p>By
Lillian
Fuller
Wheel Tips For The Female Of The Species Too
If you browse the internet ads for tires and
wheels, it seems like flashy car rims is a guy
thing. The websites are geared to a masculine
point of view. Some websites feature sound and
videos that include a pounding rap beat backed
up by a view of “shiny things.” Most websites
feature Charlie’s Angels “look a likes” pouring
themselves over the car chassis or pointing to
flashy car rims. Lexani’s official website features
a four minute video to showcase its wares. The
wheels are hot, the girls are hotter.
Men & Car Rims
Normally, the male of the species keeps a pretty
low profile when it comes to plumage but when
it comes to equipping their rides, most men, don’t
question how much but how will the wheels look
on the car, truck or SUV.
A Little Research
I did a little research about aftermarket car
rims. I asked various friends and associates if
they would they spend an additional $8.000.00
for specialty wheels for their vehicle. By far
most of the men I asked didn’t even blink at the
price but just shrugged and said “yeah, I guess;
it depends on how they would look.” The women
looked at me as if I had just arrived from Mars
and replied with an emphatic “NO WAY”. A marketing
statistic shows that ninety percent of the shoppers
at wheel and tire shops are men. Men like flashy
car rims and it seems to be almost genetic.
Car Rims & Shoes; A Connection?
This same connection exists between women and
shoes. It’s never about the money but how they
look. You need shoes to protect your feet. The
functional ones work well but it’s the pretty
ones that we want. Shoes, like car rims have a
definite purpose as well. Like shoes that allow
the owner to walk, car rims allow the car to “roll”.
Because car rims are so vital to the handling
and performance of vehicles, it is important for
women to become as interested in the details of
car rims as men. This article will talk about
car rims and wheels sizes, chrome and alloys,
package prices, reliable brands, and upcoming
trends like spinners.
So let’s get motoring. By the end of this piece
you will know more about car rims. The man in
your life will be impressed by your new-found
knowledge and you’ll be ready to make an informed
decision about what’s best for your ride.
Where To Look For Car Rims
There are numerous websites dedicated to sale
of car rims. As well many sites offer valuable
information about car rims and what you can do
to enhance your vehicle’s performance and handling.
If you decide to make your purchase through a
website check with a Consumer Bureau to ensure
that the website is reputable.
Car Rim Sizes - It’s The Fit That Counts
When you purchase a vehicle, stock models come
with a specific size of car rim. For example small
cars like Honda Preludes have 13 inch rims. As
the size of the vehicle increases so do the size
of the car rims. Car rims sizes can go up to 27”
and beyond as many manufacturers are developing
larger sizes for newer jeeps and SUVs. Front Wheel
Drive sizes are slightly smaller than Rear Wheel
Drive types by about 2 inches.
Plus Sizing
To enhance the look of your vehicle and improve
its performance you can increase the size of the
wheel “Plus Sizing” is a term that refers to increasing
the size of the car rim to the wheel.
Why Plus Sizing?
Plus sizing is chosen by drivers for steering
response, handling, and cornering ability. When
you add inches to the tire, there is more surface
that is in contact with the road. Plus sizing
a wheel also enhances the sporty look of a vehicle.
Plus sizing can be done by “inching up”. The following
are the three methods of “inching up” your tire.
* Plus Zero
* Zero Plus One
* Zero Plus Two
Plus Zero
The Plus Zero method uses the same wheel radius
as the original equipment but includes a tire
with a larger size than the original’s width but
smaller than the aspect ratio. For example the
original tire size is: 175/70R14. By putting a
195/60R14 tire on this wheel rim you would not
be increasing the tire size, hence “plus zero”.
Zero Plus One
Plus one increases the size of the tire by one
inch. For example if the tire size is 175/70R13
and you put a tire on it that is 175/70R14, you
have increased the tire size by one inch. Zero
plus one utilizes a one-inch larger diameter wheel
in conjunction with a smaller tire. This method
always requires a replacement wheel.
Zero Plus Two
Exactly as the name of the method implies, this
approach increases the size of the tire by two
inches. For example, you would replace the original
equipment of 175/70R13 with a tire size of 175/70R15.
