How to choose new wheels for my car?

Changing the original wheels of a vehicle is one of the most common modification on the market. Whether it's for style or simply to have wheels for winter, it is important to note that research is required to select the right model.

Indeed, you must know that each manufacturer uses different parameters in the design of their cars and trucks. It is therefore necessary to know the specifications of your vehicle in order to choose the right wheel!

The process remains the same whether it is for alloy wheels or simple metal wheels.

There are several advantages to having 2 sets of wheels

• The more "beautiful" wheels do not suffer the ravages of winter and remain better looking.
• It is possible, for the more resourceful, to change the wheels at home, thus avoiding the expense of the garage and having to make an appointment for the installation and thus avoiding the high tire season.
• With each mounting and dismounting, the tire can be damaged, so the tire is mounted once until the end of its useful life
•  By reducing the diameter, it is possible to spend less on tires. But get out your calculator, it is possible that your investment becomes profitable only after several years! If you lease your vehicle, it may not be advantageous.

Numbers to know!

At first glance, the numbers that come with each wheel model seem intimidating...

17X7 IN /. 5X114 MM / +40 MM / 60.1 MM

Let's put it in context with a specific example, we are looking for wheels for a 2017 Toyota Rav4 LE, a very popular vehicle in Canada.

17X7 in

This is the diameter of the wheel, 17 inches. It is directly related to the tire. An 18 inch tire will not fit on a 17 inch wheel. The X7 is the width of the wheel, in this case, 7 inches. It also has to do with the tire. Tire manufacturers recommend that their products be installed on wheels that usually vary in size.

Be careful if you have very wide tires and your wheels are "thin", the installation may be difficult or impossible! Conversely, a wide wheel will not fit a narrower tire.

5X114mm

This series of numbers represents the bolt patern. These numbers represent the number of bolts 5 and the distance between them, 114mm. Everything is specific to each car model and manufacturer! Wheels that fit on a Toyota, will not necessarily fit on a Kia for example.

+40mm

The offset is the distance in 'mm' between the centerline and the mounting surface of the wheel (lip). A value of 0 indicates that the mounting surface is aligned with the center of the wheel. A positive value will cause the wheel to come out of the wing. A negative value indicates that the wheel will be more inside.

In our example, for our Rav4, the manufacturer recommends a +40mm wheel. Usually, + or- 10mm will have no impact.

60.1mm

An extremely important notion! This number represents the bore center/center hub. It is in fact the size of the hole in the wheel that will fit the center of the brake disc at the wheel hub.

In our Rav4 example, a wheel with a 60.1mm opening will fit directly on the center and will be easy to install, it will be a direct fit. A larger value, e.g. 73.1 will be multi fit and therefore universal to many types of vehicles.

It is important to know that in order to install this kind of wheel properly, centering rings are needed to avoid vibrations while driving.

What is a centering ring?

A centering ring is a plastic or aluminum ring that fits over the wheel hub and fills the gap between the hub and the center of the wheel. It allows the wheel to be centered on the hub and the technician who installs it to screw it in place correctly. Without it, the wheel is very difficult to center and will most likely cause vibrations while driving.

To find out what centering ring you need, refer to the wheel center measurement VS your vehicle bore measurement, ex: 73.1mm/60.1mm for our Rav4. There are several distributors for this equipment and several qualities.

If you prefer not to have to deal with this, we recommend that you opt for a wheel that will be directly on the hub, or direct fit.

And is downsizing advantageous?

This practice is common in Canada for winter wheels. Indeed, many motorists opt to reduce the diameter of their wheels in winter to reduce the cost of purchasing both the wheels and the tires. But be careful! It is not always possible to do so!

Indeed, the brake caliper and the suspension arms can rub on a smaller wheel. It is very important to check with the manufacturer if this is possible. Refer to other models in the car lineup, for example, a 2017 Rav4 limited comes standard with 18 inch wheels. Our LE is 17, so it is possible to opt for 17 inches without problems. 16 inches? Validate before!

Also be careful if your car has bigger brake calipers (ex: a Tesla model 3 long range does not have the same calipers as a Tesla model 3 performance). The latter will be much more massive making it impossible to reduce the diameter of the wheel.

Is that all?

Unfortunately... No!

You've chosen the wheels and tires... But your work doesn't stop there. Indeed, there are still 2 elements to validate: The type of bolts required for the wheels and the air pressure sensors or TPMS.

The pressure sensors are common in the higher end or more recent vehicles. In our Rav4 LE example, there are none. However, be aware that if your vehicle is equipped with this type of device and you do not install one, you will have a warning light in your dashboard. In addition, some cars, especially electric cars like Tesla, absolutely require sensors to function properly. Ask your advisor for more information! Also note that sensors must be programmed, requiring specialized equipment. Take this into consideration if you buy online.

The bolts can come in several sizes but especially in several seats. Some wheels have tapered seats, some have half-spherical seats, some have flat seats. It is extremely important to have the right bolts because it could have an impact on your safety! Refer to the technical data sheet of the wheel you want, you may have to have 2 sets of bolts, one summer and one winter. Don't forget to leave the adapter (if needed) in your vehicle at all times! If you have an European vehicle, it is also likely that it is not bolts but lug nuts that your vehicle requires. This is another way to mount the wheels without the studs.

Finally, a note on lock nuts. These bolts, often sold at a high price by dealerships, require a special wrench for removal. If you do not have the key, it is very difficult to remove the wheel without damaging it.

Although this brings a sense of security, one must be careful because the bolts can rust and become brittle over time... A breakage is quick and complications follow! We recommend the use of regular bolts in winter unless you have a very special vehicle with very expensive wheels or if you live in an area more susceptible to theft.

In short, choosing wheels for a vehicle is more than an exercise in style. It requires that you do your homework before ordering to make sure that the wheels will fit on the car. The golden rule: When in doubt, get informed!

Happy shopping!