There are currently numerous web sites selling custom wheels and tires. Although the selection and price offered over the internet is often superior to that in most local retail stores, there are a number of issues that must be properly addressed to avoid making an expensive and possible un-returnable mistake.
Almost all custom wheels sold on the internet are made in one piece, usually of cast A-356 grade aluminum. Three piece custom forged wheels are available but at substantially higher prices then the one piece wheels. Custom wheels come with either a clear coated machine finished, a polished finish, or with chrome plating. Wheels with a machined finish have been clear coated to protect the aluminum and are very easy to clean and maintain. Polished wheels are aluminum wheels that have been fully polished for a brilliant shine but have no coatings for protection. While polished wheels are harder to maintain, they are a less expensive option than chrome plated aluminum wheels. Chrome wheels are polished for a smooth finish and then chrome plated for a brilliant, mirror-like finish that is very easy to clean and maintain. Chrome wheels will always be the most expensive option. Different manufactures use different methods and different thickness of chrome plating and these diverse methods account for both differences in quality and price between similar looking wheels. The differences in quality will be difficult to observe from a picture on an internet site and buyers should be suspicious of an unusually low price being offered by an unknown manufactures.
The first decision and most critical decision before purchasing a wheel are to determine the proper wheel size for your car. There are three measurements in determining proper wheel size.
1. The first is the diameter of the wheel. Most cars, trucks or SUV's can accommodate several different diameter wheels and the decision between different diameters is one of esthetics and cost.
2. The next thing to determine is the proper bolt pattern and dimension. The bolt pattern is listed as 5x 100 or 6x5. The first number is the number of lugs or bolts and the second number is the diameter of the bolt circle in either inches or millimeters. Most cars, light trucks and SUV's will fasten the wheel with either 4, 5 or 6 lugs but the dimension or diameter of the bolt pattern varies widely between vehicles and between model years of the same vehicle. If you order a wheel with the wrong bolt pattern dimension the wheel will not properly fit and will have to be returned.
3. The final fitment issue is the wheel offset which is a measurement of how far off the center of the wheel the face plate of the wheel located. A wheel with the face right in the middle of the wheel would be a 0 offset with the offset becoming higher as the face of the wheel moves to the front rim of the wheel. Generally front wheel drive vehicles need a larger offset then rear wheel drive vehicles. Selecting a wheel with the wrong offset may cause the wheels to stick out from the wheel well and may rub on the fender or struts causing wheel or tire damage.
Shopping on a well engineered site will substantially simplify the procedure of finding a wheel with correct fitment. For example at www.wheelplay.net you can enter the year, make and model of your car or truck and the site will direct you to wheels that are the proper size, bolt pattern and offset for your vehicle. Many web sites have similar type search guides that assist the buyer in finding the proper fitment.
Selecting a tire to match with your wheel selection can also be potential tricky especially when the buyer is purchasing the largest possible wheel for his vehicle. Although you can calculate the overall dimension of a tire from it size (for example the height of a 235/40/18 size tire is 25.4 inches-with 235 being the width of the tire in millimeters and the 40 being the per centage of the tire width that is the sidewall height) the calculation is somewhat confusing. A buyer can always call or email the web site and ask what tire options that will work with a particular size wheel. Additionally web sites like www.wheelplay.net , in it vehicle search will not only give you a list of wheels that will fit your vehicle but the web site will give you tire recommendation to pair with the wheel.
Many sites offer what appear to be attractively priced wheel and tire packages. Often the cheaply priced packages incorporate an extremely cheap and small tire. The buyer should inquire about tire quality; load, speed rating and overall height to insure that the package will suit the buyers needs and will not look too small relative to the size of the wheel. If the Buyer purchases a set of wheels and tires most web sites offer mounting and balancing at no additional charge. There are however substantial differences in the type and quality of the balancing offered. Most sites only offer spin balancing. With spin balancing, the mounted wheel is placed on a machine and spun in the air to find any imbalance. A superior method of balancing a wheel is to simulate the pressure of the road and correct any imbalance under real world conditions. A road force balance machine is substantially more expensive then a spin balance machine and take more time and skill to operate properly. Use of a road force machine gives a more accurate balance which provides a smoother ride and increased tire tread life.
If a buyer is only purchasing a set of wheels the installation experience of the seller in not an issue. However if a wheel and tire purchase is being mounted and balanced the experience and quality of the sellers facility must be considered. The buyer need to be sure that he or she is not purchasing from an operation out of a home garage using an antiquated spin balance machine. In order to insure the best quality service, the buyer should look to purchase from a web site that is a CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE RETAILER (CPR). A CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE RETAILER (CPR) is a facility that has passed automotive industry certification and requirements which includes evaluation of the installation equipment and training program. To qualify as a CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE RETAILER (CPR) management and service personnel must have passed the SEMA/ASE -Z25 Custom Wheel and Tire Specialist Certification Test
Some web sites are now offering free nitrogen tire inflation with the purchase of a set of wheels and tires. Nitrogen tire inflation provides more consistent tire pressure, reduced wheel corrosion, and prevents inner-liner rubber deterioration due to oxidation. With nitrogen tires run cooler and have increased tread life. Use of nitrogen also increases fuel mileage. and reduces false alarms for Tire Sensor-equipped vehicles. See www.getnitrogen.org for more information about the use of nitrogen.
A buyer of an after market will generally need to purchase new lug nuts and possible new stud bolts to properly fasten the new wheel to their vehicle. Most web site sell kits which contain chrome lug nuts or lug bolts (depending on your vehicle application) for all four wheels and one lock per wheel. The lock is designed to deter theft as the wheels can only be removed by using a special key that is part of the kit. Four chrome sleeved valve stems are also included. As there multiple sizes and lengths for lugs and bolts, the web site where you purchase you wheel should advise the type of lug and bolt that will be needed for your particular car and wheel.
Wheels and tires are heavy and the cost of shipping is always an issue in calculating the total price of a purchase. Web sites that advertise free shipping have to increase the price of the wheel to offset the delivery cost. Also some sites have what appear to have lower prices for a particular wheel but then charge an excessive amount for shipping. When doing comparison shopping the buyer will need to look at the delivered cost of the wheels to make valid comparisons. Most sites will provide you with the actual shipping cost to your location just prior to checkout
Before purchasing a wheel the buyer should read and understand the site's return and warranty policy. Most web sites will not accept a return of a non defective wheel without charging a re-stocking or return fee. Before retuning a defective wheel be sure to get a return authorization number from the seller. Reputable sites will warrant the structure of the wheel and provide at least one year warranty on chrome defects. No manufactures warranty will cover road damage to a wheel or chrome problems due to exposure to salt or ice removing chemicals
If you have any question or comments you may contact us at wheelplay@wheelplay.net
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