I'm sure that sounds like a stupid question to all the experts out there, but humor me. I recognize the benefit of size, but is the quality actually that different between brands, or is it just a label thing?

 

Rims are appearance only items.

People may argue with me here. The larger the rim, the more power you will loose in conversion.

 

Rims are more than just apperance items. They can also reflect an image of what type of person you are. They show your emotions, if you're angry, sad, happy, cool. etc. I'm just BSing this whole thing, But It's your taste in looks.

 

rims can either make or break a car...

 

Uh, I know! I know! They are very handy for attaching the tires to the car. Right? Right? :D

Actually, for the normal 'real world' user, that's about it - other than that, for most people, they are a "fashion statement."

Very few folks here (there are a few) pick wheels for true functionality - most are at least as concerned about their looks...

 

Nice rims separate you from everybody else. You'll buck the trend of sticking with stock rims (that almost EVERYBODY has) and get something that represents you and your personality. If you're a label-*****, then you'll pay top $$$ for your rims. (Most are for 'looks', others actually function quite well.) If you're in the market for new rims, be sure to set a 'budget'. Stay within your budget. I went over-budget by about $50. But it was well worth it!

 

well, rims do serve a purpose. besides allowing you to drive it, the lighter the rims the better the performance. plus a wider rim allows a wider tire and that means more surface area on the road which is more traction. run on sentences anyone?

 

the lighter the rim, the faster they spin. results could vary in a numerous ways.

*note the bigger the rim the slower the revolution.
in competition, they use small (15-16's) jdm wheels on the track.

 

That's why you counter balance it by adding performance mods...supercharger, turbo, N/A build-up, etc..

 

most people lost track of/never knew about the sizing of wheels.
the taller and more narrow the wheel the better. think of covered wagons and amish buggies and such. they are easier to turn. but wider means more surface area, more difficult to start rolling because of the amount of force needed to move the entire surface. which means more traction.

but basically they are for looks until you run them in some races: autox, track, street racing, what have you. then they hold the tires

 

The main advantage that anyone will notice with aftermarket wheels would be the decrease in unsprung weight. I am currently involved in the development of a race car and we are working on carbon fiber wheel shells for that very reason. The carbon fiber is going to save us about 3 pounds on wheels that used to be 5 pounds. All of that savings in weight will allow the suspension to be more responsive and also reduces the rotating mass allowing for better acceleration. Granted, all of these advatages are more noticable on a race vehicle, but it might be noticeable in handling for a street car.

 

if you get rims just to look cool, then you're a total tool. if you get rims to get more grip, via wider tire surface area, and lighter rims to reduce car weight, then you're on the right track.

 

Like he said, ^^^ , if you do ANYthing that's not explicitly performance oriented you're a total tool. That's right, sound systems and the such is stupid. Don't paint the engine cover.. in fact, take it off to save the weight. Don't replace the stock **** unless you're lowering the shift throw length and rip out anything that doesn't make the car go fast.

Because if it doesn't make your car go fast, apparently it makes you a tool.



Just get the rims to make your car look nice. If looks weren't important than you'd've gotten any color car that was available on the lot. Would you have gotten a different color? If not, get the rims for looks first, performance second. Remember, you see this car everyday before you drive it.

 

Some people are show, some poeple are go, you know that

 

Although i see why you would say that, i disagree.

Rim's are appearance only. As far as performance goes, you can buy performance tires for stock steelies. Although, rims are nice to have they don't go as far as making or breaking the car. Just me though.

They aren't that important to me, but i seem to be apart of a rare breed in thinking that. lol...

Cya

 

I thought he was talking from an asthetic stand-point. Good looking rims can "make" a car standout, and UP the appeal of it. But bad choice of rims, and you are the laughing stock of the crowd. I don't think he was speaking in terms of performance. Atleast that's what I got out of what he said.

 

...

 

^^ you are correct sir!!!

 

Yeah, the laughing stock of the crowd until they can't keep up...funny how it all changes depending on your perpective.

I can't remember the last time I saw my wheels while I was driving. I sure remember the look on the GSX Eclipse driver's face when I drove around him on a two lane on-ramp. It's all what you want it to do.

 

rims are a nice additon to you car, they give it a sense of style, however some people have taken it too far, the spinning rims, the rims with animal skins, not cool. however obviously car manufacturers have taken note of the trend. most high end cars even some lower end cars have 18" or bigger. look at the Tc, can you imagine that being sold with a corrolla wheel cover and tire size, it probably would look horrible........ i remember when a 15x7 with a 50 series tire was the biggest you could go....