Wheels and Tires

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There is nothing that can dramatically enhance the appearance and performance of your vehicle more, than wheels and tires. Unfortunately the cost of wheels and tires are not cheap and usually end up costing a small fortune. If we are going to make this kind of investment to make are rides look hip, then we better do our homework.

This articles intent is to provide you with information that will help you choose the tires and wheels that fit your needs. By taking these details into consideration you will enhance they way your car looks and keep your vehicle performing at a optimum level.  

Choosing the tire that's right for you and your vehicle definitely needs to be given some consideration. The first thing you need to do is determine what are your driving needs and uses. Here are some simple guidelines to follow when you are ready to purchase new tires.

Tire Tread Life
When purchasing tires one of the main considerations is how long they will last. You will here terms like this is a 40,000 mile tire or a 60,000 mile tire. In actuality this is how many miles the manufacture will warranty this tire for. What you should really be concerned with is the the tires UTQG rating. The UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grading) rating was implemented by the U.S. Department of Transportation and is required by law that tire manufactures assigned a label rating to each tire. The manufactures follow government guidelines and assign values for tread wear, traction, and temperature resistance. The higher the rating the longer the tire is going to last.

Speed rating
This term in my opinion is overrated. For just about any street car, a V-rated tire will be more than enough, unless you plan on going faster than 150 mph on the freeway. Last time I checked here in the United States the highest speed limit is 75 mph. Unless you are a race car driver be honest with your self about what your needs are and you will likely pay less without noticing difference in your ride. For reference, the most common speed ratings you'll come across on the majority of tires are shown in the chart below.

Q= 99 mph
S= 112 mph
T= 118 mph
U= 124 mph
H= 130 mph
V= up to 149 mph
Z= 149 mph and above
W= 168 mph
Y= 186 mph


Weather consideration
If you live in a state where you have all four seasons with dry, wet roads, and snow conditions you should definitely consider a All-Seasons tire. This will provide enhanced traction for a variety of different road conditions, while still delivering a smooth ride and a long lasting tire. For more extreme weather conditions its best to keep another set of wheels that you can swap out for snow tires.

Ride Quality
Are you looking for performance or comfort? A low-profile tire performs well in corners and they look great, but you will feel every pothole and bump in the road. They also are more susceptible to your wheels being damaged. Make sure you consider these factors and base your decision on what works best for you.

Road Noise
If you are going to do a lot of highway driving than this should definitely be considered. Unfortunately
just by looking at a tire its hard to tell what it will sound like. In general a tire taller side walls is usually your best bet, they can absorb the bumps, and uneven roads better. A good salesperson will be able to help you in this area but don't forget to do your research online.

Wheels really make a statement and can be a lot of fun to see how the look and feel of your vehicle changes right before your eyes. Here are a few things to consider when you are ready for your next custom wheel purchase.

Bolt Pattern

You might wonder what this is? Simply put this is the distance between the studs that hold the rim onto the car. This step is crucial to especially if you are going to order you custom wheels online. Grab a tape measure and this guide will tell you how to measure your bolt pattern of your existing wheels. Bolt patterns come in different sizes 4lug, 5lug, 6lug, and 8lug. Here is how you measure for each.

4Lug- Measure the center distance between two opposing holes.

5Lug- Measure from the center of one hole to the back of the 2nd hole from it.

6Lug- Measure same as 4Lug bolt pattern.

8Lug- Measure same as 4Lug or 6Lug bolt pattern.

Wheel Size

There is more to consider that just looks when buying wheels. The easiest way it to try to match as close as possible the size of the stock wheels that came with the vehicle. Even though a larger wheel might look great, there are some issues that arise by installing a larger wheels. One issue is your fuel mileage will be adversely impacted. Another issue is your speedometer will not be accurate, and your gear ration in your drive train will be altered.. This causes problems when you are driving down the road and you speedometer reads 50mph and you are actually going 75mph. So save yourself some speeding tickets and gas and try to match your vehicles original wheel size.

If you are determined to go with a bigger size wheel then we can significantly reduce this issue by purchasing a lower profile tire. This is called Plus Sizing. So if you want 20s on your car you need to go with a lower profile tire this will ensure that the care can still handle and turn properly. We also need to keep in mind that the lower profile tire we install is going to effect the way are car rides, noise level, and comfort. The shorter side wall will cause the tire to flex less in turns, this is great for a sports car as it will improve the handling. The downside is you are going to feel all the bumps and dips as you drive down the road. So you as the driver are going to have to make some decisions on what is best for your needs.

If you are unsure on what is best, look for a wheels and tires package for your vehicle online or at your local tire shop. Generally these packages include a few different custom wheel designs with the correct size tires you will make your vehicle look great as well and adhere to your car manufacture specifications.