A car rim supports and holds the tire to the wheel. However, it’s prone to damage, making repair or replacement necessary. Have you ever wondered whether you can replace one rim? Or whether you can just put any rim?
It’s possible to replace just one badly damaged rim on your car, especially using an OEM rather than an aftermarket option. You can buy one OEM rim, unlike aftermarket options that usually come in sets. Considerations for a replacement rim include diameter, width, offset, and load rating.
The rims on your car ensure safety and comfort but are prone to damage from various factors. The good thing is that the damage may only happen on one rim. When planning to replace the rim, you wonder whether you can replace just one with damage.
Types Of Car Rims
Replacing your rims makes your car look cool. The wheels are the soul of your car and the first feature people usually notice. A set of wheels instantly changes the look of your car. Before hitting the market for a rim or set of rims, you must understand their different types.
Forged Or Cast Rims
The name for this type of rim comes from its manufacturing process. Cast rims are made after melting metal and pouring it into a mold to take its shape after cooling. The process is quick and saves money.
Forged rims cost a bit more and take time since they are made individually. Forged rims are developed from a billet aluminum block. These are lighter and available in cool designs since they are designed using a CAD program. It allows applying various details to the design.
Split Rims
These are popular today and are hard to miss on any car. Split rims have tiny bolts less than an inch apart, lining the outer part. The bolts keep the rim parts together because they are made from two or three parts. People love split rims for their aesthetic appeal creating room for replicas.
Alloy Rims
The most common and popular type, alloy rims, are built from billet aluminum. Alloy rims come in various designs and cost more than forged rims. These rims are lighter and contribute to improving the car’s fuel economy. Alloy rims are prone to cracking and bending.
When To Replace Your Car Rim
Replacing a car rim is more expensive than repair but is more appropriate because of severe damage in various places. Repair would mean bending back the metal, buffing out scratches, and filling some cracks. Heavier damage makes repairing costly and replacement cheap.
Repair seems cheaper, but replacing is more viable and comes with perks, including a discount and an extended warranty. Replacing works more efficiently than putting too much work and effort into repairing. It allows getting back on the road instantly after the replacement.
Can You Replace Just One Rim?
Yes, you can replace one rim if the others are still in good condition. The new rim must be as close to the size of the one on the other side as possible. Both rims must have no noticeable difference in diameter, construction, and width.
To avoid messing up the drive feel, have a trusted mechanic ensure the tires are balanced. When choosing a replacement rim, check the manufacturer’s specifications to find a replacement as close to the stock rim as possible.
Can You Put Any Rim On Your Car?
When replacing the rim on your car, you must choose between OEM or aftermarket rim. OEMs have the most resale value when planning to sell your car. They are also lightweight to enhance handling, riding, and fuel economy. Genuine OEMs will last longer, while aftermarket options are heavier and of low quality.
Aftermarket rims are cheaper in the short run but expensive in the long run. A replacement OEM rim comes with your car’s exact specifications and eliminates the guesswork. You can buy one OEM rim, which is cheaper than a set of aftermarket rims.
Another wonderful thing about choosing an OEM rim for a replacement is that it comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. It guarantees that the rim won’t fail or may do so after hitting about 12000 miles. No aftermarket manufacturer offers the same peace of mind with their rims.
Considerations To Choose A Replacement Rim
When upgrading your car rim, you must consider a few issues highlighted below.
Diameter
Rims with a large diameter are popular, although they cost a bit more. A 17-inch diameter has various wheel and tire options and fits most brake packages. The ideal rim diameter must be less than half of the overall tire diameter.
Width
Manufacturers usually have recommended specifications for wheel widths for each tire. They usually recommend a rim about two to three inches narrower than the tire. It keeps the tire to the wheel when pressure is low.
Offset
It’s the wheel mourning surface compared to the wheel centerline. Zero offset puts half the wheel on every side of the mounting surface. Positive offset encourages narrower track width and the mounting surface closer to the outside of the wheel.
Load Rating
Rims are load-rated, just like the tires. Load rating determines the bolt pattern and rim construction. Steel rims have a lower load rate compared to cast aluminum rims. Forged rims have the highest load rate.
Regardless of the rim construction, more lug nuts with a larger bolt circle offer a higher load rate.
Bead Seat
It’s what keeps the tire bead seated using air pressure. A taller and broader bead seat allows running with lower air pressure without the tire coming off the wheel.
Beadlock wheels have a mechanical clamp with bolts for holding the tie to the wheel to avoid unseating even with no pressure.
Center Bore
It’s the hole in the middle of the rim. A larger bolt circle makes the center bore bigger. This is crucial when fitting over locking hubs and complete floating axles.
The center bore is necessary on hub-centric wheels for positioning the wheel on the axle. Lug-centric wheels use lug nuts for centering the wheel.
Conclusion
Your car rims are essential for comfort and safety but are prone to damage over time. Replacement is more cost-effective in the long run, and you can replace one heavily damaged rim.
Although some quality aftermarket options exist, OEM rims offer the best value and match perfectly.