Chrome And Alloys
Early cars had steel wheels. This has changed
because of the weight of steel. Today’s vehicles
are designed to be as sleek and aerodynamic as
possible. Ask any racer why alloy wheels were
developed. The light alloy wheel is an essential
part of vehicle safety and performance. These
car rims evolved in the racing industry as cars
needed to be lighter. Alloy wheels, because of
their functional good looks quickly jumped into
the mainstream of aftermarket vehicle sales. There
are numerous websites dedicated to magnesium,
chrome and silver alloy car rims and wheels.
Chrome, Magnesium And Silver Alloys
Chrome wheel rims have always been popular due
to their shiny exterior but other types of alloy
rims have appeared in the past 10 years. Custom
alloy rims include magnesium rims that have been
x-rayed and heat tempered to ensure their good
looks and durability. Buyer beware however, when
purchasing a car rim package make sure that price
is not your primary decision making factor.
Buyer Beware
Many lesser known companies use copy cat technology
and do not adhere to industry standards. Ensure
that you are shopping at a reputable web site.
If it seems to be too good a deal to be true,
it probably is. Check out manufacturer’s websites
such as Lexani, Giovanna and Sprewell for referrals
to qualified sales centers.
Reliable Car Rim Retail Sales Outlets
Successful manufacturers of car rims and wheels
have one trait in common. Each manufacturer pays
great attention to producing a quality product.
To participate in the motor vehicle aftermarket,
it is essential that certain standards be met.
Manufacturers such as Lexani, Weld, Konig and
Sprewell strive to provide the best quality product
available today. In order for a retailer to sell
products from these companies, they must hold
to the guidelines set out by the manufacturer.
Today, all car rim and wheel manufacturers have
websites. It’s a good idea to review them prior
to beginning your search for the perfect wheel.
Package Prices
Shopping for car rims can be done in three ways:
* In person at a wheel and tire outlet.
* At a vehicle dealership.
* On the Internet.
There are literally hundreds of sites that offer
wheel packages and most provide free shipping
anywhere in the United States. All sites offer
packages that include custom fitting four wheel
rims, mounting and balancing of four tires and
delivery. Lug nuts and other associated items
are not included in the package but are available
at discounted prices.
Car Rims Can Be An Expensive Investment
Wheels aren’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
Depending on the brand you choose a person can
pay as much as $8,000.00 US for a Lexani Big Johnson
27inch package. Giovanna has a package available
for almost ten thousand dollars. This package
features the Abruzzo 26” wheel and tire.
There are packages available from Eagle, American
Racing and Centerline that are less expensive.
Many of the packages available from the above
companies offer wheels that start at $1699.00.
Though they are less expensive, these car rim
packages still provide the good looks and functionality
featured in the more expensive models.
Trends
One of the hottest trends today for car rims
is spinning jewelry. Car rims that include spinners
are the most demanded item on wheels today. These
items cause an optical illusion that the wheel
is still spinning when a vehicle is stopped at
a street light. These wheels are designed to catch
the eye and keep the onlooker’s attention. Some
websites describe spinners as being simply stunning.
Spinners are available from numerous manufacturers
such as Sprewell and Oasis for a variety of prices.
Spinning jewelry looks good on SUV’s, jeeps, sports
cars and even the family car.
Flashy Car Rims – Truly A “Guy Thing”
A term such as “simply stunning” was usually
employed when describing dresses, women or shoes.
More aftermarket companies are striving to attract
a feminine audience to encourage women to purchase
their product. These companies are few and far
between and for the most part, flashy car rims
remain a “guy thing”. However if you want to make
an informed purchase decision or you simply want
to impress your boyfriend with “guy” knowledge,
it’s a good idea to do your homework. Ultimately,
you’ll be glad you did. Happy motoring.
© 2005 http://www.rims-now.com
About the Author
Lillian Fuller is a talented and successful freelance
writer for hire providing tips and advice for
consumers about car rims including chrome
wheels, spinner rims, custom wheels, and more.
Her numerous articles offer valuable insight and
informative views on many different topics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lillian_Fuller
