Magnesium alloy wheel

  Magnesium alloy wheels, or mag wheels, are sometimes used on racing cars, in place of heavier steel or aluminium wheels, for better performance. The wheels are produced by one-step hot forging from magnesium alloys ZK60 and MA-14 (Russian variation of ZK60). Cast magnesium disks are used in motocycle wheels.

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The mass of typical magnesium automotive wheel is about 8–12 kg (depending on model).

Magnesium wheels are flammable and have been banned in some forms of motorsport in the UK following fires which are very difficult to extinguish. Mag wheels have been known to catch fire in competition use after a punctured tyre has allowed prolonged scraping of the wheel on the road surface. Some varians of Magnesium alloy wheels may have low corrosion resistance.

They have the disadvantages of being rather expensive and not practical for most street vehicles. Aluminium wheels are often mistakenly called "mag wheels".

See also

• Auto racing
• Alloy wheels