Chrome Discount Wheels are constantly working to stay up-to-date on the newest wheels, tire accessories, styling and vehicle fitments.To ensure that CDW stays on the cutting edge of the wheel, tire and rim industry, every quarter our entire team is given detailed information through a unique car manufacturer technology share program that focuses on all the latest applications for new wheels, tires and vehicles. If you are in the market for a new set of performance tires, custom wheels or rims, and want the most current advice, then Chrome Discount Wheels is your best option for truly professional custom wheel, custom rim and performance tire recommendations.
WHEEL OFFSET
The wheel offset is the distance from the hub mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. There are three types of offsets.
Positive Offset: Wheels with a positive offset usually won't stick out from the vehicle's side - OEM wheels generally have a positive offset.
Zero Offset: Zero offset wheels have a mounting surface deeper within the wheel, causing it to stick out a bit more from the vehicle’s fender.
Negative Offset: A negative offset wheel has its mounting surface located even deeper in the wheel, causing it to stick out the most. Choosing the right offset wheel is important in preventing excessive wear on your vehicle’s suspension and steering systems.
BOLT PATTERNS
A wheel's bolt-circle-diameter is the diameter of an imaginary circle drawn through the center of the wheel's mounting-bolt holes. Different vehicle makes and models have varying bolt patterns.
If the pattern has an even number of mounting holes (four, six or eight lugs) simply measure from the center of one stud hole directly across the center of the wheel to the center of an opposite stud hole.
With a five-lug pattern, measure from the center of one stud hole to the center of the farthest stud hole, skipping the adjacent hole. The resulting measurement is slightly smaller than the actual bolt-circle diameter.
Below is a chart on how to measure bolt patterns for a 4 Lug, 5 Lug, 6 Lug and 8 Lug
WHEEL MEASUREMENTS
All wheels are marked with numbers that signify many different things about the size and type of wheel. For example, a wheel may read: 20x10J ET35. The 20 refers to the diameter of the wheel being 20 inches wide and 10 means that the wheel is 10 inches wide the other direction. The J refers the shape of the specific flange for that wheel design and the ET stands for einpress tief, which is German for offset, which on this specific example is 35. Another confusing number to understand is the P.C.D., or pitch circle diameter. Measured in millimeters, the P.C.D. is the diameter of the “circle” that the bolt holes for a wheel create. These bolt patterns can be found in four, five, six, or eight and vary from wheel to wheel and car to car.
WHEEL FITMENT
Chrome Discount Wheels experienced fitment team nsures a 100% proper fit for your vehicle. Our staff is constantly at work making sure wheel specifications are compatible with your vehicle. If you have any upgraded brakes or suspensions please contact our staff before you order. The team is constantly at work for our customers - before a wheel is added to inventory, its specifications are carefully evaluated to determine which vehicles it will be compatible with. Wheels are measured to ensure that they won't interfere with operation of steering, suspension, braking, and other systems in your vehicle.
Plus Sizing: Plus sizing your wheel and tire package is intended to enhance vehicle performance and looks by allowing fitment of larger diameter rims and lower profile tires. The idea is that while making these changes, you keep the overall tire diameter within 3% of the original equipment. If you exceed 3% you open the door to lots of other problems.
Hubcentric Rings and Centerbore: This refers to the center bore in the wheel that centers the wheel on the hub of the car. Since most wheels are mass produced, they have a large center bore to accommodate several different vehicles. If there is a vibration problem, it is recommended that you use hub centric rings. Hub rings are hard plastic rings that link the wheel to the vehicle. This centers the wheel and makes your wheel hub centric. Without hub rings it is possible to get vibrations even if the wheel and tire package is completely balanced.
Torque: Always use a torque wrench when installing your wheels, it's important to torque the lugs properly. Wheels are frequently over-torqued onto a vehicle's hub bore, which can lead to brake problems or even the lugs breaking right off the wheel.
The best way to torque your wheels is by hand, using a torque wrench. Your owner's manual contains the optimal torque specifications for your vehicle. Always re-torque after your first 50 miles.
WHEEL CONSTRUCTION
Most alloy wheels are made in one, two or three piece construction types. One piece is a wheel made in a mold as a single piece of metal. Two piece wheels are made of two separate pieces center and barrel that are usually welded or bolted together. Three piece wheels are made of three separate pieces bolted together. Wheels are manufactured in a variety of ways: Forging, Low pressure Casting and Counter pressure Casting.
Forging: This is the process of forcing a solid billet of aluminum between the forging dies under an extreme amount of pressure. This creates a finished product that is very dense, very strong and therefore very light.
Low Pressure Casting: This is the most common form of rim manufacturing. Liquid metal is poured into a mold and allowed to harden until the finished wheel is cool enough to be taken out of the casting.
Counter Pressure Casting: This method actually sucks the metal into a mold using a vacuum. This reduces impurities making the wheel much stronger than a low pressure cast rim.
