How to Select the Right Size Rims

To select the right size rims, you need to know that certain rim sizes can improve or detract from certain aspects of your car's performance. To optimize your rim size, you need to know how specific rim shapes and sizes affect your vehicle.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Measure the size of your car's factory rims, or dig out your car's owner's manual and look up the factory specifications regarding rim size. Most vehicles can mount rims that are a couple of inches larger than the factory rims. Altering rim size affects the style and performance of your car in very specific ways.
2. Decide on rims that are smaller than your current rims if you want to reduce the overall weight of your car slightly. While you may not experience significant improvements in fuel efficiency or performance simply by altering your rims, keep in mind that owning a car is a marathon, not a sprint. Saving a few cents on gas every trip can add up to a significant sum over the life of your vehicle.
3. Opt for wider rims if you're looking to improve the performance and handling of your automobile. Rims with a wider horizontal diameter will help your car's acceleration and improve its cornering.
4. Select rims with an outstretched vertical diameter if you want your rims to look good above all else. Rims of an elongated, vertical size tend to be more aesthetically pleasing than horizontally stretched rims or those that are perfectly circular.
5. Go for rims that are 1 or 2 inches larger than your factory rims to combine slightly improved performance with slightly improved aesthetic appeal. While horizontally stretched rims are the best route to go to get more speed out of your car and vertically stretched rims are the gold standard for a sharp appearance, you can split the difference. Large rims do a little of both.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a mechanic or automotive professional about the proper offset size for your car's rims. If you don't get the offset right, you might mess up your car's handling or steering.
• If you select custom rims, make absolutely certain that they have a maximum-load rating that's right for your car or truck.
• If you choose chrome spinning rims, expect to pay a hefty price. This is particularly true if you choose rims that spin even when your car isn't moving.