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New Wheel Attire

Enhancing your vehicle with fresh rubber and rims

No single vehicle modification is as popular or as immediate as changing your wheels and tires. It's often the first thing people notice when they check out a customized ride—or the only thing that makes them notice it at all.

It's not just a difference in size, although that is important, but a change in shape and texture as well can create a huge impact. So, combining all those elements in an integrated way is important in deciding on the right wheel and tire package.

Street Style

As an example, check out the "before" and "after" photos of the Hummer H2 shown here. The stock, 17-inch wheels are intriguing with a somewhat dull finish but an interesting surface detail that fits nicely with its "urban assault" exterior design. The "after" shots show it with rims from legendary street rod builder Boyd Coddington. He's known for his exotic custom creations, but also produces a wide range of wheels, including those for trucks and SUVs. These T47-Hot Rod 8 wheels are not necessarily for the hard-core off-road enthusiast. On the other hand, they clearly add some visual snap and excitement to the vehicle due in part to the fact that they're one inch larger in diameter. The tire size is slightly smaller than stock, however, so the overall diameter ends up the same.

A taller rim often is more noticeable and more dramatic. When you opt for taller rims and fit them with lower-profile tires as shown here, and thus retain the same overall tire diameter as stock, this is known as plus sizing. What that means is you won't have to recalibrate your speedometer or worry about any computer issues. (Some computers need to be reprogrammed to accept a tire that isn't stock size.)

Plus One

When you swap to a taller wheel and a lower-profile tire, you also improve the vehicle's handling. Plus sizing shortens the distance between the wheel and the road surface, which provides quicker steering response. However, there can be a tradeoff: Low-profile tires may adversely affect ride quality, which means an increase in harshness. To be more specific, "Plus One" refers to increasing the wheel diameter by one inch without changing the overall diameter of the wheel-and-tire package. Taking that further, "Plus Two" sizing refers to increasing the wheel diameter by two inches while retaining the same overall diameter of the wheel-and-tire package. Of course, you can also fit those taller wheels with a taller tire to better fill your vehicle's wheelwells. A taller wheel-and-tire combo may require lifting the suspension, or even modifying the wheelwells for sufficient clearance.

Got 20s?

The big trend for SUVs is for much larger wheels: 22-, 24- and even 26-inch wheels are now in vogue. Keep in mind, however, that as wheels go up in size, usually the weight does as well, which increases rotational mass and the leverage on the brakes and suspension. For that reason, it's a good idea to consider upgrading your brakes to handle those much bigger wheels. Height isn't the only concern. Have you considered something wider? A wider wheel lets you fit a wider tire with an enlarged footprint or contact patch that usually means better performance in acceleration, cornering and stopping.

It's important to note that the measurements for wheel width and offset (also called backspacing) are linked. For example, the wheel will move in or out of the wheelwell depending upon how wide the wheel is. Extra offset may leave a few inches of wheel sticking out past the mounting surface. Moreover, the same size wheels for your vehicle from two different manufacturers might have different offsets. In fact, the same size wheels from the same manufacturer sometimes have different offsets to make up for design differences.

Choices Galore

Your next decision concerns style. Wheel choices can be downright overwhelming, as manufacturers now offer a dizzying array of choices. (They've come a long way since the days of baby-moons and dog-dish hubcaps.) Maybe you want something shiny, like chrome or polished aluminum. Or how about something understated, like brushed billet? Then there are those classic wire wheels. Or a more aggressive look with spikes? And the latest wheel fashion is dynamic, with a spinning outer surface that rotates separately from the wheel. Watch out for your fingers, though!

Maybe you're more into a monochromatic theme and you'd rather have colored rims that match your paint. If you select a set of bare aluminum rims, consider having them clearcoated for protection and to minimize maintenance, so you won't have to polish them.

Factors that can influence your wheel choices include whether your vehicle is front- or rear-wheel-drive, what brand it is (because different manufacturers use different bolt patterns) and whether it's going to be hauling or towing a heavy load. Some companies also will craft custom wheels for you, if you're looking for an unusual size for your make and model vehicle.

Forged versus cast wheels is another important aspect. A cast wheel is made by pouring molten metal into a mold. A forged wheel starts as a solid piece of billet that's stamped into the desired shape with a die. Forged wheels cost more, but are stronger and lighter than the cast ones.

After you've picked your wheels, you can make a styling statement with your tires as well. There's great variation in tread design, from high-speed asymmetrical radials to knobby super swampers. And you can pick tires with black sidewalls or with raised white letters. If you like whitewalls, you can choose thin white stripes or thick ones. Or you can get tires with yellow or red stripes on the side, or even with color on the tread. The choice is yours, but just make sure the wheels and tires you prefer are a good fit, both in looks and performance.