Truck wheels, Chrome, and Custom
You may hear the phrase “(insert new technology) is the best invention since the wheel” and brush it off as a simple idiom without giving it anymore thought. You’re passivity is understandable; heralding the wheel’s greatness is as tired as explaining the importance of fire. But that doesn’t make the history and information any less interesting or important. As one of the first simple machines, the wheel has become a symbol of unrelenting progress.
Wheels intended for the sake of transportation have advanced human efficiency beyond our comprehension. The first known wheels were from adapted from pottery wheels in the 4th Century BC, but the first spoke-wheel (commonly seen in modern transportation) didn’t emerge until around 2000 BC. Further innovations–including the invention of rubber–paved the way for all types of tires, including those fitted for cars, trucks and even tractors.
Because tires are so important to the overall function of a vehicle (and the safety of the passengers within), they’re subject to a uniform grading system from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA system grades tires on all the following: tread wear, traction, and temperature. Tread is the outer side of a wheel, the part that touches the ground. Depending on what conditions you’re driving in, the tread will be very different. For example, snow tires have a deeper, more pronounced tread than city tires. The tread score comes from testing the tire on a government test track and then assigning it a score based on the performance of the wheel. The number is a good rough estimate on how long the wheel will last.
The traction score is based off how well a tire will be able to stop a car on wet concrete or asphalt. The traction of any given wheel is given a letter grade: AA, A, B or C and wheels who do not earn any of these grades are considered too unsafe to be on the road. Many of Firestones models have been given a “B” score, which does not fare well for the company.
Finally, the tires are rated on how well they handle heat. It’s important to always have the right amount of air in a tire (consult the vehicle’s handbook for an accurate gauge). Over or under-inflated heat up faster–which can lead to dangerous wear and even blow-outs.
Tires have become symbols of class and style for the distinguished motorist. Luxury cars may have all the interior benefits of comfort, but many people prefer the aesthetic that chrome plating gives their wheels. Chrome is a lustrous metal that shines brilliantly when it is clean–which brings warranted attention to any fancy car. Powder coating tires has become increasingly popular as well. The process is very fast: parts (tires) are coated in a 400 degree oven for 10-20 minutes–resulting in some very colorful, custom wheels.
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