A car’s wheels are one of the most noticeable parts of your vehicle, adding style, class, and bling along with functionality. While everyone believes they know what a car wheel is, it’s not uncommon for wheels to be referred to as rims and vice versa. And although using them interchangeably in conversation won’t cause confusion since everybody does it, wheels and rims are different with the rim being just a part of the wheel. Other parts often considered as the wheel include hubcaps, center caps, and wheel covers which are separate parts to augment the wheels. And then there’s the tires, also not the wheel itself. Explore how all these parts work together to create the hardworking and decorative “wheels” that drive our vehicles.
The actual automotive wheel is the metal circular unit with spokes, rim, and a wheel hub in the center section that attaches to the vehicle. The tire is wrapped around the wheel with the tire's edges against the rim whose main function is supporting and sealing the tire to the wheel. Most common wheel materials today are steel, aluminum alloy, and chrome plated. Painting or powder coating can be used on steel or aluminum alloy wheels for custom designs.
· Steel wheels are the least expensive and most durable option. However, steel wheels come in limited sizes and are not especially attractive, so many manufacturers use wheel covers to improve their appearance.
· Lighter alloy wheels are more fuel-efficient than steel wheels but cost more. Alloy wheels can have more intricate designs and a wider variety of finishes making them the better choice for most drivers.
· Chrome plated wheels are the showiest look of all finishes, a mirror-like shine for the ultimate car bling. Chrome plating is very expensive, and the finish is vulnerable to problems like pitting and corrosion and steep repair bills.
Rims
The main difference between wheel and rim is that the rim is not the whole wheel but only a part at the wheel’s outer edge even though the rim and wheel are usually cast or pressed from a single piece of metal. Rims are usually made of steel or aluminum alloy and provide a smooth and even mounting surface for the tire to rest on as well as decorative trim for the wheel. Rims come in various sizes and styles, depending on the type of vehicle they are intended for. The rim ensures proper fitting between tire bead and wheel, preventing air leaks and retaining the air inside a tubeless tire. You can replace damaged rims with a manufacturer's OE rims or an aftermarket equivalent. Custom-made rims are another option to give your car a unique look.
Tire styles are chosen by an auto manufacturer for each car, truck, or SUV type to provide the best performance and safety for that specific vehicle’s needs, including smooth ride, handling, and noise performance objectives. Today, 98% of passenger cars have radial ply tires. Radial refers to the tire’s internal construction and is what the “R” in the tire size means. At the core of each tire are multiple layers of nylon and steel, giving it strength and shape, maintaining the inner diameter to keep the tire on the wheel. As many as two hundred different raw materials combine in the typical tire, including steel belts, Kevlar-like plies, and several types of rubber containing special oils, carbon black, pigments, antioxidants, and silica. Parts of a tire include plies, belts, sipes, tread, grooves, shoulder, sidewall, inner liner, and tire bead. Many manufacturers require their tire suppliers to identify their original equipment (OE) tires with symbols or codes branded on the sidewalls indicating tire size, maximum cold inflation load limit, tire performance criteria specs (TPC), and weather-related capabilities so car owners can select exact replacement tires.
Spare Wheel Carrier / Spare Tire Mount
Spare wheel carriers are also called spare tire mounts and are suited for cars, trucks, SUVs, trailers, off-road jeeps, and more. They come in multiple design options, including truck bed mounts, roof rack spare tire mounts, swing-out or pivoting tire carriers, bumper mounts, liftgate mounts, and trailer hitch spare tire mounts. Choosing the right spare tire mount depends on the framework of your vehicle as well as how convenient you need your spare tire to be. Accessing a manufacturer’s spare tire location can be a hassle if it’s located in the trunk or under the vehicle’s chassis, and an additional spare wheel carrier lets you determine a different way to keep a full-size spare tire within easy reach. Some vehicles do not include a spare tire as standard equipment but as an optional add-on. Tire mounts let you customize if you choose to add the security of a spare tire.
Wheel Cover / Hubcap / Center Cap
Wheel covers, hubcaps, and center caps all offer aesthetic and practical benefits to a vehicle’s wheels, and although these three terms are often used interchangeably, they are different. They can all easily and inexpensively change the appearance of a car or truck while adding protection to the wheels with replacement used auto parts or new aftermarket products.
A wheel cover resurfaces the entire face of the wheel. Made of metal, chrome, or plastic, they are available in a variety of styles and sizes to look like actual wheels, and in many cases, they simulate OE (original equipment) and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) wheel designs. They protect wheels from driving and weather damage and are easy to replace in the event of excessive wear and tear.
Hubcaps are decorative disks that minimally cover the hub of a wheel but typically cover more area. Hubcaps hide and protect the lug nuts and bolt assembly to reduce the accumulation of dirt and moisture that can lead to corrosion and rust. Made of metal, chrome, or plastic, hubcaps come in various colors and designs and either snap on or are bolted onto the wheel and rim assembly.
Like hubcaps, center caps cover the wheel hub assembly, the center section of the wheel that attaches to the vehicle. But whereas hubcaps can expand to more coverage, center caps cover just the center of the wheel, where the lug nuts are located. OEM and OE center caps include a vehicle manufacturer’s emblem, trademark, or logo and can be flat, curved, or extended designs.
There are many individual parts that make up what we commonly refer to as the wheels of a car or truck with each part fulfilling its unique purpose to keep car owners driving in style and safety. Whenever you require one or a full set of replacement wheels, rims, hubcaps, wheel covers, or even tires, LKQ Online can help you restore your car’s wheels, including original OEM used parts for newer and older models as well as new aftermarket options to customize your ride. We guarantee fit, quality, budget-friendly pricing, and fast shipping along with free standard warranties on the parts we sell.