History of Car Rims
Like jewelry worn to complement a suit or cocktail dress, car rims are a vital accessory to the look and attitude of an automobile or truck. Starting with the hubcap that began appearing with regularity on vehicles in the 1920s, dressing a wheel with chrome or paint determines the personality of the vehicle.
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History
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The first automobile wheels were spoked wagon wheels lifted from horse-drawn carriages. Steel rims began to appear as manufacturing technology improved. Depression-era luxury cars, such as the Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow and Packard, led the field in custom rims.
Size
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Typical factory stock rims on American vehicles measure 16 or 17 inches in diameter, but custom rims popular today can measure anywhere from 20 to 30 inches.
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Materials
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Early factory rims often were the same color as the body with a matching circular pinstripe, while today's custom chrome rims are made of an alloy of aluminum or magnesium.
Features
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Five-spoke chrome Cragers, straight-laced wire wheels and spinning wheels are popular choices, especially among lowrider enthusiasts.
Identification
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Today's mid-priced vehicles are equipped with basic black or silver-painted wheels and covered with plastic wheelcovers, but auto dealers offer custom-spoked chrome rims at extra costs.
Fun Fact
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San Francisco 49ers' tight end Vernon Davis' Mercedes-Benz S63 is equipped with 22-inch Staggered Lexani LSS-10 two-tone wheels.
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Resources
- Photo Credit California Wheel Corporation
