How to Install Custom Rims to Car Tires

Car enthusiasts love to install aftermarket rims onto a favored vehicle. It makes the car more stylish and gives it a personal touch that stock rims simply can't provide. Specifics vary depending on the type of vehicle you have and the kind of rims you want to install, but a few general guidelines make the process fairly easy if you are savvy about cars and tools.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jack
• Socket wrenches, various sizes
• Crowbar or tire lever
• Air compressor

1. Raise your car on a hydraulic lift, or simply use a wheel jack to boost up the tires one at a time as you work on them.

2. Release the air in the tire. This allows you to work more easily and provides space to properly work the old rim off of the tire. A fully inflated tire leaves no room to work with and can make it difficult to install aftermarket rims.

3. Loosen the bolts connecting the rim to the car wheel with a socket wrench (the exact size of the wrench you'll need will depend on the specifics of your car). Set the bolts aside somewhere where you can keep track of them.

4. Pry the old rim off the wheel using a crowbar or tire lever. Use care when applying pressure and try to pry it in multiple locations on the rim instead of just one. This will reduce the possibility of damaging the edge of the rim.

5. Install the new aftermarket rim to the wheel using a socket wrench. You can either connect the original bolts to it, or use new bolts as provided with the rims. Specifics will vary according to the particular rims and the particular car, but the bolts shouldn't pose much of a challenge, regardless.

6. Reinflate the tire using an air compressor, until it meets factory-approved standards.

7. Repeat the process with each tire. If you have access to a hydraulic lift, you can move from one tire to another. Otherwise, just lower the tire jack, move it to the next tire, and jack it up again before replacing the next rim.

8. Drive your car for about an hour in a safe area with a low speed limit. Double check your rims afterwards to make sure they are firmly attached and are not exhibiting any unforeseen problems.

Tips & Warnings

• Always measure your aftermarket rims carefully so that they will fit on your car without any further modifications. You may need to purchase new tires as well (which will complete the look) and the tire will have to be compatible with both the car and the rims.

[truwood]

on 4/6/2008 What are your options if your new tires & rims rub on the control arm/tie rod? I installed 1/4" wheel spacers, but then the studs were too short to thread on the lugs