Ever imagined driving a car with plastic wheels? If it hasnâ??t even crossed your mind, well it now will â?? because sooner than we reckon, todayâ??s light-weight alloy wheels may one day be replaced by even lighter plastic wheels or advanced composite versions (read: plastic wheels).
A new testing system has been urban that will allow manufacturers to simulate tests for the wheels in the hope that theyâ??ll one day feature on production cars. The benefits of plastic wheels are their lower expenditure and lighter mass.
Some time ago, plastic specialists have by now been able to develop wheels using glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) components. Unfortunately, they have never been able to test them to meet industry safety regulations. But that may soon exchange with a new simulation urban by Europeâ??s Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft research facility.
According to a department manager at Fraunhofer, Andreas Büter, who spar recently with reporters from Automobilwoche, the simulations use tomography imaging to determine the part, curvature and density of the glass fibers used in the wheel. Those parameters, he says, are crucial for the insistence and maximum stress of the material.
This will allow them to forecast how the wheel may react to impacts to a curb or from a crash, as well as long-term reliability. So far, some prototype examples have been tested successfully beyond 250,000km.
This development should be excellent news, as GRP wheels says Autoblog, should be both lighter and less expensive than their metal counterparts, reducing the unsprung weight of your car and wallet at the same time. People will certainly be watching out for development of this news.
In the meantime, make sure that you maintain your current tires, along with your carâ??s auto parts like your Honda camshaft.
Tires, despite their being among the most vital and easily cared for parts of a vehicle are evenly the most neglected. Here are a few simple tips to help you take care of your tires: