How To Choose New Truck Rims - AllCarIndex
Vehicles are a special thing for many people in the United States. In fact, one in four vehicle owners considers their vehicles to be something very special and unique. Trucks in particular are one of the most versatile, easily customized vehicles a person can own. They're also a ton of fun to drive-not to mention their sleek appearance. Once in a while, an upgrade doesn't have to be a purely visual one. It can be to an accessory or some essential part of the truck, such as the wheels. In fact, new wheels/rims can be a fantastic upgrade! How else can you be the envy of all of the other drivers on the road while taking around your truck and style? With that goal in mind, here's a quick guide to choosing brand new truck rims.
Understand The Relationship Between Wheel and Rim Size
It's not uncommon to see wheels and rims come up in the same conversation, especially when planning and upgrading. But there is a difference between wheels and rims. The wheel, well, the entire wheel. It holds the tire, has a space for bolts/mounting, and a hub that attaches to a vehicle axle. The rim is the outer edge of the wheel-the part that actually holds the tire in place. It's an essential safety feature that keeps the tires in place and prevents problems while driving. Upgrading your vehicle with a set of stylish truck rims is an inexpensive, elegant, and fun way to give your truck some personality while maintaining its superb function
Check Wheel Diameter And Rim Width
Just like buying a home or qualifying for term life insurance, any successful upgrade is predicated upon planning and research. That's why it's crucial to know your wheel diameter and rim width before doing an upgrade. A 17 to 20 inch diameter is most common for the majority of activities most of us would perform in our trucks. It's definitely possible to go a little bit higher with your wheel size (known as plus-sizing), but you definitely should not go lower than what the factory installation originally had in place for safety reasons. Buying rims requires you to know important things like rim width, bolt pattern, and the rim's size. Measuring rim width is easy. Simply measure from one bead seat to the other. That's it! Alternatively, you can just look at the wheel size because usually this figure is included in the information. The rim is the point of contact between the wheel itself and the tires, so getting these measurements right!
Mounting and Bolt Pattern
Mounting your rims can cost around $15 - 40 per tire, but is much cheaper (and more fun) as a DIY project. Mounting wheels/rims properly comes down to getting the right bolt pattern. This is how the wheel is actually secured to the truck, so getting it measured right is vital. Buying wheels and rims online makes it much easier to know your bolt pattern because you can simply plug in your vehicle's information to find what you need. You can also do some measurements just to be sure. Bolt patterns can range from four to six in general, but can go as high as eight in larger wheel sizes. Some vehicles might have a dual-drill bolt pattern but it is not as common as the other styles.
Offset
Wheel offset is a critical safety measure for any vehicle. Offset is just the distance between a wheel's center line and the hub's mounting surface. A fundamental function of a wheel is to spin freely without rubbing, bumping, or getting damaged by the wheel well, struts, brakes, or even the road. A wheel should freely spin without obstruction, and offset is key to ensuring proper wheel functions. There are a couple different types of offset to consider. Zero wheel offset means the mounting surface of the hub lines up perfectly with the centerline of the wheel. A positive wheel offset means that the surface where the hub mounts is in the front of the wheel's center line. Conversely, a negative offset means the hub mounting surface is behind that line. Wider tires and rims require more o There are pros and cons to each approach. Negative offset tires stick out a little bit and might look a little more sleek on a souped-up truck. They're also great for off-roading. The downside is you might end up with some steering wheel kickback, a little bit more stress on the suspension of your vehicle, and perhaps some poor handling as you drive along. Positive offsets might rub against the inner edge of the wheel, interfere with the brake parts, or raise your risk of tire failure. Sometimes, however, the ideal offset is zero. So please be sure to do plenty of research and find out what will work best for your vehicle before upgrading your rims.
Backspace
Another key consideration for your new rims is measuring the backspace. Backspacing tells you how deep the mounting pad is in the wheel. Basically, it gives the vehicle enough room for important stuff like suspension, brakes, and steering systems to perform their designated functions without the wheel getting in the way.