| There is no other single accessory that can so | | | | even show you pictures of previous installations. |
| dramatically change the appearance of your | | | | A Word On Wheel and Tire Fitment |
| vehicle as a set of custom wheels. In the old | | | | One of the trends in custom wheels today is to |
| days, custom or "mag" wheels came from just a | | | | install oversize wheels, up to 22" or more. Keep in |
| few manufacturers like Cragar, AT and American | | | | mind that any time you install rims that are taller |
| Racing. Now you can find all types of designs to | | | | than the tallest wheel that came standard on your |
| fit any look or attitude from a myriad of makers | | | | vehicle, it requires careful planning. The larger |
| including Pulse, Avenue, Dub, Enkel, Foose, and of | | | | diameter rim, with accompanying tire, must not |
| course, American Racing and Cragar Classic. When | | | | only fit in the wheel well, but also have enough |
| talking about custom wheels for street use, "Mag" | | | | extra room for full travel of the suspension. |
| is actually a misnomer. In the early '60s, "Mag" | | | | Failure to do this properly will result in, at best, an |
| was a term that racers used to refer to their | | | | annoying thud when hitting large bumps or, at |
| lightweight, yet strong wheels made of | | | | worst, shredding and blowing out of the tire after |
| magnesium. But due to the drawbacks of | | | | just a few miles. The simplest way to |
| magnesium wheel care and maintenance, custom | | | | accommodate a taller wheel is to switch to a |
| wheels engineered for the general public are | | | | lower profile tire so that the overall height of the |
| usually made of more easily cared for chrome | | | | wheel and tire package remains the same as |
| plated steel, polished aluminum, or painted | | | | before. The penalty for increasingly lower profile |
| aluminum. | | | | tires is increasingly stiffer handling and harsher ride. |
| Chrome or Aluminum? | | | | For performance customizers who have installed |
| Largely it's a matter of taste, but there are a | | | | aftermarket brakes on their vehicles, separate |
| few things to consider. First, are these wheels | | | | calculations have to be made for backspace and |
| primarily for occasional racing where weight might | | | | offset, the measurements for how much space |
| be an issue? Or is it for a sometimes off-road or | | | | there is between the wheel centerline and the |
| rally application, in which case, durability is an issue. | | | | body of the car and how offset the centerline of |
| Or is it simply for street cruising or touring where | | | | the wheel is from the mounting plate. Done |
| looks are the main issue? | | | | correctly. This will ensure that the wheel not only |
| Painted Steel and Chrome plated steel wheels are | | | | has enough space to accommodate for the |
| heaviest of the three, but also are the most | | | | oversized brakes, but that the entire wheel and |
| durable and forgiving of damage. Good chrome | | | | tire package will have enough room side-to-side in |
| plating not only looks great, but also resists | | | | the wheel well. |
| corrosion. Painted aluminum is lighter, and virtually | | | | Consult a Professional |
| maintenance-free but cannot match the sheen of | | | | Trying to buy custom wheels online should only |
| chrome or polished aluminum - which for many | | | | be attempted by those who have had some real |
| customizers is just the look they're going for. | | | | experience in this area. For most of us, the best |
| Polished aluminum is light, looks great, but requires | | | | option is a large local tire retailer that stocks a big |
| just a little more diligence to protect the finish | | | | selection of chrome, painted or polished custom |
| from oxidization or pitting. | | | | wheels. Not only can you see and compare actual |
| Larger Tire Retail chains have installed thousands | | | | wheels side-by-side, but you are also assured that |
| of wheel and tire combinations on vehicles over | | | | the great -looking tire and wheel package you end |
| the years and can suggest several options that | | | | up with is one that will work properly (read |
| will work best with your particular vehicle and the | | | | safely) with your vehicle. This is not a time for |
| look you are trying to achieve. Often they can | | | | trial and error! |