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Diamond Alloys Wheel Repair Centre Receives Delivery of New Multiwheel Pressure Blast Cabinet

Diamond Alloys is committed to ensuring all equipment is bang up to date and has therefore just taken delivery of a state of the art Multiwheel Pressure Blast Cabinet.

This investment into the business will help keep pace with the growing demands of their modern and efficient alloy wheel refurbishment business.

What are the Benefits of a Multiwheel Pressure Blast Cabinet?
The pressure blaster will not only improve the time to prepare wheels for painting but also at the same time enhance the final finish. It’s a great piece of kit to complement our existing Aqua Blaster and essentially means better wheels and a speedier service!

What is Shot Blasting?
Shot blasting is basically the attacking of the surface of a material with one of many types of shot. Normally this is done to remove scale or rust, but can also be done to impart a particular surface finish. The shot can be sand, small steel balls or granules of silicon carbide.

Shot blasting is an extremely efficient and cost-effective process – it is much faster than conventional means of material removal and an essential piece of kit to ensure Diamond Alloys stays ahead of the competition and remains the best Alloy Wheel Repair Centre in West London!

If your alloy wheels need repairing, or if you are a bodyshop repair centre or leasing company with a fleet of cars to maintain then give Diamond Alloys a call on 0845 370 8881 or email here for competitive prices and an excellent service!

Alloys with an edge – how our rim band service can help your wheels

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Modern alloy wheels might look great, but they do come with some challenges. For example, because they’re bigger than ever, alloy wheels are more and more prone to damage sustained by hitting kerbs or going over potholes.

The solution to this problem is rim bands, a simple stretchy band of high strength, tear resistant silicone rubber. Available in nine attractive colours: yellow, silver, white, red, pink, orange, lime, black and blue, these bands not only protect your alloys but also add an extra splash of style to your wheels. You could, for example, choose a colour that matches your car’s body paint.

The rim bands work by fitting snugly around the wheel: to ensure a perfect fit they have a large tail section that fits into the wheel’s barrel, which guarantees they attain exactly the right level of stretch. This tight seal ensures that there’s no risk of air loss. In addition, they have five gripping ribs which stop them from slipping off the wheel while the car is in motion.

These rims not only protect your alloys from bumps and scratches, but are also do no damage to the wheel they reside on thanks to their material composition. The bands are great value too: they’re very durable thanks to a special coating of Flurobond sealant, which protects the rubber from brake dust.

These brilliant bands are available for 15-22 inch wheels, and can be supplied and fitted by any wheel and tyre specialist. We fit rim bands (£50 for four) for free during any refurbishment, or charge just £15 for a separate fitting. To enquire about this service, which takes just 24 hours, please contact us today.

Are Bigger Wheels Going to be Better for Your Car?

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There’s a trend in the automotive industry towards bigger wheels, meaning that what might have been seen as large a few years ago is now considered decidedly average.

Before you rush to change your set, however, read our guide to both up- and down-sizing. Your wheels have a significant impact on your performance, so it’s worth taking your time on any upgrade decision. Don’t forget you can call us for advice if you need it!

More is More – Bigger Wheels

There’s no denying that big rims are beautiful, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a supercar that doesn’t have enlarged wheels. Although they look pretty, there are limits – if you have too big a rolling radius then your speedometer will give you a reading that’s less than it ought to be.

Not only will this have you questioning your car’s performance, but it also might land you in hot water with the police! A rolling radius too large for your car will also dull the acceleration because it will introduce gearing changes. Furthermore, it will also make your car sit higher, meaning you either feel a bit awkward or need to get your suspension lowered!

The rolling radius is the distance measured from the centreline of the axle to the ground, hence its crucial role in calculating the vehicle’s speed. Your manufacturer will have provided you with guidelines as to what this should be, because the degree to which your tyres are inflated affects this. If you want to enlarge your wheels for aesthetic reasons, you’re therefore going to have to make the tyre height smaller to compensate for the larger diameter of your rim – simple! Any reputable custom or tyre shop will be able to look at your existing set of wheels and make recommendations that will be both practical and beautiful.

Less is More – Smaller Wheels

Bigger wheels are not, however, the only way to go. Smaller rims can be very striking and, on the right car, very special.

They come with a host of benefits, too. Because the rims are smaller, meaning you’re working with a small rolling radius, you can use a higher profile tyre and ensure your ride is super comfortable.

If you’re more the boy racer type, however, you can also make your suspension so low you’ll be waving to the worms as you drive past.

As we saw with the bigger wheels, however, there are also associated problems.

Not only might you have ground clearance problems if you’ve gone for the low-suspension option, but you’ll also suffer from a speedometer that thinks it’s going faster than it really is!

Not perhaps a problem in itself, but it might cause a few wobbles amongst nervous passengers!

A very real problem, however, is brake clearance. If you have a particularly sporty car, or have invested in some high-quality brakes, you might find that they’re longer than your new small rims.

