Wheel design and engineering

Consumer demand is driving the automakers' move to large-diameter, shiny, alloy wheels.

Wheels are probably the most overlooked, but most fundamental, part of any car. Though enthusiasts may dress up their cars with custom wheels, they have typically garnered little attention from mainstream consumers until recently. But automakers have had to decide among the available wheel designs, materials, and manufacturing processes since they were choosing between a wooden- or wire-spoked wheel to fit to their flivver.

Those 19th century issues haven't changed much for automakers in the 21st century, but despite the current popularity of nostalgic designs, it seems safe to say that the wooden-spoked wheels will stay in the museums. The old standby, the stamped steel wheel finished with paint and dressed up with a hubcap, is in steady decline and now holds less than half the market, according to wheel suppliers, due to high consumer demand for large-diameter, shiny, alloy wheels.