There’s no better and more efficient way of changing the look and feel of your car than upgrading its wheels and tyres. Whether it’s for performance or simply about aesthetics, it’s important to know what to look for from a new set of wheels and tyres.
Even though the standard fitted wheels of your car often fulfil most of the car owner’s needs, you should always look to upgrade them eventually. Aside from that, there will also come a time where you need to seek a replacement for the stock wheels because of age, wear and tear, or damage. When you want to upgrade your car wheels and tyres, be sure to keep the following things in mind.
- Choose The Proper Tyre & Rim Size
The size of your tyres and rims have a direct impact on your car’s performance and handling capabilities. So, it’s important that you should pick wheels that are sufficiently wide so they can still provide contact with road surface without compromising the rolling resistance of the wheels.
Wheels with sizes that are that are not suitable with the power output of your car will only put pressure on the car’s transmission and drivetrain, causing damage to some of the components on both systems. You also can’t afford to install very narrow wheels as they may significantly reduce your car’s handling performance when on the road.
Additionally, the measurements of your wheels, particularly the height and the width, can change the suspension of your car. Find a shop that you can trust to help you find the right wheel and tyre set that are best suited to upgrade your car’s appearance and performance.
- Hub Size
It’s not just the measurements of the wheel that matters, you also have to consider its bolt pattern. The bolt pattern is what will determine which wheels will fit and which will not. So, when you go and purchase new wheels, it’s also important to consider the hub size before buying.
- Don’t Forget About the Fit
Just because you’ve got the bolt pattern and the size right, it doesn’t mean that you’re done. This is because you also need to consider the offset and backspacing too. Offset refers to the distance from the dead center of a wheel to the mounting surface, while backspacing is the distance from the back of the wheels to its mounting surface. You need to make sure that there is sufficient space for both of these two to ensure a good fit.
- Type and Quality
When you are looking to upgrade your wheels and tyres, it’s highly likely that you’ll be presented with plenty of options, so you need to be very careful when choosing. There are a number of different tire manufacturers and performance applications, so you need to take the following into consideration when buying:
- Tire grip levels – how well the tire will fare in different weather conditions.
- Handling capabilities – how well the car performs when pushed to the limit.
- Durability – how long the tyres will last, which is usually measured in mileage.
- Road noise – how well the tyres perform when going on a long journey.
- Availability and cost – how much you can expect to spend on these attachments.
Keep in mind that if you’re driving a flagship car or a sports car, then you choose should car wheels and tyres that are appropriate for them, which means you’ll have to pay more for them.
You also have to consider the specific environments that different tire types are designed for. For instance, summer tyres are only designed for dry and wet roads, so they are not appropriate to use during winter seasons where snow is expected.
- Wheel Construction
It’s also important to consider the wheel construction as it has a direct impact on its strength and durability. Inferior-quality construction can lead to severe wheel damage such as developing cracks. On the other hand, wheels with superior-quality construction may only get minimal scathing or limited damage. The best kinds of wheel construction that are recommended for car owners are cast, forged, and flow-formed.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, wheels and tyres are two of the most important parts of a car, especially when you are on the road. They have a direct impact on your car’s driving, braking, handling, and road noise.
You might want to stick to a set of stock wheels for now, but you’ll soon have to replace them with new and better ones. It’s even better if you change them right away, especially if you’re looking to improve the look and feel of your ride. Follow the tips above so you can find the right set of wheels and tyres to replace your stock wheels.
