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getting rims on a car?

T

theNEOone

Diamond Member
1) is buying rims online a good idea, and if so what are some reputable sites?
2) i've seen some sites that sell rims that are FWD, RWD, and All. what's the difference (from a technical standpoint) between these setups? if i have a RWD, would it be best to go w/ RWD rims, are will a fit 'All' model be ok?


=|
 
Originally posted by: brandan
buying wheels online is dumb, how will you get that custom imports shop to install them for free?!
Click to expand...

Depend, sometimes if you buy rubber too, they will mount it for you.

Even if you don't mounting the rubber doesn't cost that much more. About $8 per tires, includes lifetime warranty in Walmart.
 
Buying online is usually a decent amount cheaper, try to see what you'll be getting in person though if it's not a common style. Regarding fwd vs rwd rims, it has to do with the offset, it is not ok to use another model. see here for more info on offsets.
 
Originally posted by: gunblade
Originally posted by: brandan
buying wheels online is dumb, how will you get that custom imports shop to install them for free?!
Click to expand...

Depend, sometimes if you buy rubber too, they will mount it for you.

Even if you don't mounting the rubber doesn't cost that much more. About $8 per tires, includes lifetime warranty in Walmart.
Click to expand...

you don't want walmart to mount your tires to your rims. they'll fvck it up.

to the OP, i would try some auto forums and try to get in some groupbuys... my friend got his BBS rims for $120 cheaper per rim that way.
 
you will usually get a better deal online... however there is always the problem of getting wheels damaged in shipping, having the wrong ones sent or having them get lost in shipping

also - you are not always going to get the same customer service you would from a local shop
 
Originally posted by: MikePanic
you will usually get a better deal online... however there is always the problem of getting wheels damaged in shipping, having the wrong ones sent or having them get lost in shipping

also - you are not always going to get the same customer service you would from a local shop
Click to expand...

Thats important. I buy my tires locally and always get free rotation/balance, free flat repair for the life of the tire. Last set I bought (Dunlop) went out of round pretty bad about halfway through their tread life. Local tire shop gave me new tires (Nitto) for free.
 
Yeah, I would buy the rims online and get the tires locally from a good shop. One thing I really like about the shop I use is that they don't use impact guns on the lugs, only to get them off. They take the time to use a torque wrench to properly install them. Also, you can request that they not use the gun at all. So far I've been very impressed.

I use America's Tire Co.
 
Well...where I live....ordering them online isn't dumb because we don't have
much selection here.....small town.
I would order them online...in fact a lot of Hawaii people do!
 
Originally posted by: theNEOone
1) is buying rims online a good idea, and if so what are some reputable sites?
2) i've seen some sites that sell rims that are FWD, RWD, and All. what's the difference (from a technical standpoint) between these setups? if i have a RWD, would it be best to go w/ RWD rims, are will a fit 'All' model be ok?


=|
Click to expand...

Online is a good idea if you can find them for a good enough discount. I guess it depends on what kind of car you have and what kind of look you like.

FWD & RWD doesn't matter too much. The real issue is size, offset, bolt pattern, and, to a lesser degree, weight.
 
I have a quick question, it might seem stupid but forgive me. I thought if you get rims that are bigger or smaller than the manufacturers specs then your speedometer wouldnt work correctly. How would you fix this if its true?
 
Originally posted by: nodoubts2k
I have a quick question, it might seem stupid but forgive me. I thought if you get rims that are bigger or smaller than the manufacturers specs then your speedometer wouldnt work correctly. How would you fix this if its true?
Click to expand...

Bigger wheel = shorter sidewall on the tire. For example, I went from 14" to 17" wheels. My speedo is off by about 2mph at 60.

You can fix either by changing the gearing of the speed cable or reprogramming the ECU.
 
2) i've seen some sites that sell rims that are FWD, RWD, and All. what's the difference (from a technical standpoint) between these setups? if i have a RWD, would it be best to go w/ RWD rims, are will a fit 'All' model be ok?

With wheels... it shouldn't matter one single bit. That's some FUBAR FUD for sure. Only tires would really matter when it came to that, and even then only slightly if they were directional.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: nodoubts2k
I have a quick question, it might seem stupid but forgive me. I thought if you get rims that are bigger or smaller than the manufacturers specs then your speedometer wouldnt work correctly. How would you fix this if its true?
Click to expand...

Bigger wheel = shorter sidewall on the tire. For example, I went from 14" to 17" wheels. My speedo is off by about 2mph at 60.

You can fix either by changing the gearing of the speed cable or reprogramming the ECU.
Click to expand...

Only 2mph? I experienced that much in an increased difference with a slightly bigger sidewall.
 
Ive had OEM wheels chromed several states away and traded in the cores. Word of advice - use UPS with insurance coverage. Theres alot of scamming going on out there and I fully believe I was scammed by the people who did the work. They claimed the rims were damaged so I had to file a claim. I figure enough claims will lead UPS to do an investigation of the firm, gather enough information and present to the proper authorites.
 
Originally posted by: Mill
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: nodoubts2k
I have a quick question, it might seem stupid but forgive me. I thought if you get rims that are bigger or smaller than the manufacturers specs then your speedometer wouldnt work correctly. How would you fix this if its true?
Click to expand...

Bigger wheel = shorter sidewall on the tire. For example, I went from 14" to 17" wheels. My speedo is off by about 2mph at 60.

You can fix either by changing the gearing of the speed cable or reprogramming the ECU.
Click to expand...

Only 2mph? I experienced that much in an increased difference with a slightly bigger sidewall.
Click to expand...

his sidewall could have decreased
 
Originally posted by: MikePanic
you will usually get a better deal online... however there is always the problem of getting wheels damaged in shipping, having the wrong ones sent or having them get lost in shipping

also - you are not always going to get the same customer service you would from a local shop
Click to expand...

You could say that about any product though...

I bought my wheels and tires online, no problemo. If you are not getting stockish spec wheels then maybe getting the tires at a shop is better if they throw in the alignment at a discount.
 
You can find many online places that will sell 17 rims with tires package for $599.
They either will have free shipping but will tack on about $60 for balancing and lugnuts or they will do that for free and charges you shipping.

The one major problem with buying online is that with these low profile tires, they can easily get damaged. This mean if you go over potholes and such, your tires will get bruised very easily(as in bubble(s) on the tires).
I bought a set of wheels with 205/40/17 and 2 of them got bubbles already. If you get 17 wheels, I recommend 45 not 40.
Oh, when you get these bubbles, they are not under warranty from the tire manufacturer.
I called already and they said its just part of buying low profile tires.
I guess the only way to protect yourself from low profile tires is to buy these "road hazzard warranty" that local places offer and some online like tirerack.com offer too.

wheelsnext.com
wheelmax.com
2 very cheap places and no tax if outside Fla.
 
Originally posted by: Templeton
Buying online is usually a decent amount cheaper, try to see what you'll be getting in person though if it's not a common style. Regarding fwd vs rwd rims, it has to do with the offset, it is not ok to use another model. see here for more info on offsets.
Click to expand...

It can easily be called and confused with backspacing. Got to get it just right or ull be eating inner fender.
 
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