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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure my bolt pattern? - Measuring a 5-bolt pattern: A 5-bolt pattern is very difficult to measure without using a bolt pattern gauge. Basically, you would measure the diameter of a circle that crosses through the center of the lug holes. This method is not recommended to confirm wheel fitment. Measuring the 4, 6 and 8-bolt patterns: They are measured from the center of one lug hole to the center of the opposite hole.
What size are my wheels? - The wheel industry considers the wheel width at the bead seat or where the bead of the tire rests. For instance, when you see a size listed on our website as 15x7, will actually measure 8 from outer flange to outer flange.
How do I measure backspacing? - Backspacing Measurement. Before considering ordering a custom wheel sizing, it is critical that you measure your existing wheel size and backspace. Laying your wheel face down on the ground, lay a straight edge on the backside of the rims very outer flange, measuring down to where the face of the rim touches your brake hub. See diagram Measurement B. When building custom wheels, the manufacturer can weld the center into the wheel in a specified location that will center your custom-built rim into the fender-well. An increase in backspace pushes your wheel inboard and a decrease in backspace will move the rim toward the street.
Why use nitrogen instead of compressed air in your tires?
Better air pressure retention. The single biggest reason for tire failure is lack of maintenance of tire
pressure. In fact, 54 percent of all vehicles on the road have low tire pressure. Oxygen in compressed air can permeate the tire wall reducing tire pressure. With nitrogen, diffusion is 30 to 40 percent slower than oxygen. As a result, nitrogen maintains tire pressure longer than ambient air.
Enhanced fuel economy Maintaining tire pressure can boost fuel economy by as much as 6 percent. Nitrogen disperses heat more quickly than ambient air. By restraining the heat in the tire and reducing rolling resistance, you get better fuel economy.
Longer tread life With quicker heat dispersion, you get a cooler running tire which helps extend tread life and reduce tire failure. Nitrogen also prevents oxidation which can not only lead to tread separation and belt failure but, when combined with moisture, corrode rims. In fact, moisture can result in rust flakes that can fall into the valve stem, block the valve and cause under-pressurization. It can even cause the valve stem itself to rust.
Slow chemical aging Filling a tire with nitrogen also significantly slows the chemical aging process of the tires rubber components. This leads to fewer catastrophic failures like blowouts. Slower aging lengthens tire core life, which yields extra retreads and lower fleet costs.
Is Nitrogen safe? - Absolutely. Actually, the air we breath is made up of 79% Nitrogen. By using Nitrogen filled tires you are supporting the environment by saving fuel and reducing the number of tires that need to be disposed annually. In the event that you need to re-fill your tires with air if Nitrogen is not available is not a problem. The effects of Nitrogen will be lost, but the tire will be fine for driving until the tire can be purged and refilled with Nitrogen again.
How do I Calculating the Offset of a Wheel? - Calculating the offset of a wheel is a fairly easy mathematical equation. First, measure the overall width of the wheel (remember, just because a wheel is 18x7, does not mean that the OVERALL width is 7.0. The wheel industry measures wheel width from bead seat to bead seat. To calculate the overall width measure the wheel from wheel flange to wheel flange. If you measure the 18x7 flange to flange and it will measure approximately 8. Next, divide that width of the wheel by two; this will give you the centerline of the wheel. Overall width divided by 2 = Centerline or Zero Offset. If the placement of the offset on your wheel moves toward the street past the centerline, you have a positive offset. If the placement of the center of your wheel is less than the centerline, you have a negative offset.
Offset is calculated in millimeters. There are 25.4 mm in 1 inch. If you use the example of an 18x7 and it has a 4 ½ backspacing, you calculate it this way. (Overall Wheel Width 8 χ 2 = Centerline/Zero Offset-4) If 25.4 mm = 1, then 13mm = ½. That means that 18x7 with 4.5 backspacing has a + 12mm offset.