There is very little you can do in this situation, which is why consulting a professional before you make any alterations to your wheels is vital. We’re always on hand to provide tips and advice – give us a call today on 0845 370 8881.

Amazing Customer Feedback For Range Rover Wheel Repair

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At Diamond Alloys we love getting great feedback from our customers. It’s always good to know our work is not only appreciated but passed on to friends; it’s a real endorsement for our quality workmanship and customer service. We are delighted to let Ray Blight tell his own story here…..

“I recently had the need to refurb one diamond alloy on my Range Rover Sport, due to unfortunate circumstances. I was fortunate to come across Diamond Alloys website, a highly professional business and operating with a team of qualified automotive engineers. Amerjit informed me of some minor damage on the other wheels and offered to do much better deal for all 4 wheels to be refurbished. Upon doing this work, Amerjit also mentioned they could colour-code the wheels to match in with my Range Rover Sport, for no extra charge.

I’ve already recommended Amerjit’s expertise to one friend and will continue to recommend Diamond Alloys to anyone I know that requires wheel repairs or any custom wheel design(s).. Amerjit, I can’t thank you enough, best regards Ray!!”

Take a look at the before and after pictures that Ray sent us and you’ll see that not only did we get rid of the damage but we also gave his Range Rover alloys a great new look too. This look was achieved by combining a colour paint and diamond cut which really accentuates the beauty of the rim design.

Bling Up Your BMW Alloys with a Diamond Alloys Refurbishment

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Take a look at customer Alan Ayoub’s BMW. His car arrived to us with alloys wheels that looked in serious disrepair. Very bad scuffs around the side of the alloys, as well as bad corrosion on the centre and the back of the alloys gave the impression that the rims were beyond repair and our customer might have to spend a lot of money buying new alloys.

However, the guys at Diamond Alloys are well used to seeing rims in this condition and know exactly how to restore them back to a beautiful finish. The rims were fully stripped back to remove any corrosion before being carefully prepped by our guys in our workshop. A powder coat was applied for a smooth finish before the final colour and protective lacquer layer was applied. The result is stunning and fitting for this impressive supercar.

If you think your alloy wheels are beyond repair don’t worry, send us a picture and we will give you a quick quote and even a discount when you book all 4 wheels in at the same time. Call us on 0845 370 8881 or email us today!

Deciphering Your Car Tyres

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We’re always telling you about the manufacturer’s specifications, and how you should use them to determine what tyres and alloys will fit your car best. To make life easier, we’ve compiled a quick guide to what all the numbers and letters mean, which will all be located in the same place on a standard tyre wall. These are essential statistics to know when you’re thinking about buying new wheels and alloys, so it’s worth familiarising yourself with them now.

Aspect ratio
This is simply how the width of the tyre relates to its height. Only the sidewall height is taken into account, so this measurement should be taken from a section and not of how high the tyre stands on the ground.

Aspect ratio is expressed as a percentage, so a tyre with an aspect ratio of 60 will have a height that is equal to 60% of its width. Low profile tyres therefore have lower aspect ratio numbers.

Load index
This number refers to how much weight the tyre can safely carry. You need to look up this number in a tyre load index table, which will tell you how your number converts to a number in kilograms. When buying new tyres, always ensure that you buy those with a load index suitable for your car, otherwise you might not be going anywhere fast!

R
If you see R on your tyre it stands for ‘radial’. Almost every consumer tyre you’ll come across these days is radial rather than cross-ply construction, but it’s still important to check as you should never mix the two styles.

Rim diameter
This is simply the size of the wheel that the tyre will fit onto. Whatever number you find on your tyre, it will be measured in inches.

Section width
This is the width of the tyre’s tread, measured in millimetres. It’s the other figure used to calculate aspect ratio.

Speed rating
This is, perhaps surprisingly, a letter not a number. It should be a figure between H and Z on the alphabet and corresponds to how fast your tyre can go. S, for example, is limited to 112MPH. Check your letter and then look it up on a tyre speed rating table – this will ensure you stay safe on the road. A quick note on the letter Z. This will appear alongside another speed rating (which will give you a more specific figure) and simply means your car can travel at speeds of more than 150MPH – so you’ll see this a lot on supercar tyres!

Diamond Alloys Standard Refurbishment Service

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Annoyingly, it’s all too easy to damage your wheels. Whether you’re driving along or trying to park, chips and scratches can seem to just magically happen to your alloys, no matter how careful a driver you are.

When it happens to you, don’t despair: the good news is that you don’t have to go to the expense of buying new wheels. A professional refurbishment can have your alloys looking brand new, without leaving a corresponding dent in your wallet.

Our technicians are on hand to advise you as to the best options for your wheels, and it’s worth remembering that you don’t necessarily have to replicate your old look – why not try a new colour or finish to spruce up the aesthetic of your whole car? Whatever option you choose, we guarantee a stunning result.

The process itself is quick, meaning that you won’t lose out on valuable driving time, and all our work comes with a full 12 month wheel refurbishment warranty.

