2008 with new styling, the five-seat Ford Escape is an affordable small SUV. It features a number of important safety features — antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and Ford’s AdvanceTrac stability system with Roll Stability Control — that come standard. The Escape can have either a fuel-efficient four-cylinder or a 200-horsepower V-6.

4. Hyundai Sonata 2008. A long list of standard features — like air conditioning, cruise control, antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system — and a low starting price make Hyundai’s Sonata a sensible choice. Both engine choices (four-cylinder or V-6) offer good fuel economy, and the Sonata has a five-year/60,000-mile warranty with five years of roadside assistance.

5. Mini Cooper. The Cooper will easily stand out from the sea of Civics and Mustangs in the high-school parking lot: It’s a Mini, stupid. Pick the base model over the 172-hp Cooper S hatchback, which is pricier and may have too much power (remember, this is a lightweight car) for a first-time driver. Though it’s at an inherent disadvantage in a collision with larger cars, the Cooper comes standard with six airbags and antilock brakes. Parents should appreciate the excellent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal crash-test ratings, too. Those in sunnier parts of the country might also consider the Cooper convertible.

As you can see the year model, these models are new. This means that besides they provide ideal rides for first time drivers, they are also equipped with modern features and components for high performance and dependability.

So welcome to the car world and enjoy your time in the process of learning. Remember that the safest ride is the best ride.

Here are the top 5 street racing cars:

1. Honda S2000 RoadsterPower : 237 horsepower

Starting at $34,050, the S2000 is one of the more expensive cars on the list, but it’s also one of the fastest cars on the showroom floor. With an in-line 4 cylinder engine capable of churning out 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and producing 162 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm, the S2000 balances power with light weight — coming in at only 2,855 pounds. In other words, this car will throw your head back, just give it some gas and enjoy.

The Honda S2000 also has a unique style that will get you noticed if you aren’t doing 99 mph on a quarter-mile track. This car allows you to drop the top after the race and its smooth lines give it the feel of a true sports car without needing after-market modifications. If you’re looking to drive off the lot and go racing, the S2000 will certainly do the trick.2. Mitsubishi Eclipse GTPower : 263 horsepower

The Eclipse GT has been around the tuner world for a long time, and it had a major role in 2 Fast 2 Furious. The demand for better performance parts and more aerodynamic kits for the Eclipse has increased through time, and now you have tons of customizing choices. Not that you necessarily need to. The Eclipse GT rolls off the show room floor with 263 horsepower from the 3.8 liter V6 and 260 lb-ft of torque. With stock parts you will be able to run a quarter mile in under 15 seconds, but should you decide that you want to move a little faster, you can easily take the car down to the 10-second range.

3. Nissan Skyline R34 GT-RPower: 276 horsepower

If you’re serious about racing, the Nissan Skyline GT-R will do the trick. This car is so fast that it was never sold stateside because Nissan refused to comply with U.S. standards. This car produces 276 horsepower at 6,800 rpm in its stock configuration, but can be easily upgraded to over 600 horsepower. This baby can run a 13.7-second quarter mile off the assembly line.

4. Chevrolet Corvette Z06Power: 505 horsepower

The Corvette has been a staple muscle car since it first appeared back in 1953. This car’s legacy as a speed-demon has never disappointed, and Corvette has honored that heritage by bringing back the old American muscle machine. The geniuses at Chevrolet have brought back the Z06 model, which includes a 7.0 liter V8 that pumps out 505 horsepower and puts 470 lb-ft of torque. With this kind of power under the hood, all you will have to worry about at the track is keeping the tread on your tires.

5. 2007 Shelby GT500Power: 500 horsepower

This car comes from racing pedigree. To design the GT500, Ford brought together the legend Carroll Shelby and the Ford Special Vehicle Team, two groups who know how to make cars go fast. The outcome is the 2007 GT500, which is the most powerful factory-built Mustang that Ford has ever produced. That’s a bold statement coming from a car company that has put out some mean machines in the past.

So what makes this car so fast? The dream team at Ford took the basic Mustang GT engine and put all their knowledge and tricks into it. The Shelby GT500 is powered by a supercharged 5.4-liter, 32-valve V8 engine with some extras. These extras are what took the standard Mustang GT from 300 hp to producing 500 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. That means this car will have a lot of kicking power down the stretch.