Don't Sacrifice Stability For Style: 3 Things To Consider Before Purchasing Custom Rims

Posted on: 24 January 2018

One of the easiest ways to customize the look of your car is by adding new wheels to the vehicle. Investing in custom rims can be a great way to give your car a unique sense of style, but choosing the wrong rims could actually sacrifice the safety and performance of your vehicle over time.

Style should only be one component that you consider when buying new rims from a tire store. These other important factors should be taken under advisement as well prior to finalizing your purchase to preserve the structural integrity of your car.

1. The dimensions of your wheel well.

It's vital that you take some measurements of your vehicle's wheel wells prior to investing in new rims. Modern automotive trends dictate that drivers increase the size of their rims, but doing so could cause you to increase the overall size of the tires installed on your vehicle as well.

You want to measure the wheel well first so that you can limit your investment to custom rims that won't cause your tires to rub against the vehicle's frame while turning or absorbing suspension compression.

2. Tire options.

The actual tires that you have installed on your vehicle can directly impact the car's stability and performance. Tires come in varying styles to help accommodate all of a driver's traction needs.

If you live in an area where you regularly swap out your tires based on the season, you will want to take tire options into consideration before investing in custom rims. Steer clear of rims that will only accommodate a limited number of tire brands, as this could affect your ability to install seasonal tires on your vehicle in the future.

3. The overall weight.

Custom rims can be created using steel, aluminum alloys, or carbon fiber materials. You need to carefully consider how the weight of each of these materials will impact your vehicle's performance. Steel rims are the heaviest, but they can provide you with additional stability when navigating icy roads.

Carbon fiber is an extremely lightweight material, but rims made from carbon fiber can become brittle over time. It's best to use carbon fiber rims on vehicles for which speed is a defining characteristic. Rims made from an aluminum alloy are versatile. These rims achieve a balanced and lightweight design without sacrificing durability.

Your personal sense of style, your vehicle's design, and the overall engineering of a set of custom rims should all be taken into consideration prior to investing in costly aftermarket wheels for your car.

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