Let’s start with the basics: A potential new driver goes to a dealership to browse and find a new car. He walks among all the different vehicles on display and considers their power, fuel economy, size and so on. But there is definitely a car that catches his attention, not because it meets all the needs on his list of what he is looking for in a car, but because it has the most beautiful rims he has ever seen. Long, clean lines, sturdy build, black paint … And the way it completes the overall look of the car – He’s simply impressed! Now, you might think he is a fool. Instead, we are here to disprove this false myth: car rims are not only beautiful, but they are also useful.
The False Myth of Car Rims
Many people, practically all, in fact, tend to think that car rims are useless for driving a car, and it is thought that the average driver tends to focus on them only because of their aesthetic appeal. Nothing more wrong: they play a vital role in the whole driving experience. Why? They allow the car tire firmness on the road: you wouldn’t go too far without them. Without quality and sound rims fitted, the wheel would not slide well on the asphalt and you would not be able to drive in peace. So, let’s look at what car rims are, their varieties and why they matter.
Types of Car Rims
The rim is an essential component of a wheel (although most people think they are the same thing) and its characteristics vary according to the construction material chosen:
- Steel: simple and cheap, usually basic in design and low-cost car-mounted; they are often covered in a hubcap to add some style and are often heavier than the more expensive equivalents. This means more stability but less speed, usually not fitted in sports cars.
- Aluminum Alloy: This material strikes a solid balance of strength, weight, durability, and cost, so it’s pretty much the choice of all types of cars from every automaker, from sedans to trucks, to luxury cars.
- Carbon fibre: extremely light and strong, yet fragile (a single impact with a curb or piece of road debris can make them useless); still very rare, but more and more vehicles are available with carbon fibre wheels.
Changing car rims
Strictly speaking, car rims, as a whole, provide a means of mounting and attaching tires to the vehicle, through which engine power is transferred to the ground. As the engine generates power, it moves through the transmission to the wheels where they attach to the wheel hub and spin them around the axles. In order for the wheels to turn and push the car forward, the friction provided by the tires must be in direct and constant contact with the ground under the car. This way the car gets the leverage it needs to move, thanks to the wheel that transfers power from the axle and hub to the tires. The larger the wheel relative to the power generated by the engine, the greater the lever and the faster the car moves.
Additionally, the car’s wheels have a significant impact on alignment, handling, braking, ride quality and acceleration, as well as speedometer calibration. Therefore, before installing new car rims on your vehicle consider these things:
- Make sure the new car rim fits the wheel well
- Consider what the correct “backspace” is (the width of the wheel and the position of the mounting plate)
- Make sure it matches your vehicle’s wheel bolt pattern
- Determine if there is an adequate selection of tires suitable for new car rims
- Make sure the wheels are not rubbing on any part of the vehicle, especially when turning or compressing the suspension.
Another important thing to consider when buying new car rims at Silux is their size. If you are looking to replace your car’s wheels, you need to make sure your new wheel and tire have a similar diameter to your old wheel and tire.