How much air should I put in my tires? - Proper inflation is the single most important part of tire care. The inflation pressure on the side of the tire is the MAXIMUM operating pressure. It is not necessarily the right inflation for your vehicle. Always use the inflation recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. You can find it in your owner's manual, posted on the edge of the driver's door, on a door post or on the inside of the glovebox door. Always check inflation when tires are COLD: when the vehicle has been driven less than a mile or one hour or more after driving. Use a good quality tire gauge.
Note: It's natural for radial tires to have a slight bulge in the sidewall at their proper inflation pressure. Check or adjust inflation every few weeks, before any long trip or if traveling with a heavy load. And don't forget to check the spare.
How much should I torq my lug nuts?
Stud Size------Torq Specs
7/16"---------55-65 foot pounds
1/2" ---------75-85 foot pounds
12mm --------70-80 foot pounds
What are the different Types of Aftermarket Wheels? - There are several types of construction that are used to make wheels for the aftermarket. The type of construction does not necessarily mean that one type is better than the other. Some types of construction allow for more elaborate styling or finishing, others reduce weight, allow for custom backspacing/offsets, while others are for the purpose of duplicating the original equipment wheels. In any case, the strength and safety aspects of the wheel are based on the design and manufacturing quality built in by the manufacturer. The following are the most common types of wheels offered by the aftermarket wheel industry.
Steel Wheels This is where the aftermarket wheel industry got started. They consist of a steel outer/rim and a steel center. Chrome plating is very easy on this type because the rim and center are polished and chrome plated separately then pressed together and welded. Painting is also easy but is done after the wheel is assembled. Backspacing/offsets can be varied when the rim and center are pressed together. Trim rings and hub caps finish off these wheels nicely. Wire spoke wheels would fall in to this category but require much more maintenance in cleaning and runout (balancing).
Steel/Composite This method of building wheels was started back in the 60s. It consists of a steel rim and a cast aluminum center. This allows for more styling in the center. The aluminum centers are cast with steel cleats or inserts on the outer edges so it can be pressed into the steel rim and welded just like the Steel Wheels. These wheels are offered primarily chrome plated.
1 Piece Cast Aluminum This is now the most common wheel sold in the aftermarket. It offers the most variety of styling, sizes and finishes. These wheels can be painted, machined, polished or chrome plated. They are offered in sizes from 13 to 26 (28 & 30 are in development). These also offer a reasonable weight savings over Steel or Steel/Composite. The disadvantage of the 1 Piece Cast is the backspace/offsets are fixed in the mold.
Forged This is the type that offers the lightest weight. Because of the forging process, the wheel can be built using much less material than a 1 Piece Cast. The styling is limited in comparison to a 1 Piece Cast and the tooling and manufacturing costs are much greater. These too can be painted, machined, polished or chrome plated. Because of costs the sizes offered are limited.
2 Piece Billet Aluminum Also known as Billet, this type of wheel has been around for about 20 years. Like the Steel Wheel, it is made of a rim and center. The rims are rolled or spun and the centers are cast, forged or machined billet aluminum. The rim and center are pressed and welded together which also allows for a variation in backspace/offset. Forged and billet aluminum centers are typically stronger than cast centers because of the density of the aluminum. Chrome plating is difficult because the welding has problems created by the copper, nickel and chrome from the plating process.
3 Piece Aluminum These are also known as a Modular wheel. The rim is made up of 2 pieces, the front rim section and the rear section which are either spun or formed. The center can be of a cast, forged or machined billet type. The 3 pieces are assembled with the center sandwiched between the front and rear rim sections with bolts or rivets securing the pieces together. Styling is again limited, but finishing choices are like the 1 Piece Cast.
What does the load index rating mean? -The load index refers to the load-carrying capacity of a tire, or how much weight a tire can support. For example, if a tire has a load index of 89, it can support 1,279 pounds (from below chart) at maximum air pressure. Multiply that by four (4 x 1,279 = 5,116 pounds) to get your maximum load-carrying capacity. It is not recommended to install tires with a lower load carrying capacity than what came on your car from the factory.
