New wheels could boost the pride in your ride
By Melanie D. Scott
Knight Ridder News Service
| • | The basics of wheels
Rims: Another name for wheels. Rims are not to be confused with wheel covers or hubcaps. Tires are mounted around the rim. Dubs: Wheels or rims. Numerous hip-hop and rap songs feature the phrase "rolling on dubs." This means "I am riding in a car with flashy rims or wheels." Dubs is even the name of a hip-hop-inspired automotive magazine that features ads from wheel designers. Spinners: These are the most popular wheels nationwide. Spinners, well, spin. Whether driving or sitting at a traffic light, the wheels continue to spin in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending on how they're made. 20s: If someone says they are riding on 20s, they are driving a vehicle with 20-inch wheels. Many vehicles operate on standard 15-inch wheels or smaller, but 20s are a popular size nationally. 24s: 24-inch wheels. This is the size popular everywhere this summer. Where to shop for rims Rims can be purchased locally or on the Internet. Here are some Web sites that offer an extensive variety. |
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But his wheels elicit remarks.
"Every time I stop, dudes point and say, 'Dawg, that's smooth,' and girls start talking to me and give up their numbers," Jackson said. "I like people to pay attention, and I know I have one of the best rides out there."
Jackson, 29, of Detroit is one of many motorists who own spinners — wheels that spin when the vehicle is operating, even if it's stopped.
Whether it's spinners or just plain alloy aluminum or chrome, wheels have become one of the easiest and most popular ways to give a vehicle a makeover.
"Sometimes people are surprised by how different their car looks after they get rims," said Dion Hayes, a Detroit mechanic who has a second job selling and mounting wheels at his home. "New rims could mean the difference between a junker or a ride that makes people stop in their tracks."
Wheels are conservative to ultra flashy and can cost $35 each to thousands of dollars.
"It depends on the taste and individual style of the customer," said Gary King, owner of the Rim Shop in Detroit. "People purchase rims based on what they like."
This summer, spinners and 20-inch wheels are among the popular items.
"A 20-inch wheel can range from $135 per wheel up to $3,000 per wheel," said King, who has sold rims since 1988. "There is something for every budget."
With hundreds of styles, brands and prices to choose from, Hayes suggests consumers make a list of what's important to them.
"Is it style, price or a new look? People should know what they want because it's a lot out there," he said.
Jackson, whose gold spinners match his vehicle's trim, said he first saw the popular wheels in a music video and immediately wanted them.
"They were the hypest thing I had ever seen," Jackson said. "Musicians always have the best cars."
Hayes said wheels have become more popular as people try to keep up with the rap game.
"Rappers talk about their cars and rims on the radio, and you can see them in the videos. I think that's why they have taken off," he said.
Spinners are such a popular wheel, they are the basis of the song "Ridin' Spinners" by the rap group Three 6 Mafia.
Buyers looking for the latest wheels can go to independent shops such as King's or shop on the Internet at sites like blingbling wheels.com or wheelmax.com.
Web sites might offer the latest brands but buying from them could be just as or more expensive than buying from a local shop because of shipping and handling fees and the cost of mounting the wheels.
Hayes said consumers should shop around and he believes anyone can find something they desire in their price range.
For example, King offers a wheel attachment called the Spinner Kit for the look of spinners without the cost. The car owner can put a spinning spoke on the wheel they own already, King said.
And national retail tire stores or automotive dealerships can offer a wide selection with competitive prices.
"We sell rims from $40 a piece to whatever you can imagine," said Andy Tamm, assistant manager at Belle Tire in Royal Oak, Mich.
A set of 20-inch wheels including tires could cost as much as $2,500, depending on the customer's taste, Tamm said.
Belle Tire customers can choose merchandise from the store's Web site and get a service guarantee that may not be offered in independent shops.
Lower prices and a service guarantee were just what Felecia Andrews-Smith was looking for when she purchased wheels at a Belle Tire in Detroit.
"I didn't want anything too popular. I was just looking for nice wheels at a good price," said the 41-year-old. "I also wanted to go somewhere that was widely known in case I had problems."
Like many wheel buyers, Andrews-Smith said she purchased her 2001 Chrysler Sebring with factory wheel covers and was tired of having them stolen.
By the fourth time they were taken, she decided to get wheels. "If I had bought my car with wheels in the first place, I could have easily saved $1,000," she said.
Safety should be a concern for buyers thinking about purchasing wheels. One of the biggest safety problems is buying a wheel that doesn't support a car or truck, Tamm said.
"Buyers with large SUVs or trucks need to stay with a wheel that can carry the weight of the vehicle," he said. "You can be driving 50 mph and hit a pothole and crack your wheel."
For maintenance, King tells his customers to put their factory-installed wheels back on their vehicles in the winter.
"Salt eats at the chrome or aluminum and that damages the rims," King said.
