AutoXpress

Why change them?
Original wheels are designed to last the lifetime of a vehicle, so change is essential only if they are stolen or severely damaged. Safe repair is possible for some minor distortions but because wheels are so safety-critical, replacement is always the better option.

Non-essential reasons for replacement include more fashionable styling (wheels are a prominent part of a vehicle's overall appearance), or the wish to fit a size of tyre outside the limits of the original rim.

What are the main options?
Conventional wheels of all sizes are usually made of pressed steel. They are perfectly serviceable for all normal use and are lowest in cost, but they are relatively heavy, require bolt-on trims to add styling, and may be distorted by severe impacts.

(For heavier commercial vehicles, especially those with duals, there are additional issues such as load-rating and half-dual spacing not covered here.)

Users requiring more up-market or sporty styling, or unconventional sizes, will use rims made of composite materials, usually called "alloys". These are lighter, more rigid and usually more expensive.

Are all fittings standard?
Fittings are not standard. While rim diameters and widths are matched to universal tyre sizes, the central disc of the rim must match the hub of the vehicle itself to exact proportions, which can vary(whether slightly or considerably) for each make and even each model.
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Variations include the size and depth of recess around the brake drum or discs, diameter of the centre hole, the number of wheel studs, the spacing of the wheel studs (known as the pitch diameter), and the type of stud-holes (e.g. flush or countersunk) to match the wheel nuts. (Inset annotated diagram). There is zero tolerance on any of these factors.

What are the pros and cons of changing wheel size?
There is rarely any reason or clear advantage to fitting a tyre size outside the limits of the original rim. Tyre options within those limits give users an adequate scope of choice. While fitting a different size of rim might allow extreme characteristic that are useful to some owners (eg greater ground clearance), such changes are limited by the space available in the wheel arch for steering and suspension movement, and they may interfere with the vehicle's gearing (of which the tyre's outer diameter is a key part) and therefore alter acceleration, top speed, rev band balances and instrument readings.

AutoXpress Expertise
AutoXpress stocks a wide range of pressed steel and alloy rims for passenger’s cars, 4WD and commercial vehicles, all to the highest original equipment and specialist standards. Expert’s technicians can advise on the pros and cons of every option, for any vehicle, and they use equipment that ensures perfect tyre fitting without damage to rims or beading.