Aftermarket Rims Explained



Any automotive enthusiast is familiar with the term, aftermarket rims. They’re featured on the cover of car magazines, made popular by certain street racing movies, and visible on most modified cars. As a rule, aftermarket rims are any wheel not considered stock to a branded vehicle. However, modern technology and an evolving interest in designs have made aftermarket rims so much more.

We explain how to choose the right rims for your vehicle, how to tell the quality of a set of wheels, and how to guarantee the right fitment.

What to Look for When Purchasing Aftermarket Rims?

There are a few other things to understand before purchasing aftermarket rims. 

Some common considerations include:

Hubcentric Rims vs. Rims using Centering Rings

As many generic aftermarket rims are not designed to fit the exact specifications of your vehicle make and model, there’s a chance the rims won’t match the wheel hub. 

When a wheel isn’t hub centric, there runs a risk that weight isn’t supported evenly and can cause vibration, and other issues to your vehicle. Most aftermarket rims require centering rings.

As part of our custom fit, all RWC wheels are designed to be hubcentric. Therefore, there’s no need for any centering rings, and you can use all your original wheel nuts and bolts as well.

Loading Capacity

Choosing aftermarket rims that can support the weight of your vehicle is extremely important, and even more so for SUVs and trucks. Before purchasing, ensure that your new wheels are designed to support the loading capacity of your vehicle.

OE Sensors on Custom Rims

OE stands for original equipment, and not all stock TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) sensors will fit aftermarket rims. At RWC Wheels we ensure that each of our custom alloy wheels work with OE TPMS systems and valves.

Some other things to keep in mind when purchasing aftermarket rims

 
  • Whether the wheels are engineered for run-flat tires.
  • The quality control tests which have been run and whether they were successful.
  • OE wheel wrench compatible.
  • Wheel offset.

What is a Wheel Offset?

The offset of a wheel is the distance from the hub mounting surface to the center line of the wheel. The wheel offset is measured in millimeters and results in a positive, negative, or zero offset.  Each RWC Wheel has a carefully calculated offset to match the original, and you can find the bolt pattern, offset, and center bore measurements in the description of each wheel in our extensive alloy wheels collection.

What Makes RWC a Quality Aftermarket Rim?

We’ve covered what to look for when purchasing an aftermarket rim, but what about the quality of the rim itself. At RWC, we determine the quality of our wheels by running a series of tests, including:
  • Balancing and leak air tests
  • Radioscopic and radiographic monitoring
  • Rim rolling and bending tests
  • Lateral and radial run out
  • Impact tests
  • Heat treatments to optimize the mechanical properties of the metal
  • Salt spray test
  • Cass test
You should also consider the quality of the rim for seasonal use. Our winter wheels collection, for example, are outfitted with high-resistant paint to endure tough winter conditions experienced here in Canada.

How Do I Know Which Aftermarket Rims Will Fit My Car?

To check the rim size for your vehicle, take a glance at the vehicle’s sticker plate. This is located inside the driver’s side door. If you can’t find it here, a quick search online of your car make and model will give you the appropriate rim size. RWC Wheels specializes in custom fit rims. You’ll have the peace of mind with rims made to fit your vehicle, rather than searching for universal aftermarket rims that seem to have the right specifications. Not all aftermarket rims are created equally. The design, fit, materials, compatibility, offset, testing all play a role in how much better one set of mag wheels is compared to the next.

Contact RWC Wheels to Learn More

At RWC Wheels, each of our rims is designed to suit the vehicle you drive. The motto “Life’s too short to stay stock” is one we fully agree with. For drivers who want a unique look and enhanced ride, our aftermarket rims are the way to go. RWC Wheels are custom designed and engineered for most car brands and models. Consult our alloy wheels collection or contact us to find out where RWC Wheels are available or inquire about reselling RWC Wheels in your area.