| When automobile production first began decades ago, | | | | rims undergo a process whereby it is coated with a |
| the universal rims provided by car manufacturers with | | | | thin layer of chrome metal. This gives the rims the |
| their vehicles were steel rims. These steel rims were | | | | shine and luster associated with the chrome wheel. |
| standard on almost every vehicle, and drivers generally | | | | |
| had few or no options when it came to switching | | | | To many, the chrome wheel is simply another fixture in |
| these steel rims for other rims. This was because rims | | | | the hip hop culture scene, where cars are made as |
| made of other materials had not yet been developed, | | | | extravagant and flashy as possible with the use of |
| and it would be some time before alternatives to steel | | | | many a shiny chrome wheel. While it is true that the |
| rims hit the open market. | | | | chrome wheel has been widely used simply for the |
| | | | | sake of appearances, it does have practical benefits |
| Some time after the invention of the automobile, | | | | for drivers who choose to use chrome rims instead of |
| however, manufacturers of car parts began to | | | | simply alloy rims in their vehicles. |
| develop rims using newly discovered materials, such | | | | |
| as alloys. Rims made of these alloys would eventually | | | | The plating covering a chrome wheel imparts a few |
| come to replace steel rims as the industry standard. | | | | important advantages to chrome rims that regular rims |
| | | | | lack. The first of these is that a chrome wheel is highly |
| An alloy is simply a combination or mixture of two or | | | | resistant to corrosion – much more so than regular |
| more different metals, that when combined, are | | | | alloy rims. This is because chrome is a very unreactive |
| stronger and more durable than either of the original | | | | metal and the chrome plating also provides an added |
| two metals in their pure form. Because of this, alloy | | | | layer of defense against corrosion. A chrome wheel is |
| rims are stronger and better than steel rims, making | | | | also able to withstand more extreme temperatures |
| them the rims of choice for many drivers and car | | | | and weather conditions than a regular wheel. Finally, a |
| manufacturers. Alloy rims are also lighter than steel | | | | chrome wheel is much stronger and more durable than |
| rims, and this provides drivers with greater control and | | | | a regular wheel. |
| handling over their vehicles. | | | | |
| | | | | All of these benefits make chrome wheels much more |
| The advent of the chrome wheel came with the | | | | attractive to many drivers as compared to regular |
| development of methods to coat objects with thin | | | | wheels. If you are interested in maintaining a higher |
| layers of metal. In this case, alloy rims are covered | | | | standard of safety while on the roads, then you should |
| with a layer of chrome. Some people mistakenly | | | | definitely think about replacing the standard wheels on |
| believe that a chrome wheel is made entirely of the | | | | your car with chrome wheels. There is a world of |
| metal chromium, but this is false. Instead, standard alloy | | | | difference just waiting to be discovered by you. |