The Luxury of 20 Inch Rims

These rims gained notoriety in the urban environment, but the draw of these wheels, and the subsequent fuller wheel-wells is spreading to rural towns. These larger wheels, those 20 inches and larger, require a tire with a smaller sidewall to slide into the fender-wells of your vehicle. When you choose to go with 20 inch rims, there are many things to consider.

When shopping for aftermarket wheels, one must make a very important decision regarding material make-up of your rim. The two most easily available metals that are used to manufacture these large wheels are aluminum and chrome. The aluminum wheels are often polished to give that chrome appearance without the added expense of chrome. The chrome wheels are significantly heavier than their aluminum counterparts and are often forged, rather than cast, making them stronger than the cheaper aluminum wheels. Care of aluminum wheels is as simple as spraying wheel cleaner on the rim, letting it clean off the brake dust and then rinsing it off. Chrome wheels require more detailed care with chrome polish being applied to maintain the shiny appearance of the wheels.

When putting 20 inch rims on your car or truck, a test fit is a necessity. When you can, have a tire shop remove your current tire and wheel assembly and put the bare wheel on the car to ensure that the wheel will clear the undercarriage when they are turned. The choice of tires can include tire prices from cheap to outrageously expensive. When choosing a tire, you have to make sure the overall height is very similar to the factory issued size to make sure your speedometer will read the appropriate speed.

To drive a car or truck with aftermarket wheels on it, one must take additional care while driving around. When you hit any object in the road, be it a rock, curb, bump or the potholes that seem to dot our roads, it can and will bend your wheels if hit with enough force. If the wheel bends far enough, it may longer be a viable option to run on your vehicle. Bends in an aluminum wheel can cause cracking and leaking, which can lead to a damaged, ruined tire.

Cleaning your new rims is a must. There are many different products that you can use for your new wheels. Make sure you use a product that is safe on chrome, alloy, or whatever type of wheel you may have purchased.

Theft is a big issue with larger wheels; it is like they are a magnet for attention. So what do you do to make sure they stay yours, and not stolen? Purchase wheel locks and an after market security system. The wheel locks are special lug nuts that require a special key that only you will have.

Last thing you need to do to care for your rims is winterize. Keep your old rims, and put them on in the winter, especially if you live in a climate prone to snowy storms. This will keep your wheels clear of salt and no dents and dings from sliding on the ice!

Every guy wants to know how to attract girls and some beautiful alloy chrome wheels on your car will go a long way to turning their heads.