| "Wheelskin" is a relatively new term. Wheelskins were | | | | became available and prices decreased. |
| invented in the late 1990s to provide an inexpensive | | | | Chrome, the final fashion statement, was applied to |
| way to put chrome on styled wheels. | | | | all varieties of styled wheels. This option is popular |
| If you would like to read this article with pictures of | | | | but expensive, in the range of several hundred dollars |
| classic cars that illustrate the examples given, go to | | | | per wheel. Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of |
| After WWII, auto racing enthusiasts introduced new | | | | actual chrome plating on auto wheels is its tendency |
| technologies and materials to every aspect of race | | | | to corrode when exposed to winter salt driving |
| cars to reduce weight and improve speed and | | | | conditions. Hence the fine print caveat in the |
| handling. One of those improvements, 'mag wheels' | | | | warrantees of chrome wheel manufacturers: "Do not |
| remains in the vernacular to this day. Halibrand | | | | drive chrome wheels in snow!" and "Salt can |
| magnesium wheels carried every car that won the | | | | deteriorate and corrode your chrome." |
| Indy 500 from 1946 to 1963. Those early wheels | | | | Wheelskins were invented in the late 1990s to |
| were made of magnesium, which was far lighter than | | | | provide an inexpensive way to put brilliant chromed |
| steel, and a even third lighter than aluminum. The | | | | plastic covers on styled wheels. Precision molds were |
| major drawback of the true magnesium wheel was | | | | designed to produce inexpensive corrosion resistant |
| the need to polish it regularly, because magnesium | | | | covers that perfectly match the geometry of styled |
| reacts rapidly to air and water to produce a heavy | | | | wheels, and 'fit like a glove' or like a second skin. |
| surface oxide, which then pits. The shift to aluminum | | | | There are several manufacturers of wheelskins, the |
| alloys reduced these problems. | | | | two best known are the Impostors (TM) and the |
| Early aluminum alloy wheels were made in fairly simple | | | | Wheelskins brands. There is only one model of |
| designs. As more sophisticated, high strength molding | | | | Wheelskin that matches each specific styled wheel, |
| and forging processes were developed, more | | | | and that wheelskin does not fit any other wheel. |
| intricate and artistic designs became common. The | | | | Styled Wheels do not have the normal recess inside |
| original purpose of decreased weight for track | | | | of the bead for standard hubcaps to mount into. |
| performance metamorphosed to style and | | | | Therefore, Wheelskins were designed with metal clips |
| expression. Adoption of "styled" alloy wheels became | | | | to grab the outer edge of the rim or wheel, the way |
| widespread in high-end street machines of German | | | | a wheel weight does. The latest Wheelskins models |
| manufacture, and as expensive aftermarket options | | | | use center clips that grab the wheel at the base of |
| for the rest. Finally, major American and Japanese | | | | its spokes. |
| manufacturers began offering styled alloy wheels first | | | | Wheelskins have become the best-kept secret in the |
| as options, and in the late '80s as standard features. | | | | wheel fashion industry. Once installed, you can not tell |
| The top models of even the economy brands | | | | the difference between them and real chromed |
| offered styled steel wheels. | | | | wheels from more than 5 feet away. Thousands of |
| The advent of styled alloy wheels opened a new | | | | sets are sold to new and used auto retailers, who |
| range of stylistic expression to auto owners. Spoke | | | | mount them on the vehicles on their lots. Those |
| and swirl patterns could extend seamlessly to the | | | | thousands of vehicles are sold to customers who are |
| outer edge of the wheel. As computerized machining | | | | very happy they have purchased chrome wheels at |
| technology advanced, it became less expensive to | | | | a bargain price. |
| engineer the molds, so a larger selection of designs | | | | |