How to Choose Custom Wheels

Before true car enthusiasts can have pride of ownership, they often replace the standard (and often boring) factory wheels with bigger, blingy rims and tires. After all, no ride can be called “custom” without a fresh set of aftermarket shoes!

Adding custom wheels changes the look of your ride, but selecting the best rims for your car can be a challenge. Luckily, your local RimTyme wheel and tire shop has over 800 unique wheels and tires available! In addition to a huge selection, RimTyme installers have the expertise necessary to help you find the correct size that will optimize the performance and look of your ride.

Did you know that changing the tire and wheel size drastically from the factory specifications may void the manufacturer's warranty on a new vehicle? Size affects the way the brakes work, and the size of your tires impacts wear and tear on the drive train and engine. For example:

• Bigger tires cause more stress on the brakes because they have to slow more rotating mass. Larger rims may also cause the vehicle to handle and steer differently.
• Installing significantly smaller wheels could cause your vehicle to sit dangerously low to the ground and have turning issues.

RimTyme customers usually come into our wheel and tire shops knowing what price they want to pay and how they want their new custom rims to look, but technical details like wheel material, wheel offset, and size affect your car’s performance and are often overlooked. It's important to consult a rim and tire expert who can help you navigate thru the seemingly endless options, and RimTyme is here to help.

Here are some basic considerations you should include when shopping for the best custom wheels and tires for your car, truck, or SUV.

Performance

• Choose light alloy wheels if you need high performance or plan on racing a vehicle. Heavy, steel rims will only slow down your car by adding unnecessary weight and lower the driving performance.
• Commuters who encounter stop and go traffic may want to select alloy wheels because alloy rims provide cool air flow over your brake system. Alloy wheels help prevent overheating.
• Select rims smaller than your current set if you need to reduce overall weight of your car, truck, or SUV. Over the life of your car, you can save a few cents on every fill up by carrying less total vehicle weight, and that can really add up to significant savings over the life of your vehicle.
• Wider rims will improve your vehicle's handling because rims with a wider base are proven to be best for acceleration and cornering.
• Steel wheels with a sturdy interior structure are best for vehicles that will be doing heavy work or off road driving.

Size and Offset

• Installing rims that are one or two inches larger than the stock factory wheels can help improve performance.
• Choose custom wheels with a maximum–load rating compatible with your vehicle.
• Find wheels that match the bolt pattern of your automobile, and make sure to buy rims that have the same number of lug nut holes as your hubs.
• Smaller rims can improve handling and torque, but smaller tires can provide rougher ride and can wear the tires faster.
• When plus sizing your rims, maintain the tire aspect ratio. This will keep the tread wear close to normal and can extend the length of the tires.

Price

• Cheap prices often mean cheap quality in aftermarket wheels, so go for quality and take advantage of RimTyme's flexible, easy, and fair lease to own payment plans.