How to Pick Rims
Rims, wheels, alloys---whatever you want to call them, they are the most noticeable aspects of your car and are one of the most common changes car enthusiasts (and car owners in general) make. There are also performance advantages that can come with installing a different set of wheels, including less weight and wider tires, both which will improve your vehicle's handling.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
- Wheel catalogs
- Ruler (for measuring wheel bolt pattern)
- Choose the style you want. Thanks to the popularity of aftermarket wheels, there are many choices available, which can make the process confusing. It helps if you have some idea of what look you prefer. Maybe you want a purposeful race look, in which case you should select a three-piece wheel with a painted center while avoiding chromed or polished finishes. Or maybe you want a more "blingy" look, in which case a bright chromed finish is appropriate. Browse wheel catalogs, visit online wheel sources or visit wheel showrooms and tire stores.
- Decide what size you want to use. When car owners install a new set of wheels, they usually install a wheel larger than the existing wheel for a performance and aesthetic upgrade. Generally speaking, it is safe to go with a plus-1 or plus-2 size increase, which increases the diameter of the wheel by 1 or 2 inches. It is possible to install wheels 3 or 4 inches larger in diameter, but keep in mind that you may run into fitment issues if the wheel is too large. You will also affect how the speedometer reads, and you may also negatively impact fuel economy and handling if you install a massive, heavy wheel. Keep in mind that you also need to install lower profile tires when you increase the wheel's diameter to keep the outer dimensions of the wheel and tire package the same.
- Determine what your wheel's bolt pattern and offset is. The bolt pattern is easy to determine. Simply count the number of lug nuts holding your wheel on (there will be four or five on most cars; more on some trucks) and then measure the distance between two of the lug nuts that are across from each other. You will end up with a measurement like 4x100 (four holes, 100 mm across from each other), 5x108, etc. The offset of the wheel is where the wheel sits in relation to the hub when it is installed. Make sure you use the correct offset to avoid problems with the wheels and/or tires rubbing against the bodywork, brakes or suspension. Another measurement you want to determine is the center bore of the wheel, where the hub comes through the center of the wheel.
- Decide what your budget is. There is a huge range of prices for wheels. Some are well under $100 per wheel while some high-end wheels can cost more than $5,000 for a set of four. The larger the wheel is, the more it will cost. Other elements that affect wheel prices are how light they are and how they are made (cast, forged, etc). How much you spend should in part be determined by what you are going to use the car for. If you are racing it or are trying to improve the handling, then you may want to budget more money. If on the other hand you are simply upgrading the appearance or even replacing a set of wheels that have become bent or damaged, you can spend less.
No comments:
Post a Comment