Which Type of Wheel Hub Produces More Noise?
2 Answers
Steel wheel hubs produce more noise. Both steel and aluminum alloy wheel hubs have their own advantages and disadvantages. The wheel hub is the rotating part of the wheel rim connected to the wheel core via spokes, which is the metal component mounted on the axle that supports the tire. The following are some key points about aluminum alloy wheel hubs: Aluminum alloy wheel hubs have better hardness: Compared to ordinary steel wheel hubs, steel wheel hubs offer better toughness but poorer hardness, while aluminum alloy wheel hubs are the opposite—they have better hardness but poorer toughness. Aluminum alloy wheel hubs provide better stability: Due to their material and manufacturing process, steel wheel hubs exhibit poor stability at high speeds, whereas aluminum alloy wheel hubs perform well in terms of stability at high speeds. Additionally, aluminum alloy wheel hubs outperform steel ones in terms of acceleration and heat dissipation.
Last year, I switched to a set of aftermarket flow-formed wheels and only then noticed the noise issue. These wheels with extensive hollowed-out designs are particularly prone to wind noise, especially when driving at high speeds through tunnels—the howling gets really intense. My mechanic friend mentioned that ultra-wide wheels also tend to create resonance chambers at the tire seams. Nowadays, those deep-dish wheels with a racing style might look cool, but they amplify tire noise exponentially. It wasn’t until I tried a friend’s car that I realized forged wheels, with their superior structural integrity, indeed produce much less noise. For anyone considering wheel upgrades, I’d recommend prioritizing enclosed or low-drag designs over just going for flashy looks.
