High-temperature-aging-induced deep encapsulation of metal particles by the support material in supported-metal catalysts, recently observed in ceria-zirconia-supported Pd catalysts, is also found in comparable Rh catalysts but not Pt catalysts. Aging temperature and Pd loading thresholds to encapsulation are compared for supported Pd catalysts made from ceria-zirconia of varying surface area stability and composition. (C) 1999 Academic Press.