It’s no surprise that when people want to improve the look of their car, the first thing they look at is new wheels. Wheel tuning is the easiest way to personalize your car and express yourself, but it’s easy to get it wrong, and your choice of wheels can actually change the look of your car in a negative way. It’s important to choose new wheels correctly, which will definitely add visual appeal and improve driving performance. If done incorrectly, it will be one of the most expensive mistakes you’ll ever make.
Luckily, car enthusiasts today have a huge range of options when it comes to choosing wheels. There are plenty of wheels available in retail stores, and you can also buy them online for even less. But before you pull out your wallet or credit card, there are some important considerations you need to know when choosing wheels.
No matter what wheels you have your eye on, there are a few things you need to take into account. These include the rim diameter, the rim width, the rim offset, the number and diameter of the mounting holes, and the design of the wheel itself. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Rim Diameter
The diameter of your new rims is an important factor to consider when replacing the original wheels on your car. The explanation is simple, the diameter is a measure of how big the wheel circle is – but it is not measured across the surface of the wheel as is commonly thought, but instead from the sides of the rim – this is the surface onto which the tire sits – this is called the rim seat diameter. It is important that the overall diameter i.e. The outside diameter of your car’s tires remains the same, so any increase in wheel diameter always means that you will need to use lower profile tires (reducing the aspect ratio of the tire) to maintain the same overall outside diameter of the wheel.
What you need to remember is that upgrading to a larger diameter wheel will greatly improve the appearance of your car and improve the moment of response. But on the other hand, you will see a decrease in ride comfort due to lower profile tires. Your car will “rattle” more and the ride will suffer, with a greater risk of damaging the wheels on poor roads. As a rule, it is recommended to stick to the same size wheels that your car came with, or limit the increase in your wheel to 1 or 2 inches.
On the other hand, choosing a smaller diameter wheel will improve the ride comfort and smoothness of your car at the expense of some handling and visual aesthetics. While it is rare for people to reduce the size of their wheels, it is also important to check the clearance between the caliper and the rim of the wheel.
Rim Width
It is important to compare the width of your new wheels with the original wheels installed on your car. Wheel width should be considered in combination with wheel offset. In addition, wheel width affects the choice of tires, since the tire is designed to be used with a wheel of a certain width with some small error.
Narrower wheels tend to improve the comfort of the car, as well as improve cornering on wet roads, less effort to turn the steering wheel, and reduce fuel consumption. Conversely, wider wheels allow you to install wider tires, improving the behavior of the car at speed, increasing directional stability and a beautiful appearance.
As you might have guessed, the width of the wheel directly affects the width of the tires. Choosing wider rims with narrower tires can result in more vibration and reduced ride comfort because the sidewalls of the tire are under tension as they stretch on the rim. Choosing wider tires will improve ride quality and handling, but may result in the tire hitting the body and fenders or other suspension components during cornering. As a result, it is very important to change the wheel width correctly from the start to avoid problems.
Wheel offset, number and diameter of mounting holes
Wheel offset can be positive, negative or zero. The greater the offset, the deeper the rim sits in the wheel arch, and the smaller it is, the more the rim protrudes outward. Every vehicle has an optimum offset range, and the further you deviate from it, the greater the chance that the wheel will be installed incorrectly and cause accelerated wear on the bearings and chassis.
When upgrading your vehicle’s factory wheels, it is also important that your new wheels have the exact same mounting hole diameter. This is very important: if the center hole of the rim is too small, the rim simply will not fit, and if it is too large, centering rings will be required to center the rim on the hub.
Steel or Aluminum Wheels?
Wheels are traditionally made from two types of materials: a lightweight metal alloy (aluminum) or steel. On passenger vehicles with a lower specific gravity, manufacturers often use steel wheels with plastic caps as a cost-cutting measure, allowing the vehicle to be sold at a lower price. Higher-spec models will almost always be offered with more attractive alloy wheel designs. But when it comes to 4x4s, the choice isn’t so clear.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of each:
Steel wheels
- Cheaper than alloy wheels
- Never split or crack;
- Can bend under hard impacts, and can be fixed by straightening;
- Heavier than alloy wheels, reducing the car’s performance and increasing fuel economy;
- Available in fewer styles and colours.
Alloy Wheels
- Stronger than steel wheels;
- Available in a wider range of styles, finishes and sizes;
- Lighter than steel wheels, improving vehicle performance and fuel economy;
- Can crack from very hard impacts, often not repaired;
- Typically more expensive than steel wheels.
So which is better?
Taking into account the above considerations, alloy wheels are almost always the ideal choice for passenger cars. Their stronger construction and lighter weight mean that the vehicle will have better handling, performance and fuel economy, as well as of course, looking better visually.
For 4WD vehicles, the benefits of steel or alloy wheels are left to the discretion of the vehicle owner to suit their type of driving. For people who frequently drive in harsh, remote conditions, the ruggedness of steel wheels will be more appealing. Their inherent strength and ability to bend (rather than crack) means that you will never be left stranded if you take a hard hit. For everyone else, alloy wheels win out in almost every case.
Finally, the question of style
Once you have considered all of the above points, the easy part remains – choosing a style that you think will suit you! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so there are no standard tips we can give you here other than our own preferences.
For white or lighter coloured cars I think dark coloured wheels such as black, gunmetal grey or silver will look the best.
For silver or coloured cars are grey/alloy wheels or a colour that contrasts with the colour of your car. Black can look great too.
For black or dark coloured cars are silver or chrome. Black wheels on a black car rarely look good unless it is a company vehicle.
You may not agree with our colour suggestions, but there is no accounting for taste and that is what makes the world so interesting. If we all drove the same cars with the same wheels the world would be an incredibly boring place. Choose your wheels wisely, and according to your own tastes, you can’t go wrong – and if you have any doubts, consult a professional.
REMEMBER: You can always contact our car service, where your car will be gladly provided with professional technical assistance. You can also sign up for a scheduled technical inspection with us! Please familiarize yourself with our services for car repair and diagnostics.
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Car service WEBER-AUTO
194044, St. Petersburg
Neyshlotskiy pereulok, house 5, building 3
District: Vyborgsky
Metro: Vyborgskaya – 800 m.
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Seven days a week, from 9:00 to 21:00.
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sto@veberauto.ru
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8 (812) 321-00-00
Source: veber-service
