CONSUMERS : Getting Your Bearings
Experts say you should consider more than cosmetics when choosing after-market wheels.
1. Decide what look and performance standards you want from your car.
2. Know what you want to spend. There’s a big price variation, depending on what size fits your car and how much you want to pay. “My advice is to either leave the original wheels on the car, or buy the best,” said Douglas Speer, director of marketing for BBS America.
3. Go to a reputable dealer.
4. Look for a brand known for quality and performance. Check out the side of the wheel to make sure it has a stamp from one or more of the international testing authorities. “That’s most important,” said Philip Moore, general manager of MOMO, USA in Miami, the North American arm of the Italian wheel manufacturer. “TUV is the German government testing authority that is the most highly rated in the auto industry in Europe. JWL is the Japanese one. SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Assn. based in Whittier) is the one here.”
5. Stick with light alloy wheels, which are made from a combination of aluminum and other non-ferrous metals. They are more durable than magnesium wheels, which are OK for short-use racing but don’t last long on the street. And alloy wheels are lighter weight than steel ones.
6. Don’t buy “uni-lug” wheels, those with oblong bolt holes or multiple ones. “The hole in the middle of the wheel has to fit precisely over the hub flange,” said Speer. The bolt circle (of the after-market wheel) has to match the bolt circle of the flange. The offset of the after-market wheel--the distance between the center line of the wheel and the mounting point of the wheel--should be very close, if not exact, to that of the original wheel. If not, you can have handling problems and accelerated tire and wheel bearing wear.
7. Don’t put on too big or too small wheel/tire combinations. It can be unsafe and cause faster wear. Check the auto manufacturer’s recommendations for tire size and load capacity, and limit the change in tire size to 5%.
