Almost any vehicle on the road today can be fitted with 15 alloy wheels. The alloys used in the construction of the wheels, is usually either aluminum or magnesium and sometimes both. This results in a product which is lighter but loses none of its strength. These metals are good conductors of heat and have an appealing look.

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.

Braking systems may be improved because of the heat dissipation qualities of the alloys. Carrying away the heat generated by the brakes in unfavorable conditions, may prevent brake failures because of overheating.

Besides having an attractive appearance, the alloys used in the manufacture of the tires are largely resistant to corrosion which means that they can be used with their natural metal finish and do not have to be painted or be fitted with covers. More intricate patterns can be utilized in the design. This is in stark contrast to pressed sheet steel wheels which are usually welded together with the welds clearly visible and which have to be painted and covered with hub caps to make them more aesthetically pleasing.

Because an alloy is a combination of two or more different metals, it is often subjected to galvanic corrosion where the metals react with one another under certain conditions. If not cared for, this may cause air to leak from the tires. When damaged, repairing the alloys may be difficult, but because they cost more, repairing them may prove to be cheaper than replacing them, even if they are badly damaged. This, of course, will depend how the owner feels.

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.

Being a valuable, expensive accessory, they have become a target of thieves, which has prompted manufacturers to come up with methods of protection such as locks on the wheel nuts. These can only be removed by way of a specially fitting key. Most of the wheels produced are cast but a great many are forged. Forging produces a lighter and stronger product, but they are a lot more expensive.

A great proportion of magnesium 14 alloy wheels, also called mags, are being fitted to vehicles by owners who not only want esthetically pleasing accessories, but are also looking for performance improvements. Some aluminum products are mistakenly being called mags by the uninitiated. Some motor cycle manufacturers fit tires wheels with disks cast from magnesium.