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eTyres care about our customers. The
following article may be of interest.
Flashy Car Rims - Is It Just A Guy Thing?
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 aftermarket research about 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.
About the Author
Lillian Fuller is a talented and successful freelance
writer providing tips and advice for consumers about car
rims including chrome wheels, spinner rims, custom
wheels and more. ? 2004 http://www.rims-now.com/ |