What is Plus Sizing? - Plus sizing your wheel & tires wheels will enhance vehicles performance with the fitment of larger diameter rims and lower profile tires. In addition to the improved performance gained by Plus Sizing your wheels/tires your car will have more visual impact with more wheel and less tire. The concept is that while making these changes, you maintain the same overall tire diameter while increasing your wheel diameter by 1" each Plus factor. If you maintain stock overall tire diameters you will avoid problems with transmission shift points, incorrect speedometer readings as well as problems with computer braking systems. Plus Sizing done correctly will add performance and added styling.
Ho do I read my tire size? - Example Size: P215/65R15 PASSENGER - P This indicates a passenger car tire. If the first character in the size designation is a "P," the tire is a "P-Metric" tire and is engineered to standards set by the T&RA. If there is no "P" the tire is engineered to ETRTO standards and is a metric tire. The standards set by T&RA and ETRTO have evolved together and are virtually interchangeable. SECTION WIDTH - 215These numerals indicate the tire section width in millimeters. This is the dimension from sidewall to sidewall. A tire's section width will vary depending on the rim to which it is fitted. The section width will be larger on a wide rim and smaller on a narrow rim. Therefore, each tire is measured to specific rim width. (To convert millimeters into inches divide by 25.4.)ASPECT RATIO - 65 This two-digit number indicates the tire's aspect ratio. It compares the tire's inflated section height, which is the distance from the bead to the tread to its section width (maximum). An aspect ratio of 65 means that the tire's section height is 65% of the tire's section width, For clarity the section width in millimeters is separated from the aspect ratio by a slash (/). CONSTRUCTION - R This letter indicates the type of ply construction in the tire's casing or carcass. "R" means radial. "D" means diagonal referring to bias ply tires. "B" means belted for belted-bias ply tires. Never mix radial tires with any other construction on a car. RIM DIAMETER - 15 The "15" indicates the rim diameter in inches. It is the diameter of the tire bead seat ledge in the rim. Most tires are built to inch standards for rim diameters. However, some tires are built to millimetric rim dimensions. Always match the tire's rim diameter to the wheel rim diameter.
What do the tire speed ratings mean? - A tire receives its speed rating by the U.S. Government through meeting minimum standards for reaching and sustaining a specified speed. What does that mean to you? Well, in general, a higher speed rating will result in better car handling. Below is a list of speed ratings along with the corresponding speeds they represent. These ratings are only used as a guide to indicate what level of performance could be obtained without deterioration of the structural soundness of the tire.
S- Up to 112mph --- T- Up to 118mph --- U- Up to 124mph H- Up to 130mph
V- Up to 149mph ---Z- over 149mph---W- Up to 168mph ---Y- Up to 186mph
How do I care for my wheels? Chrome Wheels - The same rules apply for chrome plated wheels as for wheels with a painted finish. Chrome plating is more delicate and does require more care. You may wish to clean and wax them more often. Be sure not use any abrasive chrome polishes as this could scratch the chrome plating. If you live in a climate where road salts are used in the winter months, we recommend that you remove your plated wheels during this time. Chrome plated wheels will rapidly pit and become cloudy when exposed to road salt for any extended period as the salt contains chemicals which breaks down the finish on this type of wheel.
Painted Wheels - Following these simple steps will enhance the beauty of your car and will help your wheels look great for years to come! When cleaning with a painted finish, we recommend that you refrain from using chemical wheel cleaners. Many of them contain caustic chemicals that can damage the clear-coated finish by clouding it or even removing it. If you wash your vehicle on a regular basis, there is really no need to use them. When washing your vehicle, start with the wheels first. Try to wash them when they are cool, not after a long drive. The brakes heat the wheels up, making them difficult to clean and dry. Since the finish on your wheels is similar to your vehicle's paint job, use a mild detergent that is designed for use on automotive finishes. Use a washing mitt or a soft sponge. Never use any type of brush or abrasive pad as these will scratch and damage the finish. Since the finish of your wheels is similar to your vehicle's paint job, it is a good idea to wax the exposed areas of your wheels 3 to 4 times per year or more if you live in a harsh climate. This will maintain that new look longer and will help keep road grime and the elements from damaging the finish of your new wheels.