It enhances the overall appearance of any vehicle be it a motor bike, truck, or car. At times, a good set of rims or mags is all you need to turn your car go from something ordinary to a big head turner. You can almost gasp out that everybody loves the look that after market wheels bring. However, there are a few things you should know before heading out to buy new sport rims.
Defining Terms
There are a few jargons that anyone has to get out of the way before they can make an informed choice when buying sport rims. You should be able to tell the difference between a rim offset from PCD and from the center bore. You should at least know these three things before you get caught up in buying sport rims. You’ll use all three terms in sizing up your rims.
Center Bore
The center bore refers to the hole where your hub fits into. It is located at the very back of your wheel and helps to get it seated properly. The center bore ideally should match your hub perfectly in order to get it seated correctly. With the bore and the hub matched correctly you will reduce the amount of vibration since the wheel will be well centered.
You’ll basically get two types of center bores out there. The first one is called the hubcentric bore and the other is called the lugcentric bore. Hubcentric bores are basically center bores that match your hubs perfectly. With these two parts matched perfectly, a lot of stress to center the wheel is taken off your car’s lug nuts.
But you won’t always get perfectly matched center bores when you’re out to buy new sport rims. In case you don’t get hubcentric wheels, you can settle for lugcentric wheels that use the lug nuts to center the wheels. Just make sure that center bore is at least equal to or even larger than the hub or else you won’t be able to mount your car’s wheel.
In order to help with that said situation, some manufacturers have created adapters. These are hubcentric rings that either slide or lock onto the back of your wheel and allows you to mount a bigger center bore to a smaller hub. You might want to check on this option when you buy new sport rims.
Rim Offset
Another important thing you should consider when you buy new sport rims is to check the rim offset. This refers to the distance of the rim’s centerline to its mounting surface. You either get a positive or a negative measurement when you check the rim offset.
If your vehicle has a positive rim offset then this simply means that the edge of the wheel of your car is closer to the hub mounting surface. This basically means that the wheel is designed to wrap around the brake hardware and the hub. If your vehicle is designed to have a negative offset then that means that the hub’s mounting surface is a lot closer to your wheels’ inside edge.
When you’re fitting your car with new sport rims make sure that you follow the car manufacturer’s specified rim offset. Not following the manufacturer specified offset can affect steering and scrub radius.
PCD
You should also check the PCD when you buy new sport rims. PCD is an acronym which stands for pitch circle diameter. This diameter is measured at the very center of your wheel’s bolt holes. This diameter is usually expressed in millimeters. All manufacturers follow their own conventions when it comes to PCD. However, it is observed that the most common ones are 100 to 114 mm.
Conventional rims either have four studs, meaning they have four bolt holes, or five studs. Vehicles with more bolt holes simply mean that the vehicle requires a lot more strength to hold a single rim. Universal-fit rims are also available from commercial manufacturers today. These feature elongated lug holes that number from eight to ten bolt holes covering various types of patterns. These models can fit a wide range of vehicles.
A Lot More Than Just Looks
There is a lot more to it than making your car look better when you buy new sport rims. You should check the PCD, rim offset, and center bore as well. These will affect not only how sleek your car will look, they can also affect how your vehicle will perform with the new rims on.
Defining Terms
There are a few jargons that anyone has to get out of the way before they can make an informed choice when buying sport rims. You should be able to tell the difference between a rim offset from PCD and from the center bore. You should at least know these three things before you get caught up in buying sport rims. You’ll use all three terms in sizing up your rims.
Center Bore
The center bore refers to the hole where your hub fits into. It is located at the very back of your wheel and helps to get it seated properly. The center bore ideally should match your hub perfectly in order to get it seated correctly. With the bore and the hub matched correctly you will reduce the amount of vibration since the wheel will be well centered.
You’ll basically get two types of center bores out there. The first one is called the hubcentric bore and the other is called the lugcentric bore. Hubcentric bores are basically center bores that match your hubs perfectly. With these two parts matched perfectly, a lot of stress to center the wheel is taken off your car’s lug nuts.
But you won’t always get perfectly matched center bores when you’re out to buy new sport rims. In case you don’t get hubcentric wheels, you can settle for lugcentric wheels that use the lug nuts to center the wheels. Just make sure that center bore is at least equal to or even larger than the hub or else you won’t be able to mount your car’s wheel.
In order to help with that said situation, some manufacturers have created adapters. These are hubcentric rings that either slide or lock onto the back of your wheel and allows you to mount a bigger center bore to a smaller hub. You might want to check on this option when you buy new sport rims.
Rim Offset
Another important thing you should consider when you buy new sport rims is to check the rim offset. This refers to the distance of the rim’s centerline to its mounting surface. You either get a positive or a negative measurement when you check the rim offset.
If your vehicle has a positive rim offset then this simply means that the edge of the wheel of your car is closer to the hub mounting surface. This basically means that the wheel is designed to wrap around the brake hardware and the hub. If your vehicle is designed to have a negative offset then that means that the hub’s mounting surface is a lot closer to your wheels’ inside edge.
When you’re fitting your car with new sport rims make sure that you follow the car manufacturer’s specified rim offset. Not following the manufacturer specified offset can affect steering and scrub radius.
PCD
You should also check the PCD when you buy new sport rims. PCD is an acronym which stands for pitch circle diameter. This diameter is measured at the very center of your wheel’s bolt holes. This diameter is usually expressed in millimeters. All manufacturers follow their own conventions when it comes to PCD. However, it is observed that the most common ones are 100 to 114 mm.
Conventional rims either have four studs, meaning they have four bolt holes, or five studs. Vehicles with more bolt holes simply mean that the vehicle requires a lot more strength to hold a single rim. Universal-fit rims are also available from commercial manufacturers today. These feature elongated lug holes that number from eight to ten bolt holes covering various types of patterns. These models can fit a wide range of vehicles.
A Lot More Than Just Looks
There is a lot more to it than making your car look better when you buy new sport rims. You should check the PCD, rim offset, and center bore as well. These will affect not only how sleek your car will look, they can also affect how your vehicle will perform with the new rims on.
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