To achieve best results, our process begins with an acid bath, which strips the wheels down to the bare metal.

To ensure that a full clean is achieved, we then use an AquaBlast machine to remove any residual material. After this, we use three coats of different paints to create a high quality durable finish for the alloys, guaranteeing you’ll be enjoying the refurbishment for a long time to come.

These layers are: a powder coat primer to help prevent corrosion, a coat of paint, and an acrylic lacquer to ensure the wheels are protected from the elements.

The colour selection is up to you: you can select one of our current colours, all high quality paints, or we can find the exact match to your current wheels. We highly recommend our shadow chrome finish if you’re looking for that distinctive metallic sheen.

The final step is to send the alloys through quality control, to ensure that they meet our rigorous standards. Then, the tyres are refitted, inflated to the correct pressure and re-balanced, and checked once more before we are happy that they’re ready for you to collect. To keep the refurbished wheels in pristine condition, we recommend you clean them at least twice a week with a car sponge and wheel cleaner.

Porsche 911 Carrera Gets a Stunning Painted Alloy Wheel Refurbishment

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When you own a stunning performance car like this Porsche 911 Carrera you want to keep the alloys in tip top condition and looking good. However, even performance cars suffer the same problems as your everyday run around. These alloys sadly suffered with corrosion on the inside of the alloys, as well as minor scuffs on the faces, no problem for our technicians who are skilled at repairing performance cars like this Porsche.

The alloy wheels were chemically stripped back, sanded on the inside to remove all the corrosion that’s wasn’t removed in the acid tank and then painted to colour match the car’s bodywork.

Our happy customer Claude was very pleased with the refurbished alloys and spoke very highly about the whole team, especially with the way our customer care team kept him up to date with the progress and because we also completed the alloys one day early.

Claude was so pleased he emailed to say “Hi Dali, I picked up the car earlier today. The wheels look fantastic (brand new) and the car drives beautifully. I would have no hesitation recommending your services. Rgds, Claude.”

Whether you have a performance car or a standard run around the guys at Diamond Alloys are on standby to give you a quote and a great finish for your rims! Call us on 0845 370 8881 or email for your personalized quote.

Corrosion Killer – Alloys Wheels Worst Enemy!

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Take a close look at these images and you will see there was severe corrosion damage on the alloys. This damage is caused when the protective lacquer layer is compromised by kerbing damage, water seeps underneath making them corrode and look unsightly. However, do not fear, Diamond Alloys is here to come to the rescue for such problems. You’ll be pleasured to read that you don’t have to buy expensive new alloys! We have the skilled technicians to eradicate corrosion to give them a newly finished look you’ll appreciate.

We turned these Mercedes SL500 alloy wheels around in 3 working days, refurbishing them back to the OEM finish (manufacture finish). Compare the before and after finish and you’ll be impressed by the transformation.

Our customer was very happy with the result and improved condition when he collected his alloys, and has promised he will be telling all his mates about the great job we did at Diamond Alloys.

How to extend the life of your car tyres

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A good car tyre will last you around 10 years at the most, but many people won’t even get that far because they don’t take proper care of their tyres. Rather than waste money replacing your tyres more often than you have to, you can embark on a simple car and maintenance regime that will both save you money and ensure that yours performs as well, and drives as safely, as it possibly can. Here’s our four step guide to helping your tyres live a long and healthy life.

1. Check your tyre pressure every week.
Invest in a tyre pressure gauge, which allows you to easily take this reading at home rather than trek to the nearest garage. To measure the pressure, simply unscrew the air intake cap and press the gauge against it, allowing air to pass from the former to the latter. You can check what the resulting number means by looking at your car’s manual, or checking the figure imprinted onto the tyre. It’s important to keep your tyre pressure within the recommended margin for safety reasons, and remember that a lower pressure might improve performance, but a higher pressure will give you a longer tyre life. Avoid, however, over-inflating the tyre as it may cause extensive tread wear in the centre.

2. Examine your tyres for gashes
There are myriad ways of damaging your tyres on the road, ranging from potholes to nails and fragments of glass. It’s much better to repair small cuts as you find them, rather than wait for them to cause a serious rip, or put up with a tyre constantly deflating.

3. Rotate your tyres every 6,000 miles
This is a key way of preserving your tyres for a longer life, by promoting even tread wear. The most convenient way of doing this is to ask them to be rotated by a mechanic when you get an oil change. If you’re doing it yourself, however, then avoid switching tyres on the same axle or moving them in a criss-cross pattern. Switch wheels between axles, keeping them on the same side of the car, and remember to use a reliable car jack to avoid injuries.

4. Ensure your tyres are properly aligned
Get a professional to balance and align your tyres – they have special equipment that enables them to do it properly. Your mechanic will ensure that your tyres are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other, something that prevents poor handling and performance of your vehicle. If you feel that your car is constantly pulling, or you hit a pothole when you’re driving fast, it’s worth making a trip to get your tyres re-aligned.