A Custom Rim Buyer’s Guide

In efforts to make their vehicles more unique, many car and 4×4 owners choose aftermarket accessories, which can include everything from new paint to wheels and tyres. Among this group, custom wheels have become quite the popular way to set a vehicle apart from all the rest. However, the wheel buying process can be very confusing for those who are doing it for the first time. This wheel buying guide can help drivers buy the right rims, no matter what they drive.

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Rims vs. Wheels: Is there Really a Difference?

Where automobiles are concerned, many people mistakenly confuse certain components with the names commonly assigned to them. Nowhere is such an error more visible than where the Ford Ranger wheels and tyres are concerned. Technically speaking, the tyres are the rubber parts that touch the road. The tyres are mounted on wheels that include (but aren’t synonymous with) the rims. Before buying custom wheels, the driver should understand what they’re looking for.

Wheel Production can be Confusing

Many people use the terms “rim” and “wheel” interchangeably because of the manufacturing process. Here, a wheel is made using a single piece of sheet metal, bent into a cylinder and welded. Once the unit is assembled, it makes up a vehicle’s wheel. On single-piece wheels, Fuel rims and wheels cannot be separated, and when one part is damaged, the entire wheel must be replaced.

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“Rims” Used as a Slang Term

Another error is quite common, even among those who consider themselves automotive enthusiasts. Most people tend to use the term “rims” to refer to XD wheels; it’s impossible to buy rims without buying a wheel, and the usage has become so common that it’s widely accepted. Those who say they have custom rims actually have aftermarket wheels including rims.

Chrome Rims

The most common (and eye-catching) choice in custom wheels are those made from chrome. Most who refer to custom wheels as rims are talking about chrome wheels. The introduction of alloy wheels allowed drivers to reap the benefits of the wheels’ light weight, namely increased road control and fuel economy. Chrome wheels are known for their great aesthetics, and with them, hubcaps are no longer necessary. Today’s chrome wheels are available in numerous designs, sizes and shapes, with the same great performance you’d get from stock alloys.

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Aluminium Wheels

Aluminium wheels are commonly found on most 4WDs and cars. However, the terminology is vague because there are multiple types of rims, created through a variety of methods and resulting in wheels of different quality levels. The effects of choosing aluminium wheels will vary from one customer to the next, and from one type of product to the next. Therefore, it’s important to look at custom aluminium wheels and consider their aesthetic effects before purchasing.