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Mag Wheels

The term “mag wheels” is short for magnesium alloy wheels. These wheels are used in racing because of their extremely light weight. They are the lightest wheels currently available on the market. However, they are also the most expensive wheels around.

While you could technically put mag wheels on a non-racing car, the cost is prohibitive. You can put full out led wheels at a cost of 10-15 thousand dollars, but that cost would only cover one magnesium alloy wheel. They are really that expensive. And because of their composition, the wheels are less durable than other alloys. The magnesium reacts to things such as water, which can weaken wheels that get wet frequently.

Perhaps the greatest issue facing mag wheels is safety. They are a fire hazard on race tracks. I know, anything will likely catch on fire at 200 miles an hour, but magnesium burns with an intensity few other materials can match. When one of these wheels catches fire, it’s nearly impossible to put out. It burns so hotly that it liquefies the pavement around the wheel, creating a track hazard in addition to the 6000 degree flames it produces. Some organizations ban the use of magnesium alloy in auto parts for this reason.

 

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