SPEED RACING
Speed rating is a letter which indicates the maximum speed capability of a tire. In Europe, speed ratings were originally developed to help owners of high performance sports cars choose replacement tires designed to match the speed capabilities of their vehicles. The speed rating of any tire is a measurement of the top safe speed the tire can carry a load under specified conditions. It is also a suggestion of how the tire will handle at lesser speeds. A higher rated tire will give you better traction and improved steering response.
Below is a listing of common speed ratings:
Q = 99 MPH, 160km/h
S = 112 MPH, 180km/h
T = 118 MPH, 190km/h
U = 124 MPH, 200km/h
H = 130 MPH, 210km/h
V = 149 MPH, 240km/h
Z = 149 MPH, 240km/h and over
W = 168 MPH, 270km/h
Y = 186 MPH, 300km/h
TIRE SIZING
It is important to know how to read the side of a tire. For example P225/50R17 89W
P = Passenger Car Tire
225 = Section Width in Millimeters
50 = Aspect Ratio
R = Radial Construction
17 = Rim Diameter in Inches
89 = Load index
W = speed rating
Load Index
The load index for any tire indicates the maximum weight that each tire is able to sustain.
TIRE PRESSURE
The best possible tire performance requires accurate tire inflation. Tire pressure can vary over time due to lots of factors such as climate, regular air loss, and how hard you drive your vehicle. To maintain proper inflation, you should check your tires every so often. Under inflation and over inflation of tires can lead to early or uneven wear, traction problems, and possibly tire failure.
The best place to find proper tire pressure is in your owner’s manual. Never inflate your tires to the maximum PSI it can cause serious damage. Remember to check your tire pressure monthly.
TRACTION, TEMPERATURE AND TREADWEAR
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) is a tire information system that provides buyers with information on three categories: Traction, Temperature and Treadwear. Each tire manufacturer performs its own tests in these areas, following government prescribed test procedures. Each manufacturer then assigns grades that are branded on the tire. This is known as the Uniform Tire Quality Grade Labeling (UTQGL).
Traction: Traction grades indicate the measurement of a tire's ability to stop a car in straight-ahead motion on a wet test surface pavement. It does not measure straight-ahead acceleration. It's important to remember that traction rating tests are performed only for straight-ahead sliding on concrete and asphalt surfaces that have a specified degree of wetting which simulates most road surfaces in a rainstorm. The ratings that result from these tests may not apply to cornering traction or peak values of straight-ahead braking those experienced in non-skid braking tests. Traction grades range from "A" to "C", with "A" being the highest attainable grade.
Traction ratings are established on government maintained skid pads. Twenty measurements are taken with an industry standard control tire on an asphalt surface and averaged. The same numbers of measurements are made on a concrete surface. Corresponding measurements are then made on the tires being tested. Once the results of the tests are compared, traction ratings based on government prescribed coefficient levels are assigned to the tires that were tested.
Temperature: Temperature grades also range from "A" to "C", with A being the highest. Temperature grades represent a properly maintained tire's ability to dissipate heat under controlled indoor test wheel conditions. Temperature ratings are determined by running tires on an indoor roadwheel test under specified conditions. Successive 30 minute runs are made in 5 mph increments starting at 75 mph and continuing until the tire fails. A tire is graded from “A” to "C", with “A” being the highest.
Treadwear: Treadwear grades typically range from 60 to over 500, in twenty point increments. It's important to remember that the actual life of any tire is determined by the road surface quality, driving habits, inflation, wheel alignment and the rotation it experiences. To receive a treadwear grade, a tire is tested under controlled conditions on a government prescribed test course which does not necessarily simulate the actual application for which a given tire is designed to perform. As a result of these test parameters, there is no reliable way to assign miles of wear to treadwear grade points.
Treadwear ratings are determined on a 400 mile government test course covering specified sections of public roads near San Angelo, Texas. A group of not more than four test vehicles travels the course in a convoy so that all tires experience the same conditions. Tread groove depths of the tires being tested are measured after each 800 miles. The same procedure is followed for a set of control or "course monitoring tires". Upon completion of the 7200 mile test, the rating results of both tests are compared, and the tires being tested are assigned a treadwear rating by the tire manufacturer. The best way to use treadwear ratings when selling tires is to compare one rating to another. For instance, a tire with a treadwear grade of 400 might be expected to last twice as long as a tire that has a grade of 200.
VIBRATION PROBLEMS
Some of the most common causes of noise and vibration problems: Tire and wheel out of balance, No hub centric rings on aftermarket wheels, Incorrect hardware for aftermarket wheels, Irregular tire wear, Rim is damaged, Tire is damaged, Do not ignore pulling or vibration. If you have this problem have a professional inspect the issue.
WHEEL BALANCING AND TOUCHLESS MOUNTING
Chrome Discount Wheels also provides customers with all the latest technology available in mounting and balancing your wheel and tire packages. We use Hunter's TC3500 tire changer to insure proper mounting. We also Road Force test and balance your wheels with Hunter's GSP9700 which measures radial and lateral tire forces. Both machines are top of the line.
